Sightings - Wednesday 30th April 2014

Garganey - 1, Radipole
Spoonbill - 8, Middlebere
Iceland Gull - 1, Radipole and Portland
Little Gull - 3, Swineham
Arctic Skua - 2, Portland
Great Skua - 1, Portland
Hoopoe - 1, Durlston
Black Redstart - 1, Portland
Serin - 1, Abbotsbury

Sightings - Tuesday 29th April 2014

Reasonable numbers of migrants reported at coastal sites today and over 300 birds ringed at Portland. 

Birds of note included:

Garganey - 1, Ferrybridge; 3 Swineham
Little Gull - 1, Swineham
Wood Warbler - 2 Portland (Southwell)

Sightings - Monday 28th April 2014

Great Egret - 1, Stoborough (fly over)
Hoopoe - 1, Portland (top fields)
Iceland Gull - 1, Portland
Little Gull - 3, Swineham; 1 Lytchett
Woodlark - 1, Portland Bill
Whinchat - 1, Portland
Spotted Flycatcher - 1, Hengistbury Head; 1 Broadway
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1, Portland

Sightings - Sunday 27th April 2014

Whimbrel - numerous, with counts including 10, Upton CP; 16 Priory Marsh; 14 Stanpit
Little Gull - 1, Swineham
Iceland Gull - 1, Portland
Black Tern - 1, Portland
Firecrest - 5, Abbotsbury Gardens
Nightingale - 3, Ringstead, 2 Corfe Castle

Sightings - Saturday 26th April 2014

Red-throated Diver - 5 past Portland Bill
Black-throated Diver - 1 past Portland Bill
Garganey - 3 Swineham
Whimbrel - 29 Lodmoor, 47 past Chesil Beach Ferrybridge, 26 past Portland Bill, 57 past/at Christchurch Harbour, 30 past Wyke Regis, 115 past West Bay
Little Ringed Plover - 3 West Knighton GPs
Spoonbill - 6 Middlebere
Common Crane - (yesterday) 7 Galton Heath near Winfrith
Iceland Gull - 1 Chesil Beach Ferrybridge
Little Gull - 1 Chesil Beach Ferrybridge, 1 past Portland Bill, 1 Swineham, 1 past Wyke Regis
Arctic Skua - 2 Chesil Beach Ferrybridge, 7 past Portland Bill
Great Skua - 3 Chesil Beach Ferrybridge, 7 past Portland Bill, 2 past West Bay
Commic Tern - 250 past Portland Bill
Arctic Tern - 21 past Portland Bill
Black Tern - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 ringed at Portland Obs

Sightings - Friday 25th April 2014

Garganey - 1 Brownsea Island lagoon
Eider - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Ferrybridge
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 Ferrybridge
Whimbrel - 18 Stanpit Marsh, 11 past Mudeford Quay, 16 past Ferrybridge
Spoonbill - 6 Middlebere
Iceland Gull - 1 east fields Portland
Great Skua - 2 past Durlston
Arctic Skua - 1 past Durlston, 4 past Chesil Cove


Black-tailed Godwits © Clinton Whale

Sightings - Tuesday 22nd April 2014

Garganey - 1 Longham Lake, 2 Christchurch Harbour
Spotted Redshank - 2 Brownsea Island lagoon
Whimbrel - 10 Christchurch Harbour, 8 Lodmoor
Dunlin - 145 Ferrybridge, 190 Stanpit Marsh
Spoonbill - 7 Brownsea Island lagoon
Common Crane - 4 flew north-west over Stratton
Iceland Gull - 1 Hengistbury Head
Little Gull - 3 Christchurch Harbour
Nightingale - 1 Portland
Common Redstart - 12 plus Portland
Northern Wheatear - 150 Christchurch Harbour, 225 Top Fields Portland, 40 Lytchett Bay
Whinchat - 5 Hengistbury Head, 2 Lytchett Bay
Ring Ouzel - 3 Christchurch Harbour, 5 west Portland
Willow Warbler - 97 ringed at Portland Obs
Pied Flycatcher - 3 Portland
Serin - 1 Christchurch Harbour

Sightings - Monday 21st April 2014

Garganey - 2 Longham Lakes
NORTHERN HARRIER - male flew north off Barleycrates Lane Portland
Spotted Redshank - 2 Brownsea Island lagoon
Spoonbill - 4 Brownsea Island lagoon
Common Crane - 4 from the Somerset reintroduction scheme Chard GPs
Little Gull - 7 Chesil Cove
Iceland Gull - 1 Boscombe
Great Skua - 2 past Portland Bill,  1 past Chesil Cove
Yellow Wagtail - Blue-headed bird at Barleycrates Lane Portland
Common Redstart - 11 plus Portland
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Wick Field Christchurch Harbour, 1 Portland Castle, 1 Priory Corner Portland
Wood Warbler - 1 Bluebell Wood Bloxworth
Serin - 1 California Quarry Swanage

Northern Harrier Portland © Peter Moore

Common Cranes Chard GPs © Dave Helliar



Sightings - Sunday 20th April 2014

Garganey - 2 Longham Lakes
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Lytchett Bay
Whimbrel -  23 past Hengistbury Head
Serin  - 1 Portland Obs, 1 possible Durlston

Sightings - Saturday 19th April 2014

Garganey - 2 Longham Lakes, 1 Swineham CP
Osprey - 1 Middlebere
Spotted Redshank - 2 Stanpit Marsh
Arctic Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Little Gull - 1 1st summer Swineham GP
Cuckoo - 2 Morden Bog
Yellow Wagtail - 5 Christchurch Harbour
Tree Pipit - 2 Briantspuddle Heath
Redstart - 2 Nursery Christchurch Harbour, 4 Portland (Reap Lane and Portland Castle), 1 Morden Bog
Whinchat -  2 Portland (Barleycrates Lane and Suckthumb Quarry)
Ring Ouzel - 1 Portland (Barleycrates Lane)
Pied Flycatcher - 3 Portland (Portland Castle, Suckthumb Quarry, Barleycrates Lane), 1 Nursery Christchurch Harbour
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Ballard Down east end of clifftop wood
Wood Warbler - 1 Portland Obs

Shelducks Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Friday 18th April 2014

Garganey - 2 Longham Lakes
Mandarin Duck - 1 Canford
Red-throated Diver - 3 Portland Bill
Great Northern Diver - 1 Portland Bill
Osprey - 1 Middlebere
Iceland Gull - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Little Gull - 2 Mudeford Quay
Black Tern - 1 Chesil Cove
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Lodmoor
Whimbrel - 1 Lodmoor, 3 Lytchett Bay, 3 Portland Bill
Greenshank - 2 Lytchett Bay
Spotted Redshank - 1 Brownsea
Cuckoo - 1 Portland (Tout Quarry)
Swift - 3 Longham Lakes, 1 Mudeford Quay
Blue-headed Wagtail - 1 Portland Bill
Wheatear - 100+ Portland Bill
Redstart - 10 Portland Bill, 1 Portland (Barleycrates Lane)
Whinchat - 4 Portland Bill, 4+ Portland (Barleycrates Lane)
Ring Ouzel - 1 Portland (Barleycrates Lane)
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Portland Bill, 1 Portland (Suckthumb Quarry)
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Hengistbury Head, 4+ Portland Bill
Willow Warbler - 300+ Portland Bill
Blackcap - 150+ Portland Bill


Dunlin at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Thursday 17th April 2014

Garganey - 2 Longham Lakes
Common Scoter - 111 Portland Bill
Red-throated Diver - 11 Portland Bill
Arctic Skua - 2 Portland Bill
Iceland Gull - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Common Gull - 75+ in Hengistbury area.
Mediterranean Gull - 103 past Hengistbury in 2 hours.
Purple Sandpiper - 1 Mudeford Quay
Whimbrel - 4 Portland Bill, 8 Stanpit
Sanderling - 1 Stanpit
Greenshank - 2 Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Red-rumped Swallow - 1 Portland Bill
Redstart - 3 Durlston CP
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Durlston CP.
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Durlston CP, 9 Hengistbury Head, 2 Portland isle
Savi's Warbler - an unconfirmed report from Radipole Lake.

Sightings - Wednesday 16th April 2014

Garganey - 2 Brownsea
Great Northern Diver - 3 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Bill
Black-throated Diver - 2 Hengistbury Head
Red-throated Diver - 1 Hengistbury Head, 7  Portland Bill
Marsh Harrier - 1 Poole Harbour
Hobby - 1 Hartland Moor, 1 Lodmoor
Arctic Skua - 1 Chesil Cove, 5 Portland Bill
Iceland Gull - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Common Gull - 58 past Hengistbury Head
Little Gull - 63 Chesil Cove, 58 Portland Bill
Little Tern - 1 Mudeford Quay, 3 Portland Bill
Grey Plover - 1 Durlston CP, 1 Hengistbury Head, 2 Portland Bill
Whimbrel - 1 Brownsea, 1 Durlston CP, 5 Hengistbury Head, 5 Portland Bill, 2 Stanpit
Sanderling - 1 Stanpit
Greenshank - 2 Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Cuckoo - 1 Arne, 1 Stanpit
Redstart - 1+ Durlston CP, 1 Portland Bill, 1 Portland (Reap Lane)
Ring Ouzel - 1 Portland (Culverwell), 1 Soldiers Road
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Christchurch Harbour

Sightings - Tuesday 15th April 2014

Red-throated Diver - 1 Chesil Cove, 1 Durlston CP
Spoonbill - 1 Hengistbury Hd, 3 Lytchett Bay
Hen Harrier - 1 Chesil Cove
Merlin - 1 Chesil Cove, 1 Portland Bill
Hobby - 1 Portland Bill
Arctic Skua - 2 Portland Bill
Pomarine Skua - 1 Chesil Cove
Iceland Gull - 1 Chesil Cove, 1 Ferrybridge, 1 Portland Bill
Puffin - 1 Portland Bill
Grey Plover - 2 Brownsea
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Lodmoor
Knot - 8 Brownsea
Whimbrel - 3 Chesil Cove, 5 Christchurch Harbour, 4 Durlston CP, 5 Lodmoor, 1 Portland Bill
Green Sandpiper - 1 Longham Lakes
Greenshank - 1 Longham Lakes, 3 Lytchett Bay
Spotted Redshank - 4 Brownsea
Blue-Headed Wagtail - 1 Portland (Reap Lane)
Cuckoo - 1 Hartland Moor
Redstart - 5 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Durlston CP, 1 Hartland Moor, 3 Lamberts Castle, 1 Portland (Barleycrates Lane),
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Durlston CP
Ring Ouzel - 1 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Portland Bill, 1 Portland (Barleycrates Lane), 1 West Morden
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Durlston CP

Ringed Plover at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Mediterranean Gulls at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Monday 14th April 2014

Spoonbill - 12 Arne
Red Kite - 1 over Stanpit village
Osprey - 1 over Abbotsbury Swannery
Whimbrel - 8 Christchurch Harbour
Common Sandpiper - 3 Lodmoor, 1 Sturminster Marshall GPs
Iceland Gull - 1 past Portland Bill
Little Gull - 1 Swineham
Little Tern - 3 Christchurch Harbour
Cuckoo - 1 Morden Bog
Common Redstart - 26 Hengistbury Head, 15+ on Portland (inc. 4 ringed at Portland Bill), 7 Acton (nr Langton Matravers),   3 Durlston, 1 Sturminster Marshall GPs
Ring Ouzel - 1 Durlston, 2 Hengistbury Head
Grasshopper Warbler - at least 5 on Portland, 1 Durlston, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Hengistbury Head
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Hilfield (in private garden)
Firecrest - 1 Hengistbury Head
Pied Flycatcher - 3 North Portland, 2 Hengistbury Head, 1 Reap Lane Portland, 1 ringed at Portland Bill, 1 Acton (nr Langton Matravers)

Redstart on Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Wheatear on Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy








Interested in doing some farmland bird surveys.............?

If anyone is interested in helping out, please read the communication below and reply directly to Alex.

Dear Mr. Gartshore

I am arranging a number of farmland bird surveys this year in the Purbeck area and also on the South Dorset Ridgeway and wondered whether you or any of your members would be interested in undertaking some surveys? We plan to walk a series of fixed routes running through farmland in the vicinity of arable fields on three occasions during the spring and early summer months to record birds seen/heard. The surveys form part of the Wild Purbeck Nature Improvement Area (NIA) project and the South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership project – and travel expenses can be claimed back. If you or any of your members are interested please feel free to ring or email and I would happy to answer any queries or further explain things.

Yours sincerely
Alex Butler
Farm Conservation Advisor

FWAG SouthWest Ltd
Dorset History Centre
Bridport Road
Dorchester
DT1 1RP

(01305) 228913
www.fwagsw.org.uk
Registered in England No. 07865031
Charity No. 1146071

Sightings - Sunday 13th April 2014


Osprey - 1 over Portland Bill
Red Kite - 1 Blandford
Black-winged Stilt - 2 still in Bestwall/Swineham area
Spotted Redshank - 1 again at Stanpit
Whimbrel - 1 at least on Hengistbury Head
Iceland Gull - 1 Stanpit, 1 Ferrybridge
Little Gull - 2 Swineham
Cuckoo - 1 heard at Badbury Rings
Yellow Wagtail - 1 over Portland Bill
Common Redstart - 2 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland (Barleycrates Lane), 1 Durlston
Grasshopper Warbler - 3 Portland (2 Suckthumb Quarry, 1 Barleycrates Lane), 1 Wick (Christchurch Harbour)


Black-winged Stilts at Bestwall © Paul Morton




Wheatear on Hengistbury Head © David Wareham

Sightings - Saturday 12th April 2014

Black-throated Diver - 1 past Hengistbury Head
Spoonbill - 10 Arne
Red Kite - 1 over Bincombe
Black-winged Stilt - 2 Bestwall (Wareham)
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Whimbrel -  4 past Hengistbury Head, 1 over Portland Bill
Iceland Gull - 1 Portland Bill, 1 Radipole RSPB, 1 Ferrybridge
Swift - 1 over Portland Bill
Common Redstart - 2 Durlston, 2 Portland (Wakeham)
Ring Ouzel - 2 Bincombe, 1 Portland (Nicodemus Knob)
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Durlston,  1 Portland, 1 Christchurch Harbour (Ashtree Meadows)
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Lodmoor
Whitethroat - 1 Portland Bill, 1 Lodmoor
Tree Sparrow - 1 Hengistbury Head (over Coastguards)

Black-winged Stilts at Bestwall © Paul Morton

Sightings - Friday 11th April 2014

Spoonbill - 2 past Hengistbury Head
Red Kite - 1 Compton Valance, 1 Ashmore
Crane - 3 over Stoborough
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Sturminster Marshall GP
Spotted Redshank - 2 Brownsea Island, 1 Stanpit
Puffin - 3 Dancing Ledge, 1 past Durlston  
Cuckoo - 1 Sturminster Marshall GP
House Martin - 1 Hengistbury Head
Yellow Wagtail - 1 Durlston
Common Redstart - 3 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Seacombe, 1 Portland Bill
Whinchat - 1 Hengistbury Head
Ring Ouzel - 1 Sturminster Marshall GP
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Durlston,  1 Portland
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Portland Bill, 1 Hengistbury Head
Whitethroat - 1 Wick (Christchurch Harbour)

Dartford Warbler © Katie Horrocks

Sand Martin at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Thursday 10th April 2014

Garganey - 1 Swineham GP.
Red Kite - 1 over north Middlebere
Osprey - 1 Arne/Middlebere, 1 Lodmoor, 1 Portland Bill
Little Ringed Plover - 3 Stanpit Marsh.
Whimbrel - 6 Stanpit Marsh
Iceland Gull - 1 Stanpit on South Marsh
Water Pipit - 2 over Hengistbury Hd.
Yellow Wagtail - 1 over Hengistbury Hd.
Black Redstart - 1 Overcombe Weymouth
Common Redstart - 4 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Hartland Moor.
Ring Ouzel - 1 over Border Rd. Upton.
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 reeling Barn Bight Hengistbury Hd.
Sedge Warbler - 4 Priory Marsh, 1 Durlston CP.
Reed Warbler - 1 Swineham Pt, 1 Priory Marsh.
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Lodmoor (3rd day)
Whitethroat - 1 Wick 
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Tree Sparrow - 1 Hengistbury Hd by coastguards

Sightings - Wednesday 9th April 2014

Black-necked Grebe - 1 Swineham GP.
Spoonbill - 2 Middlebere, 1 Lodmoor
Osprey - 1 Middlebere/Arne
Purple Sandpiper - 3 Hengistbury Hd.
Whimbrel - 3 Christchurch Hbr.
Common Sandpiper - 3 Portland Bill, 1 Swineham GP.
Iceland Gull - 1 juv. Chesil Cove
Common Tern - 2 Christchurch Hbr.
Puffin - 1 Portland Bill
Cuckoo - 1 Greenland's Fm, 1 Witchampton, 1 Hillfield.
House Martin - 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Tree Pipit - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Common Redstart - 9 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Durlston CP
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Durlston CP.
Sedge Warbler - 1Stanpit Marsh, 1 Durlston CP.
Willow Warbler - 370 Hengistbury Hd.
Pied Flycatcher - 1 male Portland  Bill
Serin - 1 over HengistburynHd.

Common Redstart - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Tuesday 8th April 2014

Garganey - 1 Swineham GP
Spoonbill - 2 Brownsea Is, 5 Brands Bay
Osprey - 1 over Broadway Weymouth
Merlin - 1 over Preston
Little Gull - 1 imm Swineham GP
Iceland Gull - 1 juv Chesil Cove
Sand Martin - 100+ Lodmoor
Red-rumped Swallow - 1 Lodmoor a.m.
Whitethroat - 1 Coombe Valley Weymouth
Willow Warbler - 4 Wick Hengistbury

Wheatear - Hengistbury Sandspit © Joe Murphy

Wheatear -Hengistbury Sandspit © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Monday 7th April 2014

Pale-bellied Brent - 2 Stanpit Marsh
Common Scoter - 33 Hengistbury Hd, 24 Portland Bill, 16 Durlston CP.
Manx Shearwater - 37 Portland Bill, 2 Durlston CP.
Balearic Shearwater - 1 Mudeford Quay
Merlin - 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Hobby - 1 Stoborough Heath
Great Skua - 3 Portland Bill, 2 Chesil Cove, 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Arctic Skua - 1 Durlston CP.
Little Gull - 4 Portland Bill, 2 Hengistbury Hd.
Iceland Gull - 1 juv. Ferrybridge
Little Tern - 1 Ferrybridge
Sandwich Tern - 49 Hengistbury Hd.
Common Tern - 20 Portland Bill, 4 Hengistbury Hd.
Arctic Tern - 2 Portland Bill
Red-rumped Swallow - 1 Lodmoor. (3rd day).

Sightings - Sunday 6th April 2014

Common Scoter - 1 Chard Junction GPs
Garganey - 1 Swineham
Mandarin Duck - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 1 Portland Harbour
Black-Throated Diver - 5 Portland Harbour
Red-Throated Diver - 5 Portland Bill
Black-Necked Grebe - 1 Swineham in summer plumage
Marsh Harrier - 3 Poole Harbour
Arctic Skua - 1 Portland Bill
Iceland Gull - 1 Ferrybridge
Little Gull - 1 Weymouth Bay
Common Tern - 1 Swineham
Grey Plover - 2 Hengistbury Head sandspit
Purple Sandpiper - 6 Hengistbury Head sandspit
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Red-Rumped Swallow - 1 Lodmoor
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - 1 Parley
Redstart - 1 Durlston CP
Black Redstart - 1 Portland (Reap Lane)
Ring Ouzel - 1 Portland Bill


Common Scoter at Chard Junction © Dave Helliar

Sightings - Saturday 5th April 2014

Common Scoter - 1 Chard Junction GPs (first site record), 15 Hengistbury Head
Osprey - 1 Lodmoor
Yellow-Legged Gull - 2 Brownsea
Purple Sandpiper - 14 Hengistbury Head sandspit
Sanderling  - 2 Hengistbury Head sandspit
Spotted Redshank - 2 Brownsea
Greenshank - 5 Brownsea
Green Sandpiper - 1 Chard Junction GPs
Red-Rumped Swallow - 1 Lodmoor
Redstart - 1 Portland Bill
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill

Late news from yesterday:  Hen Harrier in West Holme area,
Iceland Gull off Purbeck (Winspit-St Aldhelms).


Sightings - Friday 4th April 2014

Scaup - 1 (drake), Swineham
Garganey - 1, Christchurch Harbour
Surf Scoter - 1, Brands Bay
Great Northern Diver - 1, Knoll Beach, 1 Portland Bill
Black-necked Grebe - 2, Hengistbury Head
Manx Shearwater - 3, Portland Bill
Great White Egret - 1, Avon Valley (Coward's Marsh)
Black-tailed Godwit - 150, Middlebere
Little Ringed Plover - 6, Hurn
Iceland Gull - 1, Christchurch Harbour
Common Tern - 1, Swineham
Arctic Skua - 1, Portland Bill
Marsh Harrier - 2, Swineham
Garden Warbler - 1, Hengistbury
Sedge Warbler - 1, Hengistbury
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1, Knoll Beach

late news from yesterday included a Hoopoe at Durlston

Sightings - Thursday 3rd April 2014

Red-breasted Goose - 1 Stanpit
Manx Shearwater - 1, Portland Bill
Red Kite - 1, Baiter, Poole; 1 Morden Bog, 1 Merley
Merlin - 1, Hengistbury
Iceland Gull - 1, Portland Bill
Little Gull - 7, Portland Bill
Arctic Skua - 1, Portland Bill
Tree Pipit - 2, Durlston
Yellow Wagtail - 1, Hengistbury
Black Redstart- 1, Portland Bill
Redstart - 1, Durslton
Firecrest - 1, Portland Bill
Siberian Chiffchaff - 2, Stanpit
Brambling - 1, Hengistbury, 1 Durlston

Peregrines - BTO Needs Help in Dorset

Thank you to all who responded and volunteered to help with the BTO Peregrine Survey this year. There are  still four squares to cover:

SY48_NE Burton Bradstock

SY97_NE Worth Matravers/St Aldhelm's
(http://blx1.bto.org/peregrinemaps/index.jsp?ref=SY97_NE)

If you're interested in taking on a 5x5km square please contact Dawn Balmer (dawn.balmer@bto.org) as soon as possible.

Many thanks