Sightings - Saturday 30th September 2017

Scaup - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Osprey - 1 Middlebere, 2 over Portland Bill
Cattle Egret - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Hampreston Fields Longham Lakes
Great Egret - 1 Lodmoor RSPB
Little Stint - 2 Ferrybridge, 3 Lytchett Fields RSPB, 4 Lodmoor RSPB
Curlew Sandpiper -3 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Knot - 9 Middlebere
Ruff - 4 Lodmoor RSPB, 18 Arne Moors RSPB
STILT SANDPIPER - 1 Middlebere/Coombe Heath
SPOTTED SANDPIPER - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Meadow Pipit - 1100 over Hengistbury Head
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Southwell Portland, 1 Portland Castle
Firecrest - 3 Portland Obs, 3 Studland Middle Beach carpark

Little Stints Lodmoor RSPB copyright Brett Spencer

Sightings - Friday 29th September 2017

Goosander - 6 Christchurch Harbour
Scaup - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Osprey - 1 Middlebere
Spoonbill - 20 Middlebere
Cattle Egret - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery
Great Egret - 1 Middlebere, 1 Lodmoor RSPB
Little Stint - 2 Ferrybridge, 3 Lytchett Fields RSPB, 2 Mudeford Quay, 4 Lodmoor RSPB
Ruff - 5 Lytchett Fields RSPB, 4 Lodmoor RSPB
STILT SANDPIPER - 1 Middlebere, from Coombe Heath late afternoon
SPOTTED SANDPIPER - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Hoopoe - 1 Radipole Village
Wryneck - 1 ringed at Portland Obs
Tree Sparrow - 2 over Long Field Christchurch Harbour

Little Stints Lytchett Fields RSPB copyright Clive Hargrave

Reports of interest, Thursday 28th September 2017.

Goosander - 6 Stanpit Creek.
Great White Egret - 1 Brands Bay, 1 Lodmoor.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Christchurch Harbour, 2 Lytchett Fields, 1 Portland Bill.
Osprey - 1 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Middlebere.
Merlin - 1 Hengistbury Head.
Grey Plover - 1 Stanpit.
Knot - 2 Stanpit.
Ruff - 1 Christchurch Harbour, 4 Longham Lakes, 2 Lytchett Fields, 3 Middlebere.
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 still at Abbotsbury Swannery

Little Stint - 3 Ferrybridge, 4 Lytchett Fields, 1 Holes Bay.
Wryneck - 1 Southwell Quarry (Portland).
Whinchat - 1 Crouch Hill (Christchurch).
Pied Flycatcher - 2 Portland Bill.
Yellow-Browed Warbler - 1 Blacknor (Portland), 1 Thumb Lane (Portland).
Firecrest - At least 20 were reported from various sites on Portland today.
Little Bunting - 1 was ringed at Portland Bill.
Lapland Bunting - 1 Portland Bill.


Little Stint at Lytchett Fields today © Ian Ballam.

Nightjar near Dorchester on 12th Sept © Gerald Duke.

Great White Egret at Lodmoor © Brett Spencer.

Cormorant at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy.

Whinchat at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy.


Sightings - Wednesday 27th September 2017

Scaup - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Balearic Shearwater - 1 past Portland Bill
Cattle Egret - 2 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Great White Egret - 1 at Lodmoor RSPB, 1 Upton CP, 1 over Hengistbury Head
Osprey - 1 Middlebere
Little Stint - 4 at Lodmoor RSPB, 4 on Lytchett Fields RSPB, 4 at Ferrybridge, 2 on Brownsea Lagoon
Curlew Sandpiper - 2 on Brownsea Lagoon, 1 on Lytchett Fields RSPB
Stilt Sandpiper - 1 at Middlebere from Coombe Heath trail
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 still at Abbotsbury
Wood Sandpiper - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Portland Bill

Sightings - Tuesday 26th September 2017

Scaup - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Great White Egret - 1 at Lodmoor RSPB
Spoonbill - 56 at Middlebere plus 5 on Brownsea Lagoon
Osprey - 1 over Upton towards Lytchett Bay
Little Stint - 4 at Lodmoor RSPB, 1 at Radipole RSPB, 1 on Lytchett Fields RSPB, 1 on Arne Moors RSPB, 2 at Ferrybridge, 1 on Brownsea Lagoon
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 on Lytchett Fields RSPB
Stilt Sandpiper - 1 at Middlebere
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 still at Abbotsbury
Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 still on Stanpit Marsh
Wood Sandpiper - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Red-necked Phalarope - 1 still on Arne Moors RSPB (see below for directions)
Wryneck - 1 in a private garden Friars Cliff, Christchurch
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 at Southwell, 1 Thumb Lane (Weston)
Greenish Warbler - 1 reported at Southwell briefly this morning
Pied Flycatcher - 3 at Southwell, 1 at Portland Castle

Shag - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy



















The Red-necked Phalarope is still on the small pool in the NW corner of Arne Moors. Temporary access has been granted through Ridge Wharf boat yard. Turn left off Arne Road onto Sunnyside, then right at the T-junction then after 50 yards turn left into the boat yard. Then, after the speed bumps take the right fork off the tarmacked road before the yard buildings where there is a "Slow - Dust Hazard" sign and park at the far end around the boat trailers. Then walk N along the river bank for 200m to view the pools on the right.

If the gate is closed press the buzzer for entry/exit.

Sightings - Monday 25th September 2017

Scaup - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Cattle Egret - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Great White Egret - 1 at Lodmoor RSPB, 1 at Middlebere, 1 over Portland
Spoonbill - 47 at Middlebere
Little Stint - 3 at Lodmoor RSPB, 3 on Lytchett Fields RSPB
Curlew Sandpiper - 3 on Lytchett Fields RSPB
Stilt Sandpiper - 1 at Middlebere
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 still at Abbotsbury
Wood Sandpiper - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Little Gull - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 at Arne RSPB, 1 at Lytchett Bay, 1 at Portland Bird Observatory, 1 at Southwell, 2 at Weston Craft Centre (Portland), 1 at West Weares Quarry, 1 at Longham Lakes
Greenish Warbler - 1 at Portland Bird Observatory
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 reported still at Lodmoor RSPB briefly

Firecrest - Oakdale (Poole) © Marcus Lawson

Little Stint x2 - Lytchett Fields RSPB © Marcus Lawson

Sightings - Sunday 24th September 2017

Cattle Egret - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery, 2 at Longham Lakes
Great White Egret - 1 at Lodmoor, 1 over Priory Marsh
Spoonbill - 44 at Middlebere
Little Stint - 1 on Arne Moors, 1 at Lodmoor, 2 on Lytchett Fields
Curlew Sandpiper - 4 on Lytchett Fields
Stilt Sandpiper - 1 at Middlebere viewed from Coombe Heath trail
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 still at Abbotsbury
Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 on Priory Marsh, Christchurch Harbour
Red-necked Phalarope - 1 still on Arne Moors
Grey Phalarope - 2 at Rodden Hive
Little Gull - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Short-eared Owl - 2 in off the sea Portland
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 at Arne RSPB, 1 at Weston Craft Centre (Portland)
Greenish Warbler - 1 at Portland Bird Observatory
Pied Flycatcher - 4+ on Portland
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 still at Lodmoor briefly

Stilt Sandpiper - Middlebere © Neil Telfer

Stilt Sandpiper - Middlebere © Neil Telfer

Greenish Warbler - Portland BO © Brett Spencer
Curlew Sandpiper - Lytchett Fields © Ian Ballam

Pied Flycatcher - Portland Castle © Brett Spencer

Whinchat - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy




Sightings - Saturday 23rd September 2017

Scaup - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Great White Egret - 1 at Lodmoor, 1 over Holes Bay
Spoonbill - 37 at Middlebere
Little Stint - 1 on Arne Moors, 1 at Lodmoor, 2 on Lytchett Fields
Curlew Sandpiper - 2 on Lytchett Fields, 1 at Stanpit Bight
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 still at Abbotsbury
Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 on Priory Marsh, Christchurch Harbour
Red-necked Phalarope - 1 still on Arne Moors
Grey Phalarope - 1 still on Arne Moors, 4 at Rodden Hive
Little Gull - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Wryneck - 1 Portland Top Fields
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 at Arne RSPB
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 at Lodmoor

Rose-coloured Starling - Lodmoor © Oliver Mockridge

Rose-coloured Starling - Lodmoor © Oliver Mockridge

House Martin - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy


Sightings - Friday 22nd September 2017

Scaup - 1 drake Abbotsbury Swannery
Goosander - 6 Stanpit Marsh
Great White Egret - 1 Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 24 Middlebere, 1 Lytchett Fields
Osprey - 1 out to sea West Bexington
Ruff - 3 Lytchett Fields
Curlew Sandpiper - 2 Lytchett Fields, 1 Stanpit Marsh (Blackberry Point)
Baird's Sandpiper - 1 Lynch Cove
Little Stint - 4 Lytchett Fields, 1 Lodmoor
Red-necked Phalarope - 1 Arne Moors.
Grey Phalarope - 1 Arne Moors
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Green Sandpiper - 6 Lytchett Fields
Arctic Tern - 1 off Poole Quay
Little Gull - 1 east West Bexington
Yellow-legged Gull - 1 adult Ferrybridge
Caspian Gull - 1 2nd/W Lodmoor
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Durlston CP, 1 Lodmoor
Grasshopper Warbler - 3 Ballard Down
Ring Ouzel - 1 Ballard Down

Swallow - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

















Yellow-legged Gull & Herring Gull - Ferrybridge © Brett Spencer













Yellow-legged Gull - Ferrybridge © Brett Spencer







Sightings - Thursday 21st September 2017

Phalaropes - Arne Moors
There is currently both Red-necked Phalarope and Grey Phalarope together on a small pool in the NW corner of Arne Moors. Temporary access has been granted through Ridge Wharf boat yard. Turn left off Arne Road onto Sunnyside, then right at the T-junction then after 50 yards turn left into the boat yard. Then, after the speed bumps take the right fork off the tarmacked road before the yard buildings where there is a "Slow Dust Hazard" sign and park at the far end around the boat trailers. Then walk N along the river bank for 200m to view the pools on the right.

If the gate is closed press the buzzer for entry/exit.

Parking for the Stilt Sandpiper at Lytchett Fields Park in Sandy Lane or Seaview Road.  Please DO NOT park in Slough Lane as used by LGV's. thank you.

Todays Sightings
Sooty Shearwater - 1 past Portland Bill
Great White Egret - 1 Brand's Bay, 1 Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 37 Middlebere, 10 Brownsea Is. 8 Wareham Channel p.m.
Osprey - 1 Rodden Hive on the Fleet.
Ruff - 2 Lytchett Fields
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 Lytchett Fields, 1 Christchurch Hbr.
Stilt Sandpiper - 1 Lytchett Fields
Baird's Sandpiper - 1 still at Lynch Cove on the Fleet
Little Stint - 3 Lytchett Fields, 2 Lodmoor, 1 Brownsea Is, 1 Christchurch Hbr.
Red-necked Phalarope - 1 at Arne Moors.
Grey Phalarope - 1 Arne Moors
Common Sandpiper - 5 Brownsea Is.
Spotted Sandpiper - still Abbotsbury Swannery
Green Sandpiper - 5 Lytchett Fields
Spotted Redshank - 3 Brownsea Is, 1 Christchurch Hbr.
Greenshank - 18 Brownsea Is, 10 Lytchett Bay
Arctic Skua - 2 past Portland Bill, 1 past Branksome Chine, 1 Weymouth Bay.
Long-tailed Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Great Skua - 1+ past Portland Bill
Arctic Tern - 2 off Poole Quay, 1 off Mudeford Quay

Stilt Sandpiper - Lytchett Fields © Nick Hull

Red-necked Phalarope & Grey Phalarope - Arne Moors © Oliver Mockridge

Sightings - Wednesday 20th September 2017

Dark-bellied Brent Goose - 11 Stanpit Marsh, 6 west Lodmmoor, 4 over Ferrybridge
Garganey - 3 Lodmoor
Scaup - 1 drake Abbotsbury Swannery
Goosander - 1 Christchurch Hbr.
Cattle Egret - 2 Lodmoor, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Great White Egret - 1 Lodmoor, 1 Arne
Spoonbill - 29 Middlebere, 1 Lytchett Bay
Osprey - 1 Arne
Ruff - 3 Lytchett Fields, 1 Longham Lakes
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 pos 2 Lodmoor, 1 Lytchett Fields, 1 Stanpit Marsh
Baird's Sandpiper - 1 Lynch Cove park Camp Rd walk footpath west 1.2km.
Little Stint - 2 Lytchett Fields, 1 Lodmoor
Common Sandpiper - 6 Lodmoor 1 Longham Lake
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery (from Helen Hide)
Arctic Tern - 2 juv Mudeford Quay
Little Gull - 1 Juv Mudeford Quay, 1 Lodmoor
Merlin - 1 Winspit
Firecrest - 2 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Winspit
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 at Private Site in Poole Harbour.
Yellow Wagtail - 19 Middlebere, 8 Stanpit Marsh, 8 Lodmoor


Sightings - Tuesday 19th September 2017

Great White Egret - 1 Middlebere, 1 Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 21 Middlebere, 8 Brownsea Is, 4 SW over Mudeford Quay, 1 Lytchett Fields.
Osprey - 1 over SW Stanpit Marsh, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Ruff - 3 Lytchett Fields
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 Lytchett Fields
Baird's Sandpiper - 1 Lynch Cove park Camp Rd walk footpath west 1.2km.
Little Stint - 1 Lytchett Foelds, 1 Brownsea Is.
Least Sandpiper - 1 still Lodmoor
Grey Phalarope - 1 Arne Moors
Common Sandpiper - 6 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Longham Lake, 1 Lodmoor
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery (from Helen Hide this p.m.)
Green Sandpiper - 5 Lytchett Fields
Spotted Redshank - 1 Brownsea Is.
Greenshank - 16 Lytchett Fields
Wryneck - 1 Lodmoor

Spotted Sandpiper - Abbotsbury Swannery ©Roger Hewit















Kingfisher - Brownsea Island © Clinton Whale



















Mediterranean Gull - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Monday 18th September 2017

Cattle Egret - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Great White Egret - 1 Middlebere, 1 over Sixpenny Handley this evening
Spoonbill - 21 at Middlebere, 9 on Brownsea Lagoon, 1 on Lytchett Fields
Least Sandpiper - 1 still at Lodmoor
Little Stint - 1 on Brownsea Lagoon, 1 at Ferrybridge, 1 Lynch Cove
Baird's Sandpiper - 1 at Lynch Cove (The Fleet)
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 at Lytchett Fields
Ruff - 1 at Longham Lakes, 1 at Lytchett Fields
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Little Gull - 1 East Bexington
Wryneck - 1 near Avalanche Road Hump (Portland)

Spotted Sandpiper - Abbotsbury Swannery © Mike Morse

Ruff - Lytchett Fields © Ian Ballam

Curlew Sandpiper - Lytchett Fields © Adrian Groves



Sightings - Sunday 17th September 2017

Cattle Egret - 3 at Lodmoor briefly this evening then flew east
Great White Egret - 1 Wytch Channel, 1 at Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 3 on Brownsea Lagoon
Least Sandpiper - 1 still at Lodmoor
Little Stint - 2 at Lodmoor, 1 at Ferrybridge
Baird's Sandpiper - 1 at Lynch Cove, the Fleet
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 at Lytchett Fields
Ruff - 1 at Longham Lakes
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Grey Phalarope - 1 on Arne Moors, 1 still at Abbotsbury Swannery
Hoopoe - 1 still Southwell
Wryneck - 1 at Portland Obs Quarry still
Ring Ouzel - 1 at Durlston CP

Baird's Sandpiper - Lynch Cove © Brett Spencer
Baird's Sandpiper - Lynch Cove © Chris Patrick
Baird's Sandpiper - Lynch Cove © Chris Patrick

Whinchat - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy
White Wagtail - Littlesea, The Fleet © Brett Spencer


Dartford Warbler - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Saturday 16th September 2017

Great White Egret - 1 over the mouth of R Frome
Spoonbill - 22 at Middlebere, 5 on Brownsea Lagoon, 3 west over Christchurch Harbour, 1 at Lytchett Fields
Osprey - 1 over mouth of R Frome, 1 Brand's Bay, 1 West Bexington
Least Sandpiper - 1 still at Lodmoor
Little Stint - 2 at Ferrybridge, 1 still at Longham Lakes
Baird's Sandpiper - 1 still on Brownsea Lagoon
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 at Lytchett Fields
Grey Phalarope - 1 still at Abbotsbury Swannery
Arctic Tern - 1 on Brownsea Lagoon
Short-eared Owl - 1 over Christchurch Harbour
Hoopoe - 1 still at Southwell but very elusive
Wryneck - 1 at Durlston CP in the gully, 1 still Portland Obs Quarry
Ring Ouzel - 1 Portland
Hooded Crow - 1 still at Manor Farm, Studland

Wheatear - Holes Bay © Clinton Whale

Sightings - Friday 15th September 2017

Great White Egret - 1 still at Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 5 over Portland, 1 Lytchett Fields
Osprey - 1 over Southwell
Least Sandpiper  1 still at Lodmoor
Little Stint - 1 at Longham Lakes
Baird's Sandpiper - 1 still on Brownsea Lagoon
Stilt Sandpiper - 1 still at Lodmoor early morning only
Buff-breasted Sandpiper - 1 at Southwell (Portland) early morning only
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Lytchett Fields
Grey Phalarope - 4 Abbotsbury Swannery
Yellow-legged Gull - 6 in Holes Bay
Arctic Tern -  1 East Bexington
Short-eared Owl - 1 over Durlston CP
Hoopoe - 1 Southwell (Portland)
Wryneck - 2+ on Portland
Ring Ouzel - 1 at Durlston, 1 on Portland


Black-tailed Godwit - Lodmoor © Derek Fowler

Redstart - Briantspuddle © Roger Hewitt

Sightings - Thursday 14th September 2017

Garganey - 1 Brownsea Island lagoon
Goosander - 6 Hengistbury Head
Storm Petrel - 4+ Portland Bill
Great White Egret - 1 Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 7 Brownsea Island, 1 Lytchett Fields
Osprey - 1Wareham Channel, 1 Christchurch Harbour
Merlin - 3  Slepe Heath/Wareham Channel area
Hobby - 1 near Langton Herring
Ruff - 1 Stanpit
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 Lytchett Fields
STILT SANDPIPER - 1 Lodmoor
LEAST SANDPIPER  1 Lodmoor
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER - 1 on Brownsea Island lagoon
Little Stint - 1 Lodmoor
Buff-breasted Sandpiper - 1 Southwell (Portland)
Grey Phalarope - 5 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Langton Hive
Arctic Tern -  12+ West Bexington, 2 Portland Bill, 1 Studland Bay
Hoopoe - 1 Southwell (Portland)
Wryneck - 1 Portland Bill
Redstart - 1 near Langton Herring, 1 Coombe Valley Road (N of Weymouth)
Whinchat - 1 White Nothe, 1 Lytchett Fields, 1 Portland Bill
Tawny Pipit - 1 over Brownsea Island
Tree Pipit - 1 White Nothe

Stilt Sandpiper at Lodmoor © Derek Fowler
Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Portland Bill © Chris Minvalla


Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Portland Bill © Roger Hewitt

Oystercatcher at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy
Redshank at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Yellow Wagtails at Lodmoor © Derek Fowler


Great White Egret at Lodmoor © Derek Fowler


Sightings - Wednesday 13th September 2017

Garganey - 4 Longham Lakes
Goosander - 6 Stanpit
Manx Shearwater - 7 Portland Bill
Balearic Shearwater - 13 Portland Bill
Storm Petrel - 1 Portland Bill
Leach's Petrel - 1 past Portland Bill
Cattle Egret - 1 Hengistbury Head
Great White Egret - 1 Lodmoor
Osprey - 1 over Brownsea Island
Curlew Sandpiper - 2 Lytchett Fields, at least 1 on Brownsea Island lagoon
STILT SANDPIPER - 1 Lodmoor
LEAST SANDPIPER  1 Lodmoor
BAIRD'S SANDPIPER - 1 Brownsea Island lagoon
Buff-breasted Sandpiper - 1 Southwell (Portland)
Grey Phalarope - 8 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Chesil Cove, 1 Butterstreet Cove, 1 Cutleaves Cove,
                         1 Ferrybridge
Spotted Redshank - 1 Holes Bay
Greenshank - 1 Hengistbury Head
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Lytchett Fields
Great Skua - 7 Portland Bill
Black Tern - 2 Brownsea Island lagoon, 1 Mudeford Quay, 1 Abbotsbury
Arctic Tern - 4 Mudeford Quay, 2 Ferrybridge, 1 Portland Bill
Roseate Tern - 1 Hengistbury Head
Sabine's Gull - 1 past Portland Bill, 1 past Hengistbury Head
Little Gull - 2 Portland Bill, 1 Abbotsbury
Hoopoe - 1 Southwell (Portland)
Wryneck - 1 Portland Bill

Little Egret at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Great Crested Grebe at Longham Lakes © Roger Peart

Black-headed Gull at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Tufted Duck at Longham Lakes © Roger Peart