RSPB Radipole Lake

Contrary to news that the RSPB are giving up on Radipole Lake, they are in fact reducing the maintenance and removing some of the viewing platforms.

My visit today confirmed that at least 3 viewing platforms have been removed, including the "raised" platform 300 metres down the track from the visitors centre. That particular platform gave wonderful views looking west across the reedbeds, where you often saw small flocks of Bearded Tits passing through. Sadly that delight has now been taken away from us and the best you will get now, will be the occasional glimpse as they move through the reedbeds or them calling.

A bare patch where once the raised platform overlooking the reedbeds once stood.

Below are a few photos and videos from today, but first here are the bird species I recorded from my walk down every path on the reserve.

Birds Recorded:
1 Great Crested Grebe
8 Cormorant
2 Grey Heron
8 Mute Swan
4 Canada Goose
4 Mallard
12 Gadwall
2 Teal

1 Shoveler
20+ Tufted Duck
2 Pochard

1 Sparrowhawk
4 Marsh Harrier
5 Water Rail (heard)
8 Moorhen
12+ Coot
1 Snipe
Black-headed Gull
Mediterranean Gull
Herring Gull
2 Great Black-backed Gull

Wood Pigeon
2 Swallows (En route Portland Beach Road)
2 Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Blackbird
1 Song Thrush
6 Cetti's Warbler (calling)
1 Siberian Chiffchaff
12+ Chiffchaff

3 Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Wren
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Raven
Starling

House Sparrow
Chaffinch
2 Siskin
Goldfinch
6 Reed Bunting

46 bird species (17 new additions for the year)

My first Great Crested Grebe of the year, with this individual in full breeding plumage.

All seemed well, when these two Grey Herons took off from the reedbeds...........

...........and then it got a bit nasty with both birds tussling with each other!!

After a brief interaction the two parted their ways.

A pair of Gadwall with the drake on the left.

A very poor shot of a pair of Teal with the drake on the right.

And an equally poor photo of a drake Tufted Duck (top left) and a drake Pochard. The latter my first for the year.

Other birds interacting were 4 Marsh Harriers, which included 3 females...........

................and this male bird which decided which.................

............it needed a break from all the displaying it was performing.

Possibly a Siberian Chiffchaff................

...........And again in slow motion

.........And the olive green of a Common Chiffchaff.

I have visited Radipole many times over the past 9 years, but this is the first time I can recall seeing a Raven here. This bird was in the trees next to the Visitors Centre.

And a female Reed Bunting.

...........waiting to feed on some seeds that have been thrown onto the ground.

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Also noted was my first Peacock Butterfly for the year.

My first Peacock Butterfly of the year alongside the River Wey at RSPB Radipole Lake Reserve.

And of course no walk would be complete without Ted as company.