Dorset Birds: Monday 22nd December 2025

Garganey - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery embayment (closed for winter, view from walking south east from Beach car park to view from Tank traps)

Velvet Scoter - 3 off Hengistbury Head

Common Scoter - 14 Christchurch Harbour

Slavonian Grebe - 4 off Redhorn Quay, Brand's Bay, 4 from Jerry's Point

Black-necked Grebe - 1 still on south lake, Longham Lakes, 2 Jerry's Point

Ruff - 1 Lytchett Fields

Red-throated Diver - 9 westbound Christchurch Harbour

Black-throated Diver - 1 still off Portland Castle

White-tailed Eagle - 3 Wareham Channel

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Firecrest, Bridport © Richard Cook

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).