Trip reports
OWN TRANSPORT TRIP TO MARTIN DOWN - Sunday May 18th 2008
Sunday, 18 May 2008
A bright, breezy day with temperatures ranging from 13 to 16 C depending on whether clouds obscured the sun. At the start of a gentle saunter up to Tidpit, stunning views of yellowhammer were interrupted by the songs of both common and lesser whitethroats, the scratchy, but cheerful song of the former contrasting with the simple rattle of the latter. A little patient watching and the common whitethroat revealed itself, and then, most unexpectedly the normally skulking lesser whitethroat not only sang in the open, but also gave a brief display flight, not witnessed previously by any of the group. Chiffchaff and robin were soon added, but blackcaps, whilst heard, remained out of sight all day, as did wrens. Skylarks, as expected, were singing continuously. As we ascended the slope, 3 mistle thrushes and 2 red legged partridges were seen. Overhead, and on the Down, many and various corvids were dominant, but at least 3 buzzards were soaring, along with a few house martins and swifts. Just one swallow was seen all day. We took coffee at Tidpit, hoping to hear turtle dove, as per our last visit some 4 years ago, but alas all we heard was a goldcrest singing unseen in a yew.
On the descent the conditions were good enough for butterflies to be seen, with dingy skipper the most common. Back down by the dyke, a large area of scrub produced singing willow warbler which was 'scoped for all to enjoy. A prolonged wait for a singing garden warbler to appear was unsuccessful, and the return walk to the car park added no further species, although a small heath and a common blue joined the butterfly list.
Having driven to the Blandford road car park after lunch, we started with a circular walk taking in the firing butts area. Whilst very attractive, this produced almost no birds until very near the car park we were able to enjoy an excellent view of a male linnet. Until that moment only flight glimpses of this expected species were had.
We then crossed the A354 to enter Vernditch, where almost immediatedly a freshly emerged Small Blue butterfly was found nectaring on mignonette. Another lesser whitethroat could be heard, but despite spending considerable time listening to its surprising complex ramble, both before and after the standard rattle, we failed to see this individual. The walk through the Chase was pleasant but quiet, and sadly did not produce the anticipated turtle dove, perhaps reflecting the continued demise of this species in south west England. Overall though, the dry weather, after a cold damp week, led to an enjoyable day out in this beautiful landscape.
Sparrowhawk (brief flight view), Buzzard, Kestrel (pair), Red-legged partridge, Pheasant, Lapwing (distant views of 2 mobbing corvids), Black headed gull (eastbound movement), Lesser black backed gull - 1 juv.), Woodpigeon, Stock Dove, Cuckoo (heard only), Swift, Green Woodpecker (heard only), Skylark, House Martin, Swallow, Wren (h), Dunnock, Robin, Stonechat (pair), Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Garden Warbler (h), Lesser Whitethroat, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap (h), Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest (h), Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Crow, Rook, Jackdaw, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Bullfinch (heard, plus 1 brief flight view), Linnet, Yellowhammer. (39 species recorded).
Butterflies :- Grizzled Skipper,(1 seen by 2 members), Dingy Skipper, Brimstone, Large White, Green-veined White, Orange Tip, Green Hairstreak (1 brief flight view), Small Blue, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Red Admiral, Peacock, Speckled Wood, Small Heath (14 species).
Reported by Steve Oakes