Dorset Birds: Friday 3rd October 2025

Red-breasted Merganser - 3 Ower Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 2 Poole Harbour
Curlew Sandpiper - 8 at Middlebere this evening, 1 still on West Scrape at Lodmoor RSPB
Greenshank - 5 Wareham Channel
Spotted Redshank - 2 in Wareham Channel
FORSTER'S TERN - 1 in Wareham Channel seen from BoPH Autumn Safari cruise this afternoon
Arctic Skua - 3 past Durlston CP
Balearic Shearwater - 1 past Durlston CP
Glossy Ibis - 1 in Wareham Channel seen from BoPH Autumn Safari cruise
Spoonbill - 116 Brownsea Lagoon

Crossbills, yesterday in Wareham Forest © John Bishop

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).