Our first port of call was Longham lakes on the western side of Bournemouth. Having read up a bit on the site, parking and access turned out to be reasonably straightforward from the southern end. Got my first House Martins of the year here, over the gardens, and there were a few warblers singing in the hedges surrounding the fields. It didn't take long to pick out the sub-adult Bonaparte's Gull as it was the only small gull on the south lake. Unfortunately it stayed a fair way off, and despite the occasional flight it was hard to photograph due to the reed bed in the way. I spent a lot of time scanning the Tufted Ducks as drake Scaup is also present but I couldn't find it.
I had hoped to visit Portland before now, as its had a pretty good spring, and we normally end up with a decent selection of migrants and residents. The sunny blue skies were not ideal though.
First stop as the car park a Cheyne Wears. Last year i discovered it was one of the few sites for Wall Lizards and the weather was ideal. Not many bird around, though we did hear a Garden warbler and a couple of Whitethroats. A few Swallows were flying over the cliff-hirundines were still coming in from the continent. I found a lizard on the cliff face used by the climbers, but it was a bit too far for the cameras, but luckily one was found in the car park itself. Lots of butterflies here as well-all Wall Browns.
Portland Bill was of course very busy with lots of day trippers and very few birders. West of Pulpit Rock, we found the usual assortment of Razorbills, Guillemots, Cormorants, Shags and Fulmars. No sign of any Puffins while we were there-assuming they still, exist here. A few Gannets were flying off-shore in the light winds. No Purple Sandpipers, but a lovely singing Rock Pipit was nice to see.
A walk up to the Top Fields was a a bit strenuous as the heat was building. Lots of hirundines going through, and several pairs of Linnets and Stonechats. Three Wheatears was good, but the Whinchats were a lot harder and we only managed to find one which wasn't approachable.
With the lack of activity and news we called it a day and headed off for home, with a diversion to Bentley wood mid afternoon. It was hoped that the warm weather would have brought out the butterflies, and a couple of Duke of Burgundies had been reported. Unfortunately we didn't see much at all apart from Brimstones, Peacocks and Green Veined Whites. The Fritillaries were still a few days off by the looks of things.
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