All winter I’ve wanted to get down and see the Lesser Yellowlegs at Lodmoor so yesterday we bit the bullet and drove the 160 miles down the M3 arriving around 8.15am we managed to find the target although views were not as crippling as the images I’ve been seeing.
It was sat on the far bank tucked away in the grass and remained hidden to view for most of the day only dropping to feed on our second visit in the afternoon to the frustration to the guys that stuck it out all day.
Also at Lodmoor we picked up a very shy Willow Warbler for a year tick and a Little Gull out on the scrape with the many Med and Black-headed Gulls. I managed one further year tick with a single House Martin flying with the Sand Martins and Swallows hawking over the reed beds.It was nice to hear our first Chiffchaffs of the year too.
At Radipole we very quickly located the Ring-necked Duck and managed a few shots from the fishing platforms opposite the Tennis courts and at Portland we found several Wheatear and a single Black Redstart to be the only things of note.
On the drive out we picked up a single Shag in Weymouth harbour to finish a very enjoyable day in beautiful Dorset and the year list now stands at 189.
Brian Anderson
Essex Birder using the blog as a diary of my trips around the country chasing birds. Enjoying the places it takes me and the people I meet along the way. Great to spend time with my Dad and brother as we chase our year lists and grow our life list in the process.
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