Dorset Birds: Thursday 16th April 2026

Grey Plover - 1 Christchurch Harbour

Whimbrel - 5 Christchurch Harbour

Black-tailed Godwit - 80 Christchurch Harbour

Sandwich Tern - 129 in Christchurch Harbour, c.30 Brownsea Island Lagoon

Bonaparte's Gull - 1st winter still at Lynch Cove (DT4 9HE)

Arctic Skua - 2 east past Portland Bill

Great Skua - 2 east past Portland Bill

Osprey - 022 fishing in Wareham Channel

Marsh Harrier - 4 displaying at Radipole

White-tailed Eagle - 1 over Middlebere

Grasshopper Warbler - 2 Stanpit

Garden Warbler - 1 Stanpit

Red-spotted Bluethroat - male still at east end of gravel pit Swineham GPs c.50.6925, -2.0837

Pied Flycatcher - 1 The Hump Avalanche Road Portland, male along footpath from Studland Road to Brenscombe Hill, 1 near overflow car park at Arne RSPB

Redstart - 2 Stanpit

Whinchat - 1 Barleycrates Lane Portland

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 social media, 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.