Wildlife in Dorset and Gloucestershire!

 

I've recently been down to Dorset in search of wildlife that frequent the numerous heaths that are in the area. One of these species is the beautiful Dartford Warbler (Sylvia undata) which needs these heaths to be able to breed and survive. In the 1960's, Dartford Warbler numbers dropped to only a few pairs in the whole of the UK, due to very cold winters, habitat and insect loss. However, the RSPB has been working very hard to get these beautiful birds back to safe numbers and 50 years on there are now 3,200 breeding pairs in the UK.

The Dartford above was taken at RSPB Arne on one of the infrequent sunny spells I had on the day! After hearing the 'churring' contact call of one, I sat and waited for a while to see if it would come any closer. I was rewarded with lovely views of it feeding amongst the heather, gorse and small pine trees.

 

Then, 3 more appeared! They were flying in and out of one patch of heather with food then coming back out again without food! I reckon it was a nest with hungry young in.

I came off the heath and into some woodland and hearing a incessant 'tcheeeer' of juvenile Starlings, coming from a hole in an Oak tree, I looked up to see an adult fly in to feed its chicks who hadn't developed their adult plumage yet.

As I emerged from the thick woodland, into an open area of scrub, I noticed a small herd of 3 Sika Deer (Cervus nippon) foraging close by. I thought, that as soon as they noticed me, they would do a run but no, they just looked at me and carried on munching; they must be so accustomed to humans.

You can see the surrounding heath and Poole Harbour in the background.

Sika Deer are native to eastern Asia but in 1860 a small herd was introduced to Viscount Powerderscourt's (what a name!) deer park in Enniskerry, Ireland. Soon every rich deer-park owner wanted Sika in their collection. Over the years some of course escaped and have formed wild populations all around the UK, from the highlands of Scotland, right down to Cornwall. 

A very imposing Sika Deer stag trotting through the long grass.

As I sat at RSPB Arne's café enjoying a scone with jam and cream! I was watching solitary bees going in and out of a bee house put up by the RSPB and I noticed something very un-beelike - a Common Lizard. 

I spend a good 20 minutes watching and photographing as it moved around one of the logs whilst all the other café customers walked by not noticing this beautiful reptile.

Still in Dorset, just at a different reserve - Ham Common, a short walk away from where I was staying. There were two Robins perching on a post at the same time, making quite a nice photo.

As a spur of the moment decision I decided to stop off at WWT Slimbridge to break-up the journey home. 

I came to one of the many small lakes and in the lovely early evening light spotted a beautiful Avocet chick and parents feeding a few meters away from the hide - just out of shot were 2 more chicks foraging.

All of the adult avocets chased off any other bird which came to close to their nests or chicks, like this unfortunate Carrion Crow. Avocets are one of the most protective wading birds we have in the UK and attack anything up to and above fox size!

As I watched the juvenile Avocet an adult flew close by, splashing up the mud and water as it landed.

A beautiful bird on a lovely evening to finish off a fantastic trip away!