Sunday, February 17, 2008

Half-Term Part II

We stopped off Stourhead, the National Trust House internationally famous for its farm shop. Once we had raided the shelves for Carrot Cake, Ginger Beer, and a generous slice of The wife of Bath, we went round the lake. Highlights were smashing Marsh Tit plus the four other expected tits, and calling Nuthatch.

Weymouth was freezing. I managed an evening walk round Radipole, and added Ruddy Duck, and a calling Cetti's Warbler to the year list. Otherwise was dull - not even any Med Gulls.

Everything else was just a waste of time. Lodmoor or Portland Harbour? I chose the harbour, and in the freezing cold wind saw nothing, just 6 Brent Goose, a few GCG's and Red-Breasted Mergansers. Clearly the wrong decision - surely Lodmoor would have been warmer if nothing else. Then the Nothe with the family, and down to Newton's Cove. Not even a Black Redstart.

It seems that we are in that period when all the wintering birds have gone, and the summer birds are still a month away. Just as well I'm back to work this week.

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