Dorset Birds: Sunday 12th March 2023

Black-necked Grebe - 2 Portland Harbour, 1 Studland Bay

Glaucous Gull - 1st winter Silverlake

Spoonbill - 10 Shipstal Point, Arne RSPB

Cattle Egret - 24 Portesham

Red Kite - 2 over St Ives

Woodlark - 1 over Portland Bird Observatory

Sand Martin - 2 Radipole Lake RSPB

Firecrest - First male of spring at Portland Bird Observatory

Redwing - 30 Badbury Rings

Fieldfare - 80 Badbury Rings

Wheatear - 1 at the Fleet

Wheatear, The Fleet © Freddy Alway

Mediterranean Gull, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Brent Geese, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

RARE BREEDING BIRDS

Dorset Bird Club and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel advocate special caution when reporting rare breeding birds as they are vulnerable to persecution and disturbance.

Please consider the birds welfare and do not share details of any rare breeding species on X/Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp groups, personal websites, blogs, or local birdwatching message boards.

We urge all finders of rare birds to consider whether they may be breeding before sharing the news.

Sightings should always be submitted, in confidence, to the county recorder to contribute to long-term national monitoring.

DORSET BIRD REPORT 2023

The Dorset Bird Report 2023, produced by Dorset Bird Club, is now available for purchase by non-members via the DBC website (click on the report cover image below). Featuring a review of the year, a comprehensive systematic list of all species recorded in 2023, rarity finder accounts including the first Moltoni's Warbler and Isabelline Wheatear for Dorset, articles on Baltic Gull, the Alpine Swift influx, Cory's and Great Shearwaters, and the return of the Cirl Bunting. Illustrated throughout with images taken by Dorset's leading photographers. £16 (+ £3 shipping).