I am off camping to Durdle Door/Lulworth next week, and any info on any good birding/wildlife sites etc would be much appreciated.
Phil.
Posted by Matt Peaster on August 31, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Phil
It's a great area for wildlife and landscapes. When I 'hit' a new area I always B-line to a shop to get the area OS map/s. These are invaluable at 'raeding' the landscape, the rivers, rights of way, open access land, FC and NT land and other reserves. Probably gthe best nera here would be Arne RSPB but the whole coastline - Jurrasic Coast - is pretty spectacular.
Posted by Mike Smith on September 1, 2009 at 7:00 AM
Phil
that is Guy Edwardes neck of the woods, he is always helpfull........
It is slightly between seasons at present, the orchids on the downland are over and the migrants aren't passing through Portland in any great numbers yet. Durdle Door and Kimmeridge Bay are the classic landscape locations, the madieval farming strip lynchets at Worth Matravers are an interesting alternative for landscape work (early/late light vital and this is an excellent site for early spider orchids earlier in the year....), if you are going eastwards thro' Corfe the sand lizards at Studland Bay NNR are always worth a go plus it is a Dartford W. hotspot and the scrub around Durlston head CP is just as good as Portland for passerine migrants in my opinion
FYI I think Weymouth is a bit manic at present with the Olympics sailing venue road infra-structure preparatons (feedback from long suffering and disgruntled colleagues at work who went that way this weekend)
Mike
Posted by Dave Bartlett on September 1, 2009 at 8:28 AM
As has been mentioned, Arne RSPB is excellent. Good hides for the waders on the marshes if the tides are right and plenty of action along the tideline too. The heathland around Arne can be good for birds (but maybe not quite at the moment) and the deer are always around too.
Discussion
4 repliesPhil.
It's a great area for wildlife and landscapes. When I 'hit' a new area I always B-line to a shop to get the area OS map/s. These are invaluable at 'raeding' the landscape, the rivers, rights of way, open access land, FC and NT land and other reserves. Probably gthe best nera here would be Arne RSPB but the whole coastline - Jurrasic Coast - is pretty spectacular.
Beast of luck
Matt
This is close by and may be of some use.
http://www.durlston.co.uk/index.php?id=3&dry_id=2&nid=66
Also try Radipole Lake RSPB and Portland.
John Lee
that is Guy Edwardes neck of the woods, he is always helpfull........
It is slightly between seasons at present, the orchids on the downland are over and the migrants aren't passing through Portland in any great numbers yet. Durdle Door and Kimmeridge Bay are the classic landscape locations, the madieval farming strip lynchets at Worth Matravers are an interesting alternative for landscape work (early/late light vital and this is an excellent site for early spider orchids earlier in the year....), if you are going eastwards thro' Corfe the sand lizards at Studland Bay NNR are always worth a go plus it is a Dartford W. hotspot and the scrub around Durlston head CP is just as good as Portland for passerine migrants in my opinion
FYI I think Weymouth is a bit manic at present with the Olympics sailing venue road infra-structure preparatons (feedback from long suffering and disgruntled colleagues at work who went that way this weekend)
Mike