RSPB Radipole Lake 27th August 2016

RSPB Radipole Lake 27th August 2016

After leaving a rather wet Portland Bill we stopped off at Radipole Lake. I was half hoping to see the resident drake Hooded Merganser but the last reference I could find to it was in 2014 so perhaps it has died – or we can have a flight of fancy and magine that it eventually found its way home. Either way we did not see it. Amazingly we did not hear a Cetti’s Warbler here; this is a favoured site for them but, again, it was probably a bit late in year. Having said that we did hear one the following day.

We didn’t see a Marsh Harrier either which is a shame; there often is one but it may have been over at the Lodmore site. We didn’t manage to get over there but I would have liked to because there were also some Little Stints there. Anyway it was Radipole we were at so we set off to do the complete circuit. There was nothing particularly special to see but at the North Hide, where we spent quite some time, we were treated to a masterclass in Sandpiper identification as we witnessed several Sandpipers, eventually ending up at four Green Sandpipers and two Common Sandpipers, resting, preening and eating together. All common identification criterion were in full and close view and I managed to get some good digiscoped video – despite a rather heavy woman plodding around the hide with here bridge camera every few minutes trying to get a better view. It may sound eletist of me but she did not even know what the birds were that she was taking pictures off.

Anyway, it was eventually time to go so we headed off to Montacute, tired but happy enough.

Bird Sightings : RSPB Radipole Lake