My first visit to Warnham Nature Reserve on 17th February 2025 - Bullfinch, Brambling, Nuthatch, Siskins, Redpolls, Long-tailed Tits, Woodpecker, etc.

 I travelled to Horsham by train and it was a long walk to the reserve, but definitely well worth the effort

Long-tailed Tit and Blue Tit on a fatball feeder at the Bullfinch hide

Robin on top of a sawn-off tree trunk

Female Bullfinch in front of the Bullfinch hide

Male Blackbird listening to the sound of my camera

Female Chaffinch in twigs

Male Chaffinch in twigs

Reed Bunting on the ground

Reed Bunting on a log

Great Spotted Woodpecker on a log at the Woodpecker hide

Great Spotted Woodpecker on a bird feeder

Goldfinch checking out the bird feeder

Reed Bunting and Blue Tit at either side of the log

Male Pheasants in tall grass near the Sandpiper hide

A multitude of tall trees seen during a walk round the nature reserve

Song Thrush hiding in a pile of twigs

Male Pheasant on the ground in front of the Woodpecker hide

Nuthatch on a feeder

Rear view of a Long-tailed Tit

Hungry female Siskin

Male Siskin and Redpoll on opposite sides of the feeder

Goldfinch and Greenfinch

Goldfinch among twigs

Redpoll showing off its red head

Female Woodpecker

Female Siskin

Naughty Grey Squirrel!

Goldfinch in the tree

Goldfinch and male Brambling on a bird feeder

Greenfinch with seed decoration!

Fluffed-up Redpoll sitting on the ground

Male Siskin topping itself up with seed

Two Redpolls heading for snacks

Long-tailed Tit doing the same thing

Siskins, butterflies and yachts - second visit to RSPB Arne nature reserve on 14th July 2024

I took further advantage of the summer shuttle bus between Wareham railway station and Arne and visited the nature reserve for a second time during my week in Dorset during July.

Great Tit and Siskin on a bird feeder at the entrance to the reserve

Female Siskin with seed

Male Siskin

Gatekeeper butterfly on Ragwort

I was thrilled to see a Marbled White butterfly - first time I have managed to photograph one

Seven-spot Ladybird on seed head amongst the Ragwort flowers

Second Marbled White butterfly - this one has tattered wings

Two Curlews viewed from the top deck of the Shipstal bird hide

Lots of yachts sailing round Brownsea Island

Then lots of yachts with coloured sails

View of Hyde Heath - part of Arne nature reserve

Stonechat on a bush in Hyde Heath

Silver-studded blue butterfly on the heath

Female wild pig in the woodland - there were piglets somewhere hidden away from view!  I did not have time to find them before I had to go back to the entrance in order to get the bus back to Wareham.