I've been visiting Arne all my life and have worked there for 2, so all in all I know the place pretty well. However, the fantastic thing about Arne is that it can consitantly surprise even me.
Firstly, when Michael and I headed for the Middlebere Channel yesterday morning, it was completly frozen solid. In fact a huge proportion of the harbour was frozen, even at Sandbanks the sea itself was frozen 20metres out! This, apart from showing the harbour in a completly different light (the views from Shipstal hill were beautiful) also made for interesting movements of birds and waders in particular. With their usual hang out frozen the avocet, godwit, grey plover and dunlin had to move right up to shipstal beach and following them up were the marsh and hen harriers.
It was a very still clear morning and that is perfect to see heathland birds, dartford warbler and stonechat were both around. Plenty of redwing too, were shooting all over the place. In the log pile by the visitor centre I was kept happy through the day watching various bank voles creeping around. But my highlight of the day was when I took a stroll out on the heath and I saw something I have never seen before....yes I also saw a dartford warbler making its scratchy contact call as 2 firecrest were feeding round it but I can finally say I have seen crossbill!
For years I have been so unlucky, not having seen or even heard these amazing birds. The above is a male, the female is a dark green. These birds aren't common but we do get them year round in the area and it's well worth looking out for them on the reserve. Take a look here and have a listen http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/c/crossbill/index.aspx the call really is distinctive.
In other news, those of you who were on the reserve last spring and summer I'm sure will remember all the activity on our nest cameras in the visitor centre and online. Well alot of work has been done over the winter and we are very proud to bring you all the old favourites like the kestrels and barn owls but hopefully introduce some new stars. Today one of the newbies turned up on screen for the first time; the buzzards. Next time you're down at Arne check out the cameras to see these often overlooked birds of prey (I'm told that the average laying date is April the 16th), we are also crossing our fingers for Raven and possibly even hobby! Definatly one to watch.
Remember its nutty about nestboxes on saturday 18th, so bring the family down to make your own nestbox to take home. Hope to see you there.
Some of the spoonbills and avocet appear to have fled to Holes Bay.
Fantastic Rob, not only the Crossbill but 2 Firecrests next to a Dartford Warbler! Looking forward to seeing Buzzards behind the scenes.
Well done Rob,nice that you saw a Crossbill,have only seen them on Mull where relatively easy to see if you are looking for them.