We had a pleasant little off-island jaunt yesterday evening up onto the downs above Dorchester to have a listen for a Quail that Richard Newton had stumbled upon the day before. It was soon apparent that there were 2 birds singing at the site we'd been directed to and, with the conditions so perfect, we had a drive about and quickly came across another a few fields away - with seemingly suitable habitat for as far as the eye could see it makes you wonder how many more must be tucked away out of earshot this summer:
10th June
With the storm clouds looming ever closer it was up to the morning to produce the good today. The land fell a little short with no more than a new Reed Warbler in the nets, a Spotted Flycatcher at Culverwell, a fly-by Turtle Dove up-island and 13 each of Dunlin and Sanderling at Ferrybridge, whilst an unexpectedly eventful morning seawatch at the Bill came up with a Pomarine Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas, a Barnacle Goose and a handful of Manx Shearwaters.
