Trip reports

Trip to Durlston Country Park - April 2011

Wednesday, 6 April 2011

Luck was with the thirteen members who turned out for the field trip to Durlston Country Park as the weather the day before had been cold and windy, but this all changed to warm, even hot, and sunny for our outing.
We were also fortunate to see the female Red-flanked Bluetail that had been present for four days in the Country Park. This vagrant from Asia, about the size of a Robin, was only the second recorded in Dorset. Cliff, who had already seen the bird the first day it had been found, was able to show the group the exact location, thus saving us much search time, plus the opportunity to get great views of the bird before other people showed up and disturbed it.
A Green Woodpecker was heard and some of the group heard and saw a Whitethroat whilst others saw a Common Redstart in the same field as the Red-flanked Bluetail.
Continuing on over the downs, whilst the weather was glorious, birds were not too plentiful although a Yellowhammer was heard and a few Wheatears were found below on the cliffs. A Kestrel flew past giving us good views of its plumage and a distant Stonechat was found near the Lighthouse.
We returned to the Visitors Centre for a picnic lunch and in the afternoon followed the path down to the cliffs where Fulmars, Shags, Guillemots and a pair of Stock Doves were seen. As the Castle was closed due to renovation work, we continued round the coastal path, but the only birds of note were a Goldcrest heard by one of us, another Wheatear and a Rock Pipit spotted lower down on the shore-line.
After we returned to the car park, some of the group had a final walk around the fields behind the Visitors Centre where the Green Woodpecker could still be heard, Colin saw a Stoat and we all had good views of some Willow Warblers.
Wonderful weather, the Red-flanked Bluetail and a total of 41 species - not a bad outing!