Dorset Birds: Friday 9th February 2024

Spotted Redshank - 3 Lytchett Fields.
Purple Sandpiper - 16 Hengistbury sandspit.
White-tailed Eagle - 1 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Poole Harbour, 2 north Dorset.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Wick.
Hen Harrier - 1 Middlebere.
Merlin - 1 Wareham common.
Little Gull - 1 Stanpit.
Great Northern Diver - 3 off Arne.
Black-throated Diver - 1 off Arne.
Great White Egret - 1 Sturminster Marshall (White Mill).
Cattle Egret - 17 Wareham Common.
Waxwing - 8 Upton (Dacombe Drive)/Canford Heath (Asda car park).
Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Fields.
Swallow - 1 Studland.
Firecrest - 1 Dewlish, 1 Hatch Pond, 1 Wick.

Blue Tit, Tuckton © Dave Hill.

Herring Gull, Tuckton © Dave Hill.

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.