Tuesday 31st December 2024

Long-tailed Duck - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery (no public access), 1 again in through Poole Harbour                         Entrance at its usual time around 8am then off Jerry's Point

Slavonian Grebe - 2 Studland Bay off Middle Beach

Black-necked Grebe - 4 Studland Bay, 1 in Portland Harbour off Sandsfoot Castle

Ruff - 3 Swineham Point

Purple Sandpiper -  2 Lyme Regis, 2 Sandbanks north of Haven Hotel

Spotted Redshank - 2 Middlebere, 1 Lytchett Bay from Rock Lea Viewpoint
Greenshank - 6 Lytchett Bay from Rock Lea Viewpoint

Red-throated Diver - 1 Poole Bay

Great Northern Diver - 4 Studland Bay, 1 Poole Bay

Spoonbill - 7 Brand's Bay, 2 Middlebere

Cattle Egret - 1 Swineham between rugby club abd GPs
Great White Egret - 1 Lytchett Bay

Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail at Middlebere, 1 male at Lytchett Bay, 1 male Winterborne Stickland

White tailed Eagle - 3 (2 adults, 1 juv) together in Lytchett Bay on Otter Island
Merlin - 1 Portland Bill
Firecrest - 2 Culpeppers Dish
Black Redstart - 1 female type near Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis
Crossbill - at least 5 at Culpeppers Dish
Snow Bunting - 1 still at east end of Hamworthy Beach

 

Snow Bunting, Hamworthy Beach © Garry Hayman

Snow Bunting, Hamworthy Beach © Garry Hayman

 

 

Hen Harrier, Middlebere © David Nunn

Marsh Harrier, Middlebere © David Nunn

Spoonbill, Middlebere © David Nunn

 

Monday 30th December 2024

Pintail - 558 Brand's Bay, 224 Holes Bay
Goldeneye - 1 female at Longham Lakes
Eider - 1 imm. male in Bramble Bush Bay

Velvet Scoter - 1 Hengistbury Head

Long-tailed Duck - 1 in through Poole Harbour Entrance and then off Jerry's Point

Slavonian Grebe - 1 off Jerry's Point

Black-necked Grebe - 11 off Castle Cove in Portland Harbour, 2 Studland Bay, 2 Jerry's Point

Knot - 38 Holes Bay NW

Purple Sandpiper - 1 Sandbanks (seen from South Haven)
Green Sandpiper - 3 at Empool Bottom near Warmwell

Spotted Redshank - 2 Middlebere
Common Gull - 892 Brand's Bay

Red-throated Diver - 18 Hengistbury Head

Black-throated Diver - 2 Portland Harbour, 1 in through Poole Harbour Entrance, 1 Studland Bay,                     1 Parkstone Bay, 1 Hengistbury Head

Great Northern Diver - 4 Portland Harbour, 4 Studland Bay, 2 Parkstone Bay, 1 Brand's Bay,                             1 Hengistbury Head

Spoonbill - 5 Middlebere, 2 Brand's Bay

Cattle Egret - 8 seen flying near Clifton Maybank

Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail over Morden Bog, 1 male over Scotland  Farm

White tailed Eagle - 2 over Rempstone Estate
Woodlark - 1 Middlebere
Firecrest - 1 Hatch Pond
Snow Bunting - 1 east end of Hamworthy Beach

Stonechat, Maiden Castle © Alan Membury

Skylark, Maiden Castle © Alan Membury

Blackbird, Maiden Castle © Alan Membury

Spoonbill, Middlebere © Garry Hayman

Spotted Redshank, Middlebere © Garry Hayman

Sunday 29th December 2024

Green - winged Teal -  1 Brands Bay
Eider - 1 imm. male off Jerry's point still

Common Scoter - 10 Studland Bay Middle Beach

Long - tailed Duck - in through Poole Harbour Entrance AM and later off Jerry's Point

Slavonian Grebe - 1 off Jerry's Point

Black - necked Grebe - 2 off Jerry's Point, 8 Studland Bay

Golden Plover - 87 Tarrant Rushton Airfield, 6 Rodden Hive, 2 St Aldhelms Head

Black tailed Godwit - 1500 Stanpit Bight

Purple Sandpiper - 2 Sandbanks on 4th groyne

Common Sandpiper - 1 Lytchett Bay RSPB Rock Lea VP

Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Bay RSPB Rock Lea VP

Red throated Diver - 20 off St Aldhelms Head, 1 Poole Bay

Black throated Diver - 1 Parkstone bay off Baiter Park, 1 Studland Bay

Great Northern Diver - 5 Poole Bay, 3 Jerry's Point, 3 Middle Beach, 1 Parkstone Bay off Baiter Park

Spoonbill - 6 Arne RSPB Middlebere lookout Hide

Cattle Egret - 15 Holmebridge, 1 Lodmoor RSPB, 1 Charminster Water Meadows

Great White Egret - 1 Wareham Bypass, 1 Langham Lakes

Goshawk - Arne RSPB Middlebere lookout Hide

Marsh harrier - 8 Christchurch Harbour

Hen harrier - 2 (1male & 1 ringtail) Middlebere NT Hide 

Red Kite - 2 Woodyates, 1 Cashmoor

White tailed Eagle - 2 Arne RSPB Middlebere lookout Hide, 1 Christchurch Harbour

Bearded tit - 2 Priory Marsh Christchurch, 1 Radipole RSPB

Cirl Bunting - 1 St Aldhelms Head

Tree Sparrow - 1 In a private garden at Stour Provost

Golden Plover - Lodmoor RSPB © David Nunn

Kingfisher - Lodmoor RSPB © David Nunn

Cattle Egret - Lodmoor RSPB © David Nunn

Cetti's Warbler - Lodmoor RSPB © David Nunn

Firecrest - Upton CP © Robert Fielding 
 

Dunlin - Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale 

Black Cap - Tuckton © Dave Hill

Saturday 28th December 2024

Scaup - 2 Off Jerry's Point

Eider - 1 imm. male off Jerry's point

Long tailed Duck - 1 in through Poole Harbour Entrance  and off Jerry's point

Goosander - 1 Holme Lane Gravel pit

Slavonian Grebe - 3 The Fleet littlesea, 1 off Jerry's Point, 

Black necked Grebe - 10  Studland Bay off Knoll Beach, 9 Portland Harbour off Sandsfoot Castle

Golden Plover - c80 Tarrant Rushton airfield

Bar tailed Godwit - 75 off Shore rd poole harbour 

Green Sandpiper - 3 Empool Bottom Tadnoll Brook

Black throated Diver - 2 Parkstone Bay off Baiter Park

Great Northern Diver - 4 off Jerry's Point, 3 Ferrybirdge, 3 Off Baiter Park, 2 off knoll Beach Studland Bay

Hen harrier - 1 Ringtail Lytchett Bay RSPB

Lesser Spotted woodpecker - 1 Upton Country Park nr the stone bench

Black Redstart  - 1 Lyme Regis in the cemetery behind Marine theatre

Black throated Diver - Parkstone Bay
© Garry Hayman

Friday 27th December 2024

Eider - 1 imm. male off Jerry's point

Long tailed Duck - 1 in through Poole Harbour Entrance  and off Furzey Island

Goosander - 13 Silverlake into roost

Slavonian Grebe - 1 off Jerry's Point, 1 Studland Bay

Common Sandpiper - 1 Lytchett Bay off Rock Lea VP

Green Sandpiper - 2 Lower Piddle Valley, 2 River Frome Woodsford

Spotted Redshank - 1 Holes Bay

Black necked Grebe - 10 Portland Harbour off Sandsfoot Castle, 2 Studland Bay off Middle Beach

Red throated Diver - 1 off Jerry's Point

Black throated Diver - 2 Poole Harbour off Baiter Park

Great Northern Diver - 5 off Jerry's Point

Spoonbill - 8 Shipstal point Arne RSPB

Black Redstart  - 1 Lyme Regis

Firecrest - 1 River Yeo Sherbourne, 1 in private Bridport garden 

Grey Plover - Jerry's Point  © Garry Hayman

Thursday 26th December 2024

Eider - 1 imm. male off Jerry's point

Long tailed Duck - 1 in through Poole Harbour Entrance 

Goldeneye - 1 Longham Lakes, 1 off Jerry's Point

Slavonian Grebe - 2 off Jerry's Point

Black necked Grebe - 4 Studland Bay off Middle Beach, 1 Longham Lakes, 1 off Jerry's Point

Golden Plover - 1 Lytchett Fields

Black tailed Godwit - c2000 Stanpit Marsh

Red throated Diver - 1 out of Poole Harbour Entrance

Black throated Diver - 1 Poole Harbour off Baiter Park

Great Northern Diver - 3 Portland Harbour off Portland Castle, 3 off Jerry's Point, 1 Studland Bay off Middle Beach

Spoonbill - 8 Shipstal point Arne RSPB

Cattle Egret - 33 Holmebridge

Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail Middlebere NT Hide

Black Redstart  - 1 Chequers Inn Lytchett Matravers

Black tailed Godwit - Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Wednesday 25th December 2024

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
from all at Dorset Bird Club


Eider - 1 imm. male still off Jerry's Point
Velvet Scoter - 1 through Harbour Entrance from North Haven
Common Scoter - 6 off Studland bay, 3 off Billy Winter's, Portland Harbour
Long-tailed Duck - 1 off Jerry's Point, 1 off Billy Winter's, Portland Harbour
Slavonian Grebe - 2 on sea off Middle Beach, 1 off Jerry's Point
Black-necked Grebe - 7 off Billy Winter's, 2 off jerry's Point, 2 off Studland Bay
Spotted Redshank - 1 still from Rock Lea Viewpoint
Great Northern Diver - 12 off Billy Winter's, 6 off Jerry's Point, 3 through into Harbour, North Haven
Spoonbill - 5 off Hamworthy Park
Cattle Egret - 16 North from Stanpit
White-tailed Eagle - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Black Redstart - 1 at Osprey Quay

Rock Pipit, Newton's Cove © Phil Chesseman

               Pochard, Radipole RSPB © Tracy Hart

 

Tuesday 24th December 2024

Eider - 1 imm. still off Redhorn Quay
Velvet Scoter - 4 east off Hengistbury Head
Common Scoter - 5 between Smallmouth Cove & Sandsfoot Castle
Long-tailed Duck - 1 between Smallmouth Cove & Sandsfoot Castle
Slavonian grebe - 1 still off Redhorn Quay
Black-necked Grebe - 3 off Sandsfoot Castle
Avocet - 402 NW Holes Bay
Black-tailed Godwit - c2500 Stanpit Marsh, 973 NW Holes Bay
Knot - 10 NW Holes Bay, 1 Ferrybridge
Spotted Redshank - 1 still from Rock Lea Viewpoint
Sandwich Tern - 1 off Knoll Beach
Black-throated Diver - 2 still off Baiter Park, Parkstone Bay
Great Northern Diver - 3 North Haven, Harbour Mouth
CAttle Egret - 35 over Wareham Train Station, 23 over Priory Marsh
Hen Harrier - 1m Lytchett Bay
White-tailed Eagle - 2 imm. over Brands Bay
Green Woodpecker - 1 calling Upton CP
Firecrest - 2 Upton CP
Black Redstart - 1 still below Lyme Regis Museum 

Turnstone, Stone Pier, Weymouth © Phil Cheeseman

Golden Plovers, Lodmoor RSPB © Tracy Hart

Firecest, Culpepper's Dish © Mick Church

Monday 23rd December 2024

Pintail - 452 Brands Bay
Eider - 1 imm. male still off Jerry's Point
Common Scoter - 12 off Middle Beach
Goldeneye - 3 off Jerry's Point, 1 NW Longham Lakes
Slavonian Grebe - 2 still off Jerry's Point
Black-necked Grebe - 6 off Jerry's Point, 5 off Studland Beach
Knot - 4 Brands Bay
Sandwich Tern - 2 off Studland Beach
Black-throated Diver - 2 still off Baiter Park, Parkstone Bay
Great Northern Diver - 3 off Middle Beach, 3 off Jerry's Point, 1 off Shell Bay, South Haven
Spoonbill - 9 still Arne RSPB, 3 again Lytchett Bay, 3 Middlebere, 2 Wareham Channel
Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail again Middlebere
White-tailed Eagle - 2 over Ballard Down, 1 Blackberry Point, Stanpit Marsh
Firecrest - 1 Hengistbury Head
Common Redpoll - 3 reported at Longham Lakes


 

Marsh Harrier, Lodmoor RSPB © Mark Churchill

Oystercatchers, Hamworthy Park © Tina Dawkins

Great Northern Diver, Weymouth Harbour © Mark Whittingham

Sunday 22nd December 2024

Eider - 1 imm.male off Redhorn Point
Common Scoter - 10 off Middle Beach
Long-tailed Duck - 1f west of Goathorn Point
Goldeneye - 5 Brands Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 5 off Fitzworth Point, Ower Bay, 5 again off Middle Beach
Avocet - 287 Holes Bay
Black-tailed Godwit - c3000 Stanpit Marsh, c900 Holes Bay
Knot - 10 Holes Bay
Ruff - 2 Lower Piddle Valley
Dunlin - 990 Brands Bay
Spotted Redshank - 1 still from Rock Lea Viewpoint
Red-throated Diver - 2 off Jerry's Point
Black-throated Diver - 2 again off Baiter Park, Poole Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 3 off Middle Beach, 2 Osprey Quay, Portland Harbour, 2 into Poole Harbour
Shag - 64 off North Haven into Poole Harbour
Spoonbill - 16 Arne RSPB, 10 off Fitzworth Point, Ower Bay
Cattle Egrets - several in the paddocks, Swineham
Kingfisher - 1 NE Holes Bay
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Lower Piddle Valley, Swineham
Black Redstart - 2 Lyme Regis Cemetery, 1 Lyme Regis Seafront, 1  Newton's Cove

Shoveler, Lodmoor RSPB © Mick Church

Black Redstart, Newton's Cove © Phil Cheeseman

Black-tailed Godwits, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Saturday 21st December 2024

Eider - 1 off Jerry's Point
Goldeneye -  7 Brand's Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 4 Studland Bay, 2 Brand's Bay
Black-tailed Godwit - approx 2,300 at Stanpit Marsh
Woodcock - 1 Garston Wood RSPB
Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Bay from Rock Lea Viewpoint
Yellow-legged Gull - 1 Brand's Bay
Great Northern Diver - 1 Brand's Bay, 1 Studland Bay from Middle Beach
Spoonbill - 6 Lytchett Bay, 6 Middlebere, 1 Arne RSPB (Shipstal Point)
Great White Egret - 1 Wareham Common
Cattle Egret - 41 Holmebridge
Hen Harrier - 2 (male and ringtail)  Middlebere, 1 Lytchett Bay
Red Kite - 9 Wyke Down
Short-eared Owl - 1 Wyke Down
Barn Owl - 2 Wyke Down
Marsh Tit - 8 Garston Wood RSPB
Firecrest - 1 Lytchett Bay
Black Redstart - 1 Church Ope Cove (Portland)

Friday 20th December 2024

Goldeneye -  10 Brand's Bay
Eider - 1 Brand's Bay
Mandarin Duck - 2 Poole Park
Spotted Redshank - 1 still in Lytchett Bay from Rock Lea Viewpoint
Knot - 18 Holes Bay (SW)
Black-throated Diver - 2 Parkstone Bay
Great Northern Diver - 2 Brand's Bay, 1 Weymouth Bay from Stone Pier
Great White Egret - 1 Poole Park
Cattle Egret - 3 Holmebridge, 1 near East Holme GP
Merlin - 1 Middlebere
Kingfisher - 1 Peveril Point

Stock Dove, Poole Park © Clive Hargrave

Mandarin Duck, Poole Park © Clive Hargrave

Great White Egret, Poole Park © Clive Hargrave

Long-tailed Tit, Tuckton © Dave Hill

 

Thursday 19th December 2024

Goldeneye -  4 Brand's Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 1 still in Portland Harbour viewed from Sandsfoot Castle
Green Sandpiper - 3 Warmwell cressbed, 2 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Bay from Rock Lea Viewpoint, 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB, 1 Middlebere
Greenshank - 4 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Ruff - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Black-throated Diver - 1 Parkstone Bay
Spoonbill - 2 Middlebere
Hen Harrier - 1 male Studland Heath NNR, 1 male Middlebere
Red Kite - 1 Tarrant Rushton Airfield
Ring-necked Parakeet - 1 or more heard in Southland area of Weymouth at midday
Black Redstart - 2 Newton's Cove, 1 Lyme Regis near Marine Theatre
Water Pipit - 1 Parkstone Bay
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 calling at West Bexington

Yesterday : a Swift sp. was seen around the Portland Port area, but no sign of it today.

Black Redstart, Lyme Regis © Roger Boswell

Cormorant, Iford © Clinton Whale

 

Wednesday 18th December 2024

Long-tailed Duck - 1 flew into Poole Harbour this morning
Black-necked Grebe - 2 Poole Harbour from Bird Boat, 1 Portland Harbour from Sandsfoot Castle
Red-throated Diver -  1 Poole Harbour from Bird Boat
Black-throated Diver -  2 Poole Harbour from Bird Boat
Great Northern Diver - 4 flew into Poole Harbour this morning, 3 off Pilot's Point, 2 Brand's Bay
Spoonbill - 7 Poole Harbour from Bird Boat, 1 Lytchett Bay from Turlin Moor Viewpoint
Hen Harrier - 1 male Lytchett Fields RSPB from Rock Lea Viewpoint
Black Redstart - 1 Chesil Cove
Water Pipit - 1 Poole Harbour from Bird Boat

Mallard, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

 

Tuesday 17th December 2024.

Goosander - 9 Woodsford (R. Frome).
Goldeneye - 3 Brands Bay (Jerry's Point).
Eider - 1 Bramble Bush Bay.
Common Scoter - 11 Studland Bay (off Middle Beach).
Black-necked Grebe - 3 Brands Bay (Jerry's Point), 3 Studland Bay.
Slavonian Grebe - 2 Brands Bay (Jerry's Point).
Green Sandpiper - Woodsford (R. Frome).
Purple Sandpiper - 18 Hengistbury sandspit, 2 Poole Harbour mouth.
Great Northern Diver - 3 off Sandbanks, 2 Brands Bay (Jerry's Point), 2 Studland Bay.
Black-throated Diver - 1 off Baiter.
Red-throated Diver - 1 off Sandbanks .
Great White Egret - 1 Sturminster Marshall (White Mill Bridge).
Cattle Egret - 1 over Carey Secret Garden (Wareham).

Monday 16th December 2024.

Eider - 1f Studland (Bramble Bush Bay).

Common Scoter - c35 off Hengistbury Head.
Velvet Scoter - 1 off Hengistbury Head.
Black-necked Grebe - 3 Portland Harbour, 2 reported Longham Lakes.
Slavonian Grebe - 1 The Fleet (Tidmoor).
Golden Plover - 1+ Lodmoor.
Grey Plover - 2 Stanpit.
Purple Sandpiper - 11 Mudeford Quay.
Black-tailed Godwit - 1000+ Stanpit.
Great Northern Diver - 3 Studland (Shell Bay), 3 Studland (Bramble Bush Bay), 3 The Fleet 

   (Tidmoor), 2 Chesil, 1 Portland Harbour, 1 Weymouth Bay.
Reeves' Pheasant - 2m near Bere Regis.
Great White Egret - 1 Longham Lakes.
Cattle Egret - 29 Portesham, 20 Hengistbury Head.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Portesham.
Bearded Tit - 1 Longham Lakes.
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 probable, Longham Lakes
Firecrest - 4 Hengistbury Head.
Cirl Bunting - 1 Tidmoor.

Late news: Common Whitethroat: 1 in Poole on 9th Dec.

Teal, Stanpit © Clinton Whale.

Rock Pipit, Stanpit © Clinton Whale.

Blackcap, Tuckton © Dave Hill.

Reeves' Pheasant near Bere Regis © Rob Paulley.

Sunday 15th December 2024.

Eider - 1f Hengistbury Head.
Goldeneye - 1f Longham Lakes.
Mandarin Duck - 2m Poole Park.
Black-necked Grebe - 4 Portland Harbour.
Golden Plover - 400+ Lodmoor.
Grey Plover - 15 Christchurch Harbour.
Common Sandpiper - 1 Silverlake.
Purple Sandpiper - 35 Hengistbury sandspit.
Black-tailed Godwit - c3450 Avon Causeway, c1300 Holes Bay, c500 Brownsea Island, c400 Christchurch Harbour.
Great Northern Diver - 2 Portland Harbour.
Black-throated Diver - 1 Swanage Bay.
Great White Egret - 1 Silverlake.
White-tailed Eagle - 1 Christchurch Harbour.
Marsh Harrier - 2 Christchurch Harbour.
Black Redstart - 1 Swanage, 1 Portland (Church Ope Cove).
Bearded Tit - 1 Wick.
Firecrest - 1 Durlston CP.

Purple Sandpipers, Mudeford Quay © Clinton Whale.

Great Crested Grebe, Mudeford Quay © Clinton Whale.

Saturday 14th December 2024.

Goosander - 1 Longham Lakes.
Long-tailed Duck - 1 entered Poole Harbour at 8am.
Mandarin Duck - 2m Poole Park.
Golden Plover - 400+ Lodmoor.
Black-throated Diver - 2 Parkstone Bay.
Red-throated Diver - 9 past Hengistbury Head.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Middlebere.
Hen Harrier - 1m Middlebere.
Red Kite - 1 Colehill.
Black Redstart - 1 Lyme Regis.
Firecrest - 1 Hengistbury Head.
Crossbill - 3+ Culpeper's Dish (Briantspuddle).

Black-throated Diver, Parkstone Bay © Alan Membury.

Golden Plover, Lodmoor © Helen Wood.

Black Redstart, Lyme Regis © Roger Boswell.

Snipe, Lodmoor © Helen Wood.

Friday 13th December 2024

Long-tailed Duck - 1 Poole Hbr

Common Scoter - 35 off Hengistbury Hd.

Red-throated Diver - 9 past Hengistbury Hd, 1 Poole Hbr

Black-throated Diver - 2 off Baiter Park

Great Northern Diver - 7 Poole Hbr.

Slavonian Grebe - 1 off Jerry's Point

Black-necked Grebe - 5 Studland Bay, 4 Poole Hbr, 2 Portland Hbr.

Spoonbill - 15 Poole Hbr.

Hen Harrier - 1 Middlebere

Greenshank - 3 Brownsea lagoon

Sandwich Tern - 2 by RMYC 

Fieldfare - 32 Hartland Moor opposite  the Hartland Stud.

Bearded Tit - 6 West Bexington 

Golden Plover - Lodmoor Alick Simmons

Golden Plover - Lodmoor Alick Simmons