RSPB Lodmoor Cetti's - and a Northern Coot

On the way back from Wincanton yesterday I did a short trawl of the flooded swamps, formerly fields in the Blackmore Vale. I have to say it was dire. Of note, a Buzzard and a Robin. 10 miles north of the Vale after all this rain, the The Somerset Levels are now living up to their Isle of Avalon fame.

So this morning, determined to get out, we went to RSPB Lodmoor in Weymouth. Her indoors thinks this birding lark is fairly odd. Don't get me wrong, she likes watching the sparrows on the feeders as much as any woman, but tramping around wet fields to have fun, doesn't really work for her. So I cunningly plan a visit where she can go for a nice walk leaving me in peace for an hour. Just took the bins, as the comment when getting the scope out of the car was "oh God, you're not taking that are you?"... tail between my legs, it returned to the car, unloved and unused...... but I did get my year total up to 82.

RSPB Lodmoor, somewhere out there are Cetti's in the gloom.

But have to say not a bad moring, but dull, but NOT raining and lovely and mild. Didn't do any counts, just what I saw. Most notable was 4 different singing Cetti's Warblers. Also my first bumble bee of the year flew past. It must be spring. Oh and this fella.

I met this Coot making a break for the north and asking the directions to Northumberland particularly the Heritage Coast area.

So in rough order of seeing them. Lapwing, Wren, Coot (see above), Herring Gull, Canada Goose, Black Headed Gull, Shelduck, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Mute Swam, Shovler, Grey Heron, Teal, Blue Tit, Carrion Crow, "Rabbit", Moorhen, Starling, Blackbird, Pochard, Cetti's (1st one), weird possible Tufty x Pochard, Long Tail Tit, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, Greenfinch, Stock Dove, Little Grebe, House Sparrow, Scaup (think there was two, wish I'd had the scope),Robin, Buzzard, Lsr Black Back Gull, Common Gull, Magpie, Pied Wagtail.

After this had a quick dash over the Ferrybridge, near Portland, however there was some sort of windsurfing competition going on, so only noatbles were single Oystercatcher, 3 Little Egret, 6+ Redshank.

Took this on the way home, hasn't come out too well as the weather was turning dreek again but cheers the soul to see snowdrops and daffodils out in January.