We visited Arne one of our favourite RSPB reserves twice, Tuesday and Friday morning and these pictures are from the first visit. I did find out something about Arne and that is families go for walks in the holidays hence the earlier than anticipated departure on the second day, really its good that they take the kids out but I am not sure how much they see!
The Tuesday produced large numbers of Sika Deer near the north hide (hope I have the name right), the males are fantastic looking at the moment but the angles were wrong for photography, apart from one inquisitive doe who again was partly hidden but I could not resist the shot with its mouth open even though some vegetation does spoil slightly the top of the shot. A Little Egret was out front and flew closer obligingly fluffing its feathers for a slightly different couple of pictures. We saw Raft Spiders for the first time, famous from BBC's Springwatch (please see previous post).
The RSPB guy at the information point said up to 3 Ospreys were present on site, they visit Poole Harbour at this time each year and fuel up before their long migration, they had been seen feeding and one bird catching a fish earlier in the morning. They were frequently in some dead trees that you could not see from the hide but were often seen from Shipstall View Point a little further away. Whilst we were there a large flock of Curlew went up and Pat saw a buzzard sized bird, dark on top and white underneath which could definitely have been an Osprey moving them. Me I was looking the other way!
I also saw a female Black Darter, which I photographed, definitely a highlight though was on the walk back to the car park where we saw a young small grass snake making its way across the path, unmistakable with its yellow band around its neck. It went under a log where we did not disturb it.
The photograph tally was poor but I will post from visits to RSPB Radipole, Portland Bill and Morden Bog.
6 comments:
I don't really think that these are poor photograph Mike. The set of the egret is wonderful!
Agree with Chris Mike; lovely Egret images and remember white birds are tricky!
You did well to get close to that L Egret Mike (On the shoreline I guess ?) Looking forward to the rest of the visits images.
I think the photos are very good!
Thanks Chris, Matt, Roy & Friend of HK your comments are much appreciated.
The Little Egret was in pools just off Poole Harbour.
Those are wonderful photos. Would you consider to come back and spend holidays in Dorset again? And take some more pictures?
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