Wild Dorset

Pete and I spent an amazing week in Dorset with Wildlife Whisperers - Simon King, Gill (fox cam) and Mike (badger cam).

We were so lucky with the weather and only had one rainy day. 13 'Wildlife geeks' as the other hotel guests referred to us (well I suppose dressed from head to toe in green with binos and cameras and pack lunches everyday we did fit the bill

We visited so many beautiful places and having never properly visited Dorset before we were inspired by all the county has.

On our first day we visited Radipole Lake, Lodnoor Reserve and Portland Bill and saw Marsh Harriers, Common Terns, Gannets, Fulmar and many other sea birds.

The next day we visited Arne which is a lovely RSPB reserve, (Springwatch and recently Countryfile) probably my favourite day as we saw everything including Sand lizard, Smooth Snake, Grass snake (I got to hold one )Sika Deer, Dartford Warbler and has a great day with the warden Rob whose passion is infectious.

Day 4 was Morden Bog - this is where Simon filmed Hobbies for Springwatch and the place didn't disappoint, we saw Hobbies and what beautiful birds they are. That evening we went to a hide for badger watching, absolutely magical. We arrived at 6pm and they started to come out to feed and we left about 9.30pm - I could have spent ages there but sundowners were calling.

Day 5 was Brownsea Island - a 10 minute ferry across to a beautiful island with lots of red squirrels and plenty of very noisy sea birds. The highlight was seeing a Nightjar who spent most of the day sitting on a fence post, completely happy with everyone watching from the hide.

Day 6 was Kingcome a native woodland, again a lovely place.

Day 7 - a day at the seaside. Very windy and strong gales but we started a walk along Durlstone cliffs, packed lunches on the pier which is where Pete bought Gill her bucket and spade (+boat and watering can) which is in her pond if you look at WW fox cam) trying to catch crabs with mackerel and then on to Kimmeridge Bay where we met a delightful warden called Mark who took us rock pooling and we found fossils.

Day 8 - last day and boy what an early start. Up and out by 3.45am to catch the dawn chorus in Wareham Forest then back to the hotel for 7.15 breakfast and a sleep. Out again to Arne in the afternoon for a last look around. So much to see and take in.

I've missed out one evening out looking for Nightjars which was magical, such curious birds. Also seeing a Red Kite whilst we were walking along a road, and watching it hunt.

I've never seen so many different birds and wildlife and can only say it was just a truly amazing week.

SK, Gill and Mike were great, full of fun and information and I think my highlights were Badgers, Hobbies, Red Kite, Nightjars to name but a few! I haven't done the week justice at all but each place we visited was either RSPB or Wildlife Trust and so well looked after and had such great wardens/rangers.

Just a few of the badger photos - they come very close to the hides so no talking and no flash photography and no taking photos if they look up at you, they are timid and scare easily.







He looked up as I was taking it but wasn't bothered luckily.


At one point we had 7 badgers feeding including the young.

A few more photos to follow later.

Lai

Looking for ..................... ?


A Raft spider


Lai

This buzzard was flying overhead as we were waiting to walk to the badger hide.


Sika deer




Lai

And there was me thinking you and pete were off for a quiet week wildlife watching on your own......and it was with SK, Gill & Mike and what a week you had, just spectacular, the vairety of wildlife is fantastic and the whole week sounds glorious.
Obviously loving the photos of the Badgers, badger watching is just so special isn't it, they are just gorgeous to watch. The little Badger looking up looks like a female and the one above that picture looks like a male, he has a broader head and If I remember rightly the males do have the broader heads. They are both gorgeous though.
The Sika deer certainly looks as though he doesn't mind having his photo taken and i'm loving the feathers on the Buzzard.
I bet apart from seeing Tamu and Penny again you and Pete didn't want to come home, it really does sound as though an awful lot of exciting stuff was packed into your week.
Anymore pics Lai
littlewid-x-

Thanks Littlewid, it really was FAB-U-LOUS and beyond all expectations for what we saw in terms of wildlife.

I honestly didnt take my camera out apart from twice, I was so enjoying just watching with my binos.

Lai

Actually I dont blame you Lai, you can often miss so much when just taking pictures all the time and if someone is explaining things to you, you can also miss what they are saying by trying to take pictures at the same time, so I reckon you did the right thing and just used your binos and from the sounds of things there was so much going on it would have been hard to capture it all.
Isn't it lovely though when an experience far exceeds your expectations, I am really pleased you and Pete had a smashing time
littlewid-x-

Lai what a fantastic time you had, like LW I just thought you were going for a quite break. How brilliant to spend time in SK's company, and the other wildlife experts, that must be amazing, and you can learn so much. What a wonderful variaty of wildlife you,ve seen, sometimes we can forget how exciting British wildlife can be, and to go on a holiday like this brings it into reality. An unforgetable experience, that you will both always treasure. Do'nt blame you on the camera thing, as LW says you can really miss a lot of things, and its just better to take everything in, and hold the memories as pictures in your mind. Love the Bager, and Deer shots. Glad you both had such a great time, and the Buzzard shot is brill, although I see them here, it's very rare to get them within camera shot, and when they are low, your camera's never close to hand

WS
WS

Thanks WS. It's so true about the buzzards, we're lucky and have some here that fly over our house most days and often quite low but I never have my camera in my hand

I can honestly say it was a truly memorable holiday, we learned so much from bugs to beetles, snakes to lizards and so many different birds that we don't see here. Simon, Gill (brilliant on flora) and Mike are all so passionate about wildlife it made it so enjoyable. I think SK may be doing Shetland again next year so may think about that, some of the people in Dorset did Shetland with him last year and said it was FAB-U-LOUS!

Sorry Littlewid, I meant to say, yes you are right about the badgers, well remembered

Lai

You can see photos from the Wild Dorset holiday from those of us who have added photos to the WW Flickr page. Some wonderful photos and worth looking at when you've a few minutes.



http://www.wildlifewhisperer.tv/whats-new/1341

Lai

I really recommend guys that you look at the link Lai has put up. So many really stunning photos and a wonderful video......wont spoil that for you cos you need to take a look.

Just fantastic Lai, there are so many brilliant photos that it is impossible to pick out a favourite, even though I am a Badger girl, the little squirrel is adorable but then the birds, snakes etc etc etc just grab you as well. I am so impressed with the photos and just lovely to see them in a slide show.

Thanks you so much and guy's.......go take a look

littlewid-x-

Hopefully as there were 13 of us some more photos will be added, although I have to say Pete forgot his camera and I think two other people didn't have a camera.

Glad you enjoyed them Littlewid - I am so impressed with peoples photos and also it's lovely to have a record of all the wonderful creatures we saw.

Lai

Thanks Lai, just catching up with everything, will have a look a bit later
WS