Saturday 6th April 2013

  After having 4 different Bluethroats already, i thought it was about time to visit Portland, where one was still hanging around at Chesil Cove. The usual 'you should have been here 5 minutes ago' came out, before we actually managed to get decent views of the Bluethroat, a nice White-spotted male too.

White-spotted Bluethroat

   While waiting, for the Bluethroat to show, we also got a Black Redstart and my first Sandwich Terns of the year. Also a flyover Red Kite, 2 Red Admirals and 2 Small Tortoiseshell helped the wait feel a bit shorter.

   At the Bill there were migrant Pied & White Wagtails, Wheatears and again Black Redstarts.

Hooded Merganser

  There were a few dark-bellied Brents still at Ferrybridge along with some Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Turnstones. The drake Hooded Merganser was also still showing well at Radipole, as you can see below!!!

   Then a last return to Reap Lane to see if the Ring Ouzels were still there, but no sign as there were people in the horse field, looking after the horses. But as i drove out of Reap Lane there were some Thrushes in the field opposite. After a short while out popped a male Ring Ouzel, and showed quite well for a while too.

Ring Ouzel