Update on Recent Walks

We have been busy as usual with our regular group walks, with Studland on Tuesday and this morning at Stanpit Marshes.  Both walks produced all the usual species that we would expect to find at the two locations.

The highlights at Studland was a Velvet Scoter out in the bay, found by Jackie, which was accompanied by four Common Scoter.  It gave us some good flight views when a passing helicopter flushed them off the bay so everyone could see the white secondaries confirming its identification.  We had three Ring-necked Parakeets around the usual trees, always easy to find by their screeching calls.  We also had at least eight Black-necked Grebe and one or two were approaching full summer plumage.  We tried for the long staying Hooded Crow around Manor Farm to no avail but we were rewarded on our return to the cars by excellent views of a Firecrest which are always nice to see.

Firecrest - Studland © Nick Hull

This morning (21st) we had a good walk around Stanpit Marsh and searched through all the waterfowl and waders for the Stilt Sandpiper but unfortunately it wasn't to be found, unless it was hiding in one of the marsh water channels of which there are many. We had good views of all the regular species out highlights here was the regular Spotted Redshank and a female Kingfisher, also a small flock of Redwing.

Female Kingfisher - Stanpit Marsh © Nick Hull