We were treated to some spectacular sightings of one of our rarest reptiles this month. We were able to watch and study Sand Lizards for quite some time. One of four species of Lizard seen on the Jurassic Coast Tour. Bookings for next year now open. https://www.wildlifetoursandeducation.co.uk/app/download/11123950/Itinerary+-+Birds++Wildlife+of+the+Jurassic+Coast+2020.pdf
We found ourselves on the path dividing two Dartford Warbler territories in Dorset earlier this month. They were having a ‘sing off’ against each other. That proved beneficial to us as they showed extremely well.
Dorset has to be the best place in the UK for photographing Sandwich Terns! Some great sightings on the recent Jurassic Coast Tour.
Earlier this month I took a hike to the south coast with some guests for a tour in Dorset. A series of nature walks gave us some great Nightjar views, a Fox with cubs, some rare orchids, a family of Polecats put on a fatal performance; we had some wonderful seabirds and mammals and that elusive reptile the Sand Lizard gave us a few sightings. A few photos follow. Sadly I shan’t be running this tour next year but it will make an appearance in the future I’m sure.
Dartford Warbler
Garden Warbler
Marbled White
Musk Orchid
Pyramidal Orchid
Rosel’s Bush Cricket
Wall Lizard
Great Green Bush Cricket
Stonechat
Black Darter
Bog Ashphodel
Common Tern
Keeled Skimmer
Rose Chafer
Sundew
Wolf Spider
Brown Long eared Bat
Harlequin Ladybird
Ruddy Darter
Small Red Damselfly
Earlier this month we completed the Jurassic Coast Wildlife Tour to Dorset. Here’s further details of the tour and how to book a place on next years tour. The photos below are just some of what we saw this year.
Wall Lizard
Twayblade
Small Red Damselfly
Sika
Sandwich Tern fledgling
Red Squirrel
Guillemots & Razorbills
Raft Spider
Pyramidal orchid
Nightjar
Musk Orchid
Mediterranean Gull
Marbled White
Lulworth Skipper
Large Red Damselfly
Green Woodpecker
Fragrant orchid
Dartford Warbler
Dartford Warbler
Common Tern
Common Spotted Orchid
We had been walking over the heath at Arne RSPB on the third day of our tour to Dorset. The Jurassic coast has lots of wildlife delights that made themselves available to us but none so much appreciated as on that day at Arne.
Written on the sightings board was a ‘Nightjar heard to call from the cafe garden’. Intriguing I thought. Upon enquiry with the warden on duty it had apparently been heard to churr at around nine o’clock that morning. It was now 5pm. Upon further enquiry I gleaned people in the cafe thought the churring had emanated from the car park. Those in the car park thought it came from the cafe. By my reasoning it had to be between the two, somewhere in a number of tall trees. I was told the trees had been scoured all day for a roosting bird without any luck.
Not to be deterred by the time elapsed since it had been heard, or the fact the area had been searched already, I explained to my ladies on the tour that we should take the opportunity to walk slowly to the cafe and shop looking carefully on all horizontal branches as we went. We completed a thorough search and … nothing!
As we got to the shop concentration broke and attention began to be diverted into buying bits and bobs. As purchases were made I thought I’d have a last look. Sitting on a bench I rose my bins and the first branch I checked … there it was. About 60 feet up in a tall oak. It sat, as they are inclined to do along the branch and intriguingly as the wind moved the surrounding vegetation it swayed. A master of disguise the Nightjar.
A sighting of a daytime roosting Nightjar has been a long time coming for me; more than 40 years. I was elated. After telling the warden, reserve staff as well as late leavers visiting the reserve came along to see him. I understand at the time of writing (9th July) he’s returned to the same branch and is still putting on a display to visitors.
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The early morning sun backlit the bracken and gorse revealing the silver threads of spiders webs. I was in Dorset overlooking the expanse of Poole Harbour doing a bit of investigation for our tour next year to the Jurassic Coast. Having walked a little too far I rested on a mound of soft green moss. A Spotted Flycatcher had come down from the trees and was making the most of the insect life on the edge of the heath. As I watched it fly catching I heard a Dartford Warbler’s raping call close by. I waited. Curiosity getting the better of it the bird soon revealed itself atop the gorse almost too close for the camera.
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Letter From Norfolk 