Sunny Dorset

Had a lovely 5-day family holiday down in east Dorset, at Rockley Park on the edge of Poole 25/05-29/05. Luckily, our time away coincided perfectly with a heatwave - temperatures in the mid 20s celcius throughout!

By chance we were staying no more than 4 minutes walk from a little gem of a heathland reserve, Ham Common. 

The reserve (a former clay quarry) is home to all 6 UK reptile species, as well as ample Dartford Warblers and Nightjars. The weather during the week couldn't have been any more perfect for Nightjarring and on a couple of evenings after kiddies bedtime, I got to enjoy the weird and wonderful sights and sounds of at least four birds, with several incredibly close fly-bys.

Reptile-wise, for the most part it was pretty tricky, as it was so hot so early and throughout the day too. However, an earlier morning visit to Ham Common on 28/05 did produce 3+ beautiful Sand Lizards (at least 2 males + a female) in a particular area down in the quarry. They were quite elusive but with a bit of patience, I was able to enjoy some lovely views. A real treat!

Both from the Ham Common reserve / viewpoint and from our nearby caravan, the views over Poole Harbour were impressive. Birds encountered through the week included a couple of Osprey sightings, Whimbrel, a random group of 4 Common Scoter (3m, 1f), Oystercatcher, Med Gulls, and Sandwich Terns.

Ham Common was rich in insect life and as well as numerous Painted Ladies, part of this year's impressive infux, there were also several Green Hairstreak, my first of the year. Dragonflies were very much in evidence too, with my first ever Scarce Chasers, as well as numerous Broad-bodied Chasers.

May goings on

May was generally very warm, clear and largely uneventful on the bird front. But a few local year ticks did appear with a lovely trio of Cattle Egrets and 3 Egyptian Geese in the Mid Cherwell. Ardley Quarry also held it's usual, reliable run of Tundra Ringed Plovers, much like 2025.

May in the local Woods is always enjoyable and this year was no exception. They are the main sites for a number of locally scarcer species and so always worth a few visits.

Spotted Flycatchers are one such species with my first one on 09/05 and at least 4 on 23/05. Firecrest territories numbered 3, which was pretty good going. Siskins were generally about, as they have been at this time for a number of years, suggesting them as an established breeder, though without evidence for now. In Bucknell Wood I also heard my first Cuckoo for a few years, which was good news! There were a number of Willow Warbler territories, though perhaps a bit down on the previous year.

Our garden is always a source of enjoyment, with the knack of throwing up the odd surprise. Migrant Painted Lady and Hummingbird Hawkmoth made appearances, as is the norm most years. Large Red Damselfly was a new Odonata for the garden, seen regularly around the pond. Birds of interest were few and far between, however a Peregrine making several evening appearnce was cool to see.

 

Away from our local area, Yoesden Bank nature reserve in Buckinghamshire is a bit of a favourite of mine, nestled away down narrow country lanes in the heart of the Chilterns.

It holds a nice selection of chalkland butterfly species and is my go-to to look for the stunning Adonis Blues. On the very warm afternoon of 31/05 I spent a lovely couple of hours enjoying a number of these beauties, as well as an early, very fresh Dark-Green Fritillary, Grizzled Skipper and a few Small Blues too.

Others

April round-up

Away from Northants, I spent a few days in Suffolk with the family (28/03 - 01/04) for Easter, a stones throw from Minsmere. It was pretty bloody cold for the most part, however a short spell of sun produced my first ever Black Adder at Minsmere, pointed out to us near to the Sand Martin bank. Not a lot of time for birding but did see a few Dartford Warblers, Bittern, a few Marsh Harriers, Bearded Tit, Med Gulls, Avocets, Barwit, Sandwich Tern, Barnacle & Brent Geese. So not too bad at all!

Locally, the second half of April produced a flurry of new birds for the year. As I do every spring, I spent a full day towards the back end of April my main local sites. This year it was 24/04, which proved to be a decent day with 81 species. Foxcote Res, near Buckingham produced the main highlights with a group of 6 Little Gull that were swiftly joined by 3 Black Tern, part of a good sweep of both species across the country. A Marsh Harrier quartering the reedbed at the west end was a bonus too. Elsewhere during the day produced Corn Bunting, Common Tern, Green Sand, Redpoll, Siskin, Grasshopper Warbler & Greenshank. The day was nicely closed out watching a busy flock of a further 12 Black Tern at Boddington Res, actively feeding backwards and forwards in the golden evening sun - magical!

It can be tricky to catch the usual spring wave of northbound Arctic Terns if you happy to be busy on the 1 or two days the bulk pass through. While I would ideally prefer to find my own, I managed to get across to Foxcote Res to enjoy a lovely flock of 5 birds on a very breezy, cold evening on 28/04.

Other local year ticks in the latter half of April included Redshank, Cuckoo, Grey Partridge, Swift, Tawny Owl and Garden Warbler. The garden prodcued a beautiful fresh male Emperor Moth on 25/04. A singing Whitethroat (27/04) was also a surprise garden visitor, while Peregrine sightings were regular.