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Writer's pictureSim Elliott

Dorset 3 - RSPB Arne: waders & the landscapes of the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve 31.03.21

I got to RSPB Arne from my hotel in Poole by train (to Wareham), by bus (to Stoborough Green ) and by foot (4 miles walk) to Arne is part of the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve Home - Purbeck Heaths Arne is famous for Dartford Warblers (due to targeted conservation) and UK reptiles.


The RSPB first bought land here in 1965 to safeguard heathland species such as the smooth snake, sand lizard and Dartford warbler. In 1965 Arne was home to two pairs of Dartford warbler, 50 years later there are more than 70 pairs. RSPB Arne remains one of the few places in the UK where all six of the UK's native reptiles can be found. The reserve is a haven for wildlife and has many designations including SSSI, SPA and SAC status. Arne Nature Reserve, Dorset - The RSPB


It was so abnormally cold - 6 degrees, with a pronounced wind-chill (and it snowed at one point) I saw no Dartford Warblers or reptiles, although I did hear some Dartford Warblers.


My hotel (Travelodge) on Holes Bay, Poole, from the train station


Some views of Wareham (a Saxon walled town, you can still walk round the earth walls)


The Quay


The Renaissance-Revival Victorian Town Hall


The Bear Hotel


Eighteenth Century Alms Houses


The nineteenth century Oddfellows Hall, turned into a cinema in 1921

See: The history of the Oddfellows for the history of the Oddfellows, mutual, friendly society. For this history of the Rex, one of the oldest cinemas in the country see: The Rex Cinema - Rex History


From the bus stop at Stoborough Green


The road to Arne through the Purbeck Heaths National Nature Reserve


Starling


Blue Tit




House Sparrow


Blackbird


Jackdaw, with nesting material


Robin


Stoborough Heath


A Great Tit


After four miles of walking - I arrived I arrived at the visitor's centre.

I followed the Red Trail round Shipstal


Brent Geese at Shipstal Beach


Oystercatcher and Black-Headed Gull


Oystercatchers and Brent Geese


Views of Shipstal Beach


Oystercatcher


Brent Geese (the same geese as above)

Shipstal Beach


Great Black-Back Gulls and Cormorants


Shripstal Beach


Gulls


Saltmarshes


Saltmarshes from heathland


The Hide that overlooks the Wareham Chanel a(Hotlham Heath is on the other side of the channel.


Looking across the saltmarshes to Poole


Four of the eight Spoonbills currently resident in the Wareham Channel


Little Egrets


Canada Geese


Poole Harbour


The Wood


Wareham Chanel


A Blue Tit



Arne Church and Primroses


A Robin


Coombe Trail (Middlebere Lake (a stream running into Poole Harbour)


Male Stonechat in the car park

A Pool


Corfe Castle in the disatnce


end of Middelbere Lake


From the Curlew Hide


Shelducks and Teal


Black-Headed Gulls


Teal and Black-Headed Gulls


Middlebere Lake


Shelducks, Black-Tailed Godwits and Curlew




A Chaffinch



The Curlew Hide


Shelducks


A Curlew

Curlew


Wigeon


Black-Tailed Godwits and Wigeon


Wigeon, Black-Tailed Godwit and Curlew


plus Black-Headed Gulls


Wigeon and Curlew



Middlebere Hide


Black-tailed Godwits


Herring Gulls and Godwits


Black-Tailed Godwits


Hyde's Heath Trail (not on RSPB map but a new RSPB Arne trail)


I heard Dartford Warblers nearby but didn't see them)


Blue Tot


Wood Ants


Hyde's Heath


Wareham Channel from Hyde's Heath


I did


This is it.



A Chaffinch


A Redwing


Wareham Channel



Deer at Wareham


The Quay at Wareham , where I had my evening pub meal


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