This morning we explored the Middlebere Peninsula just south of RSPB Arne. Rain was forecast throughout the day. It didn’t materialise until the afternoon but the light was not good. From the avocet hide we could see an osprey on a nest. On the estuary there were shelduck, black-headed gulls, several little egrets and a few common redshank but everything was rather distant and didn’t make for good photos in the poor light. My best opportunities were near some National Trust cottages where there was a pied wagtail and some barn swallows.
Pied wagtailBarn swallowBarn swallowBarn swallowOsprey on nest at top of postDistant redshankLittle egretBlack-headed gullBarn swallowBarn swallow
We had an early lunch at the visitors’ centre at RSPB Arne and then explored the Shoreline trail but the rain set in and, apart from a song thrush, a blackbird, geese and oystercatchers, there wasn’t a lot to photograph.
Song thrushSong thrushSong thrushBlackbirdOystercatcher with small wader behindOystercatchersCommon carder beeThe rain setting in
We have just arrived on holiday on the south coast of England, in the county of Dorset. The area we are staying is known as the Isle of Purbeck on the Jurassic Coast. Despite its name, it is not actually an island—it is a peninsula bordered by the English Channel, Poole Harbour, and the River Frome.
Today we visited the RSPB nature reserve at Arne. Arne is situated on Poole Harbour and within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The landscape of heathlands, ancient oak woodlands, wetlands and mudflats is truly stunning and teeming with wildlife.
When I visit such nature reserves I can’t help thinking about the thousands of hours that volunteers have dedicated to making them such phenomenal places to visit. On our visit today we met a number of such people who helped us by telling us about osprey and white-tailed eagle projects and even helped us to spot both of these birds.
Some of the photos of our first day in this area showing the variety of wildlife:
The ruins of Corfe Castle, close to ArneTree pipit on the heathlandHeather on the heathlandEuropean herring gull catching a crabEmperor dragonflyFour-spot chaserCinnabar mothFoxgloves between heathland and woodRed admiral butterflyPainted lady butterflyUnderside of painted lady butterflyRhododendron, very attractive but quite invasiveOystercatchers on the mudflatsLittle egret flying over the estuaryBlack-headed gullShelduckGrey squirrel in woodlandSikka deer in the woodlandCommon buzzardOsprey on nestWhite-tailed eagle being mobbed by another (smaller) birdOutdoor entertainment – a poetry and song event on a Jurassic theme at our local pub, The Square and Compass, at Worth Matravers.A great way to start our holiday – the local beers and ciders were good too.
Martin's Bird Blog & Nature Photos 