We arrived in Dorset yesterday on a fact finding mission, with the view to running tours to this exciting part of the British Isles. Many people will have seen RSPB Arne Nature Reserve and adjacent Poole Harbour on Spring Watch, and several of our regular guests have asked about the possibility of a tour here.
We drove down yesterday and just had time for a walk along the famous Jurassic Coast near Swanage. This beautiful area is very scenic and we had superb views of a hunting Hobby below us along the coast path, what a thrilling experince! This wonderful falcon swept back and forth catching, and eating insects on the wing, what a treat. A gorgeous male Yellowhammer posed on a stonewall for us in the sunshine, Kestrel, Ravens and a sika deer were enjoyed too.
This morning, the 8th of August we visited RSPB Arne Nature Reserve in the drizzle, but still enjoyed a super morning. Undoubted highlight was prolonged views of a massive White-tailed Eagle sat on an island in Poole Harbour, viewed from the reserve. We were able to share the views of this fantastic bird, through the high-powered telescope with a number of visitors including three very young birders. It was so good to see these young people so excited about birds and all keeping notes on what they were seeing. We had two sightings of Osprey, possibly the same bird, first in a dead tree, we could see it was an unringed female, then latter a bird hunting over a tidal creek – wonderful. We watched Black-tailed Godwits, Whimbrel, Curlew, Oystercatchers, Common Redshank, Sandwich and Common Terns, so many Little Egrets along the shoreline. The woods held mixed feeding flocks of tits, warblers, and Goldcrests. A herd of sika deer and an Atlantic grey seal were lovely to see.
We retuned to the visitor centre for lunch, when sadly the rain set in and we decided to save the other parts of this wonderful reserve for a nicer day.
If you would like to join us for a Birdwatching Trips to Dorset, or any of our exciting destinations, plesse drop us a line here…
We look forward to enjoying wonderful birds and wildlife with you soon!