Sightings - Monday 31st January 2011

Barnacle Goose – 57 Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup – 3 Lodmoor, 30 Abbotsbury Swannery
Velvet Scoter – 7 off Southbourne
Smew – 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Goosander – 1 Chrischurch Harbour
Red-throated Diver - 17 past Durlston, 6 past Hengistbury Head
Black-throated Diver – 1 Weymouth Bay, 1 past Hengistbury Head
Great Crested Grebe – 415 off Southbourne
Slavonian Grebe – 2 Weymouth Bay
Red-necked Grebe - 1 off Southbourne
Gannet – 640 past/off Durlston, 800 past/off Hengistbury Head
Marsh Harrier – 5 Poole Harbour
Purple Sandpiper – 7 Lyme Regis
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - 1 Poole Park, view from Swan Lake Cafe
Razorbill – 5000+ auks, presumably mainly Razorbill, moved past Hengistbury Head including 1500 in a 10-minute spell
Waxwing - 5 Winchester Rd Weymouth, 3 Upton, 2 Max Gate Dorchester, 3 Wyke Regis near Littlesea Holiday Park
Firecrest - 1 Durlston

Waxwing (adult male) - Upton © Bob Gifford

Waxwing (adult male) - Upton © Bob Gifford

Sightings - Sunday 30th January 2011

White-fronted Goose – 5 over Parkstone, 46 probably this species over Weymouth Bay
Goosander - 2 Avon Causeway, 11 River Stour upstream from Shapwick Church
Red-throated Diver - 3 past Durlston
Great Crested Grebe – 403 off Southbourne
Slavonian Grebe - 4 off Osmington
Gannet – 210 past Durlston
Ruff - 2 Winkton
Razorbill – 2100 past Durlston
Water Pipit – Priory Marsh
Waxwing - 5 Winchester Rd Weymouth, up to 9 Stanpit Scrubs
Black Redstart - 2 at Weston, 1 at Southwell
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Southwell (at West Wools)

Firecrest - 1 Durlston, 1 Lodmoor, 1 Easton
Tree Sparrow - 1 near the stubble field between Sixpenny Handley and Monkton-up-Wimborne

Hawfinch - 1 Powerstock (nr church)

Pintail - Poole Harbour © Tim Balmer

Sightings - Saturday 29th January 2011

Velvet Scoter - 8, West Bexington
Smew - 4, Longham Lakes
Goosander - 4 Castle Cove; 4 Avon Causeway
Red-throated Diver - 2, West Bexington; 5 Hengistbury
Red-necked Grebe - 1, Chesil Cove (Portland)
Slavonian Grebe - 2, Portland Harbour; 1 Poole Harbour
Bittern - 1, Briantspuddle; 1-2 Hatch Pond
Spoonbill - 8 Holes Bay
Hen Harrier - male at Arne
Merlin - 1 Coombe Heath, Arne
Ruff - 4, Winkton
Purple Sandpiper - 6, Lyme Regis
Spotted Redshank - 1 Holes Bay
Mediterranean Gull - notable count of 230+ at Radipole
Great Skua - 1, Hengistbury
Barn Owl - 1, Weymouth
Woodlark - 1, Hengistbury
Waxwing - 23, Daws Avenue, W'down; 16 Windham Rd, B'mth; 4 Winchester Rd, Weymouth
Dipper - 2, Lyme Regis
Black Redstart, 1 Chesil Cove
Firecrest - 2 at Arne and 1 at Alderholt
Magpie - impressive count of 160 at Hatch Pond at dusk
Brambling - 12, Swineham
Hawfinch - 1, Powerstock (nr church)

Waxwings at Wallisdown © Kevin Hearn

Common Sandpiper at Holes Bay © Chris Parnell

Sightings - Friday 28th January 2011

Red-crested Pochard - 1 Little Sea (Studland)
Scaup - 33 Abbotsbury
Eider - 2 Durlston
Goosander - 1 Radipole
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Chesil Cove, Portland
Spoonbill - 8 Holes Bay (Poole Harbour)
Bittern - 2 Radipole
Marsh Harrier - 1 Radipole

Great Bustard - 2 Langton Herring
Woodcock - 1 Lorton Valley
Spotted Redshank - 2 Holes Bay; 1 Stanpit
Common Sandpiper - 1 Holes Bay

Mediterranean Gull - an impressive 150 at Radipole
Woodlark - 2 Lorton Valley
Waxwing - 3 Winchester Close, Weymouth; 20+ Daws Avenue, Wallisdown
Black Redstart - 1 Swanage; 1 Chesil Cove, Portland

Black Redstart at Swanage © Phyl England

Spoonbills at Holes Bay © Ian Kirk

Goosander at Radipole © Dom Greves

Sightings - Thursday 27th January 2011

Red-crested Pochard - 1 male, s-e end Little Sea (Studland)
Velvet Scoter - 3 West Bexington
Eider - 1 Poole Harbour (South Haven)
Long-tailed Duck - 1 male Poole Harbour (nr Brownsea)
Smew - 1 West Bexington
Red-throated Diver - 24 off Durlston
Great Northern Diver - 1 Poole Harbour (Harbour entrance); 1 off Durlston
Spoonbill - 8 Holes Bay
Merlin - 1 Sixpenny Handley
Avocet - 24 Holes Bay; 2 Lytchett Bay; 12 Stanpit
Knot - c100 at Holes Bay
Sanderling - 5 at Knoll Beach, Studland
Spotted Redshank - 1 Holes Bay; 1 Stanpit
Great Skua - 1 Durlston
Mediterranean Gull - 14 Kimmeridge Bay
Waxwing - 6 Verwood; 3 Winchester Close (Weymouth); 3 Beacon Park Rd (Upton)

Waxwing at Weymouth © Steve Carey

Sightings - Wednesday 26th January 2011

Red-crested Pochard - 1 male on Little Sea

Eider - 1 female in Brand's Bay

Slavonian Grebe - 2 in Brand's Bay

Sooty Shearwater – 1, Portland

Bittern – 1 Tuckton and 3 Radipole

Bar-tailed Godwit - very high count of 212 at Whitley Lake (Poole Harbour)

Ruff – 1, Stanpit

Yellow-legged Gull – 1, Stanpit

Woodlark – 1, Portland

Waxwing – 20, Ringwood Road, Verwood; 3, Winchester Close/Canterbury Close, Weymouth; 7 Broadstone (by Wests Opticians)

Great Grey Shrike – 1, Arne

Bittern at Radipole Lake © Steve Carey

Waxwing at Weymouth © Brett Spencer

Sightings - Tuesday 25th January 2011

Mandarin – Female at mouth of river, Charmouth

Smew - 3 Longham Lakes; 1 West Bexington

Slavonian grebe – 5 Studland bay
Black-necked grebe – 80 (!) Studland bay

Spoonbill – 8 Arne

Mediterranean Gull - 300 Pirate's Cove, The Fleet; Ad winter Longham Lakes

Waxwing - 1 York Road, Broadstone; 3 Weymouth; 3 Upton
Black redstart – Newton’s Cove
Brambling – 20 Blandford

Bramblings at Blandford © Mike Coleman

Waxwings at Weymouth © Brett Spencer

Sightings - Monday 24th January 2011

Red-crested Pochard - 1 Little Sea (Studland)
Long-tailed Duck - 2 South Haven
Smew - 3 Longham Lakes
Goosander - South Haven
Red-throated Diver - 2 Portland
Slavonian Grebe - 2 Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 17 Portland Harbour; 21 Studland
Bittern - 1 Radipole
Merlin - 1 Durlston
Great Skua - 2 Durlston
Ring-billed Gull - 1 Fisherman's Bank, Hengistbury head
Mediterranean Gull - 172 Pirate's Cove, The Fleet;
Waxwing - 1 Budmouth
Black Redstart - Portland
Brambling - 1 Southwell
Siskin - 40 Poole Park

Hooded Merganser at Radipole Lake © Chris Parnell

Stoat at Lodmoor © Derek Fowler

Sightings - Sunday 23rd January 2011

Bewick's swan - 4 Longham Lakes

Scaup - 33 Abbotsbury

Smew - 3 Longham Lakes

Goosander - 1 Radipole; 5 Longham Lakes

Red-throated Diver - 2 West Bexington
Slavonian Grebe - 6 Sandsfoot Castle, 2 Studland Middle Beach
Black-necked Grebe - 23 Studland Middle Beach
Marsh Harrier - Radipole and Lodmoor
Great Bustard - 2 wing-tagged birds, east of Moonfleet Manor this morning
Ruff - 1 Abbotsbury
Mediterranean Gull - 150 Pirate's Cove, The Fleet; 96 Ferrybridge
Waxwing - 3 Shore Lane, Upton
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Coombe Heath; 1 Morden Bog; 1 Sixpenny Handley

Great Grey Shrike at Morden Bog © Dom Greves

Sightings - Saturday 22nd January 2011

Bewick's Swan - 6 Longham Lakes
Scaup - 9 Arne
Long-tailed Duck - 2 off Brownsea Island, 1 off Shipstal Point
Eider - 1 Shell Bay
Smew - 3 Longham Lakes
Goosander - 1 Radipole
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Arne
Spoonbill - 6 Arne
Bittern - 2 Hatch Pond
Marsh Harrier - Radipole and Lodmoor
Hen Harrier - 1 Middlebere
Great Bustard - 2 wing-tagged birds, north of Moonfleet Manor
Purple Sandpiper - 4 Shell Bay
Spotted Redshank - Stanpit
Little Gull - Stour LNR
Mediterranean Gull - 295 (!) Pirate's Cove, The Fleet; 12 Stanpit
Waxwing - 10 Merley; 9 York Road, Broadstone
Black Redstart - Weston
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Clarence Rd, Easton
Great Grey Shrike - Coombe Heath

Great Bustards at Moonfleet © Brett Spencer

Sightings - Friday 21st January 2011

Bewick's Swan - 8 remain on floods near Longham Lakes
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 3 amongst the Brent flock at Ferrybridge
Smew - 5 redheads at Longham Lakes
Goosander - 5 redheads on Longham Lakes, 1 drake on the River Stour at Longham
Red-throated Diver - 8 past Durlston, 1 Portland Bill
Avocet - 12 Stanpit (on East Marsh)
Purple Sandpiper - 3 Portland Bill
Ruff - 1 Lodmoor
Great Skua - 1 Durlston
Kittiwake - 720 past Durlston
Mediteranean Gull - 166 Ferrybridge
Guillemot - 310 east past Durlston
Razorbill - 7500 east past Durlston
Scandinavian Rock Pipit - 1 reported on South Marsh at Stanpit
Waxwing - c55 again at Broadstone (York Rd, Lower Blandford Rd in Poplar tree), 12 over Old Wareham Rd Corfe Mullen am, 3 reported at Wareham
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill

Waxwings at Broadstone © Roger Boswell

Waxwings at Broadstone © Roger Boswell

Waxwings at Broadstone © Roger Boswell

Sightings - Thursday 20th January 2011

Bewick's Swan - 8 remain on floods at Longham Lakes
Pale-bellied Brent - 3 Ferrybridge, 2 off Whitecliff Poole with Dark-bellied Brent flocks
Smew - 5 redheads Longham Lakes
Goosander - 8 Portland Hbr, 6 redheads Longham Lakes
Red-throated Diver - 21 Portland Bill, 20 Durlston CP
Great Northern Diver - 1 Durlston CP
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Portland Hbr
Great Bustard - pair in fields north of Moonfleet Manor Hotel
Avocet - 9 Christchurch Hbr
Sanderling - 20 Shell Bay
Purple Sandpiper - 6 Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still present at Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 1 from Fisherman's Bank Christchurch Hbr
Mediterranean Gull - 137 Ferrybridge
Razorbill - 2200 east Durlston CP
Auk sp - 15000 in 45 minutes left Lyme Bay roost and headed east
Woodlark - 1 Lorton Valley Weymouth
Waxwing - 55 a.m. Broadstone York Rd / Lower Blandford Rd, 13 over Holes Bay heading towards Upton CP
Black Redstart - 2 Portland Bill
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 briefly in garden at Southwell Portland
Firecrest - 1 Durlston CP

Longham Lakes at Sunset © Paul Boult

Merlin at Wyke Down © Chris Chapleo

Sightings - Wednesday 19th January 2011

Bewick's Swan - 8 on the floods between Longham Lakes and Hampreston
Eider - 4 at Studland Bay
Velvet Scoter - 4 at Studland Bay, then flew south
Smew - 2 at Longham Lakes
Goosander - 2 at Longham Lakes
Black-throated Diver - 1 at Weymouth Bay
Red-necked Grebe - 1 at Studland Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 2 at Weymouth Bay
Bittern - 1 at Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 8 at Brownsea Lagoon
Marsh Harrier - 1 at Lodmoor
Hen Harrier - 2 at Wyke Down, 2 at Bestwall
Merlin - 1 at Wyke Down
Ruff - 2 on Priory Marsh, Stanpit
Purple Sandpiper - 2 at The Cobb, Lyme Regis
Spotted Redshank - 3 at Brownsea Lagoon, 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Great Skua - 1 past Durlston
Water Pipit - 2+ at Priory Marsh, Stanpit, 1 at Lodmoor
Waxwing - up to 56 in the Broadstone area (at St John's Church and York Road), 14 Palmerston Road, Boscombe, 1 flew over Stanpit Marsh
Firecrest - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Great Grey Shrike - 1 still at Wyke Down

Waxwing at Boscombe © Abby Britcliffe

Great Grey Shrike at Wyke Down © Simon Johnson

Great Grey Shrike at Wyke Down © Chris Chapleo

Bar-tailed Godwit at Shore Road, Sandbanks © Roger Peart

Sightings - Tuesday 18th January 2011

Bewick's Swan - 8 at Bestwall, then relocated to Arne Moors
White-fronted Goose - 6 at Bestwall
Barnacle Goose - 56 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Velvet Scoter - 9 off West Bexington car park (highest count for site)
Smew - 4 at Longham Lakes
Goosander - 4 at Longham Lakes
Slavonian Grebe - 11 at Studland Bay
Black-necked Grebe - a new Dorset record count of 74 at Studland Bay
Red Kite - 2 over Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley
Marsh Harrier - 1 at Bestwall
Hen Harrier - 2 (male and ringtail) at Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Greenshank - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Waxwing - 15 at Shelley Road, Boscombe, 5 at Morn Lodge, Chickerell, 3 at York Road, Broadstone
Firecrest - 1 Parkstone
Great Grey Shrike - 1 at Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley (SU004150)

Late News - the Hampshire White-tailed Eagle was seen in Dorset airspace, flying over the High Street in Highcliffe late morning

Great Grey Shrike at Wyke Down © Kevin Lane

Bewick's Swans at Arne Moors © Nick Hopper

Sightings - Monday 17th January 2011

Bewick's Swan - 8 west of Wareham bypass (viewed from Worgret Manor), 2 still at Tincleton (SY762919) Barnacle Goose – 70+ Abbotsbury Swannery Egyptian Goose - 2 Longham Lakes Scaup – 20+ Abbotsbury Swannery Velvet Scoter - 1 past Durlston Smew - 4 still at Longham Lakes Goosander - 3 Longham Lakes Red-throated Diver - 16 Portland Bill, 11 Durlston Black-throated Diver - 1 Weymouth Bay Great Northern Diver - 5 Weymouth Bay, 1 Durlston Sooty Shearwater - 1 off Portland Bill Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still at Lodmoor Green Sandpiper - 1 Lodmoor, 1 Longham Lakes Short-eared Owl – 1 at Wyke Down, near Sixpenny Handley Waxwing - 47 at Charborough Road, Broadstone, 41 Tollerford Road, Canford Heath Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill, 1 Durlston Firecrest - 1 Durlston Great Grey Shrike – 1 near Sixpenny Handley (at SU005150) Brambling - 15-20 in a garden in East Stour

Sightings - Sunday 16th January 2011

Barnacle Goose - 70 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup - 28 Abbotsbury Swannery, 2 at Stanpit Marsh
Eider - 3 females at South Haven and 3 (same?) from Middle Beach, 2 females from Shipstal Point
Smew - at least 5 redheads at Longham Lakes
Goosander - 6 on the Stour at Shapwick, 4 Longham Lakes
Red-throated Diver - 10 Portland Bill, 6 Chesil Cove
Black-throated Diver - 1 Portland Bill
Great Northern Diver -1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Bill
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Pirate's Cove, The Fleet
Black-necked Grebe - 17 off Studland Middle Beach, 1 from South Haven,
Bittern - 1+ at Radipole
Marsh Harrier - 1 Middlebere
Hen Harrier - 1 male at Middlebere
Purple Sandpiper - 14 at Mudeford Quay, 8 Haven Hotel
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still at Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 3 Upton CP, 2 Brownsea Island
Greenshank - 6 Brownsea Island
Pomarine Skua - 1 Portland Bill
Sandwich Tern - 1 at Shipstal Point
Waxwing - 28 at York Road, Broadstone, 3 Magna Rd, Merley
Dipper - 1 Maiden Newton

Sightings - Saturday 15th January 2011

Scaup - 2 Stanpit Marsh
Smew - 5 redheads Longham Lakes, 1 West Bexington
Goosander - 5 redheads Portland Castle, 1 Longham Lakes
Red-throated Diver - 28 past Hengistbury Head, 3 Chesil Cove, 1 Durlston CP
Black-throated Diver - 1 Hengistbury Head
Bittern - 3 Hatch Pond, 1 River Allen at High Hall, north of Wimborne
Purple Sandpiper - 6 seen from Mudeford Quay
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Great Skua - 1 past Hengistbury Head
Kittiwake - 147 past Hengistbury Head, 7 in Portland Harbour
Waxwing - 58 Broadstone, 1 over Christchurch.
Firecrest - singles Upton CP & Hengistbury Head

Smew at Longham Lakes © Brett Spencer

Sightings - Friday 14th January 2011

Greylag Goose - 2 at Longham Lakes (1 with Swedish neck-collar)
Barnacle Goose - 70+ at Abbotsbury Swannery, 42 at Lytchett Bay
Red-crested Pochard - 1 at the north end of Little Sea, Studland
Scaup - 31 at Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Eider - 5 at Studland Bay
Smew - now 5 redheads at Longham Lakes
Goosander - 3 redheads at Longham Lakes
Slavonian Grebe - 2 at Studland Bay
Bittern - 1 at Radipole Lake
Marsh Harrier - 1 at Radipole Lake and Lodmoor
Sanderling - On the Studland peninsula, 19 at Pilot's Point and 2 at Bramble Bush Bay
Purple Sandpiper - 9 at Mudeford Quay, 2 at Sandbanks
Sandwich Tern - 1 in Studland Bay
Waxwing - 66 at Broadstone (corner of Lower Blandford and York Roads), 40+ at Tollerford Road, Canford Heath
Black Redstart - 1 at Gypsy Lane, Portland
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 at Pound Piece, Portland
Firecrest - 1 at Fort Henry, Studland Bay

Avocets in the Middlebere Channel © Dom Greves

Sightings - Thursday 13th January 2011

Greylag Goose - Swedish neck-ringed bird still present
Scaup - 1 off Stanpit Bight, several still at Abbotsbury Swannery
Velvet Scoter - 4 offshore from West Bexington
Smew - 3 at Longham Lakes, 1 again at West Bexington, before flying east
Goosander - 5 at Newton's Cove, 1 at Longham Lakes
Great Northern Diver - 2 at Weymouth Bay
Black-throated Diver - 1 at Weymouth Bay
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 at Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Waxwing - 16 on Tollerford Road, Canford Heath at 13:30
Lesser Redpoll - 40+ at Avon Heath CP

Sightings - Wednesday 12th January 2011

Bewick's Swan - 7 near Tincleton
Greylag Goose - 1 at Longham Lakes bearing a Swedish neck-ring
Barnacle Geese - flock still on private land near Lytchett Bay
Scaup - 23 Abbotsbury Swannery
Smew - 1 Longham Lakes
Goosander - 6 Longham Lakes, 1 Portland Harbour
Red-throated Diver - 3 Durlston CP
Black-throated Diver - 1 Hengistbury Head
Great Northern Diver - 3 Weymouth Bay
Bittern - 1 Hampreston Fields, Longham
Red Kite - 1 over Longham
Purple Sandpiper - 3 Mudeford Quay
Ruff - 12 Priory Marsh
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Waxwing - 11 Easton Portland, yesterday 4-5 in a Verwood garden
Black Redstart - 1 Swanage, near Seagull Cafe

Long-billed Dowitcher at Lodmoor © Paul Baker

Sightings - Tuesday 11th January 2011

Bewick's Swan - 7 Tincleton
European White-fronted Geese - 19 Abbotsbury Swannery
Pale-bellied Brent Geese - 4 Middlebere
Barnacle Geese - 70+ Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup - 23 Abbotsbury Swannery
Eider - 4 Studland Bay
Velvet Scoter - 3 off West Bexington car park
Smew - 3 Longham Lakes, 1 West Bexington (on the Mere)
Goosander - 6 Longham Lakes
Red-throated Diver - 7 Portland Bill, singles in Studland Bay and Weymouth Bay
Great Northern Diver - 8-10 Weymouth Bay
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Studland Bay
Slavonian Grebe - singles in Studland Bay and Weymouth Bay
Spoonbill - 7 Middlebere
Marsh Harrier - 2 fem Swineham Point
Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail Lytchett Bay
Merlin - 1 Rainbow Farm, 1 Portland Bill
Purple Sandpiper - 4 Portland Bill, 3 Hengistbury Head
Ruff - 4 Longham Lakes
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still present at Lodmoor
Short-eared Owl - 1 Down Farm, Sixpenny Handley
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - 1 reported at Upton CP
Waxwing - 7 Portland Bill, 1 Fairmile Road, Christchurch
Black Redstart - 1 Swanage town centre
Firecrest - 1 Arne, 1 Middlebere
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Coombe Heath, 1 Down Farm, Sixpenny Handley

Smew at West Bexington © Mike Morse

Sightings - Monday 10th January 2011

Bewick’s Swan – 7 still present at Tincleton

White-fronted Goose – 19 at Bestwall

Barnacle Goose – 77 at Abbotsbury Swannery

Scaup – 21 at Abbotsbury Swannery

Eider – 1 at Portland Bill, 1 at Studland Bay

Smew – 3 at Longham Lakes

Goosander – 4 at Longham Lakes

Great Northern Diver – 2 at Weymouth Bay

Marsh Harrier – 1 at Swineham Point

Lapwing – flock of 870 near Rodden

Purple Sandpiper – 4 at Portland Bill

Ruff – 1 near Rodden

Long-billed Dowitcher – 1 at Lodmoor

Spotted Redshank – 1 at Stanpit

Waxwing – 22+ around Hengistbury Head/Southbourne, 2 Gillingham

Black Redstart – 1 at Portland Bill

Siberian Chiffchaff – 2 currently on Portland (at Easton and Pound Piece Estate)

Firecrest –1 at Durlston

Great Grey Shrike – 1 at Great Ovens Hill (at c.SY922905)

Sightings - Sunday 9th January 2011

Bewick's Swan – 7 Tincleton
Long-tailed Duck – 1 Arne
Eider – 1 Arne, 3 Weymouth Bay
Goosander – 1 Christchurch Harbour (Wick), 4 Longham Lakes, 2+ Portland Harbour
Smew – 3 Longham Lakes
Great Northern Diver – 2 Weymouth Bay
Red-necked Grebe – 1 Portland Harbour
Slavonian Grebe – 2 Durlston Head, 4 Portland Harbour, 1 Weymouth Bay
Black-necked Grebe – 16+ Portland Harbour, 60+ Studland (Knoll Beach)
Bittern – 3 Radipole, 2 Lodmoor, 1 Middlebere, 1+ Hatch Pond
Spoonbill – 8 Arne
Marsh Harrier – 3+ Middlebere, 2 Radipole
Hen Harrier – 2 Middlebere, 1 Sixpenny Handley area, 1 Tarrant Rushton airfield
Merlin – 2 Middlebere
Ruff – 1 Middlebere
Long-billed Dowitcher – 1 Lodmoor
Short-eared Owl – 1 Sixpenny Handley
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker – 1 reported Arne
Water Pipit – 2 Lodmoor, 1 Stanpit
Waxwing – 12 Poole (Canford Heath – Bader Rd area), 14 Bournemouth (Palmerston Rd area)
Firecrest – 1 Arne, 1 Durlston CP, 1 Middlebere
Great Grey Shrike – 1 Arne (Coombe Heath)
Starling – the Poole (Sterte area) roost is estimated at 100,000+ birds.
Tree Sparrow – 2 Sixpenny Handley (pumping station area)

Bittern with Roach(?) at Hatch Pond © Pete Coe

Sightings - Saturday 8th January 2011

Bewick's Swan – 9 in the Frome Valley between Tincleton and Kingston Maurward
White-fronted Goose – 19 Bestwall
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1 at Butterstreet Cove
Scaup – 7 at Butterstreet Cove, 1+ Lodmoor, 1 Christchurch Harbour
Goosander – 6 Longham Lakes, 1 Lodmoor,1 Radipole (perhaps the same bird), 4 Portland Harbour
Smew – 4 Longham Lakes, 3 Swineham GP
Red-throated Diver – 9 past Durlston, 30+ past Hengistbury Head
Black-throated Diver – 2 past Hengistbury Head
Great Northern Diver – 3 Weymouth Bay, 2 past Hengistbury Head
Red-necked Grebe – 1 Portland Harbour
Slavonian Grebe – 5 Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe – 13 Portland Harbour
Shag – 62 Hengistbury Head
Bittern – 3+ Hatch Pond, 2 Lodmoor
Marsh Harrier – 3 Swineham Point
Hen Harrier – 1 Christchurch Harbour (Wick)
Ruff – 5 Christchurch Harbour (Stanpit), 1m over Swineham Point
Long-billed Dowitcher – 1 Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 2 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Holes Bay
Common Sandpiper - 1 Holes Bay
Waxwing – 30 Canford Heath (Adastral Road), 42+ Bournemouth (Spring Rd and Holdenhurst Rd) Firecrest – 1 Durlston CP

Sightings - Friday 7th January 2011

Barnacle Goose - 10 Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup - 20 Abbotsbury Swannery
Goosander - 1 Radipole Lake
Smew - 1 Coward's Marsh
Red-throated Diver - 6 off Mudeford Quay, 8 past Portland Bill
Black-throated Diver - 1 past Durlston
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Hen Harrier - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery
Marsh Harrier - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Purple Sandpiper - 5 Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Black Redstart - 2 Portland Bill, 1 WDDC Offices Dorchester
Waxwing - 1 flew over Two Riversmeet Christchurch Harbour, 2 Weston, 68 at Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth
Firecrest - 1 Durlston
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Coombe Heath

Sightings - Thursday 6th January 2011

Barnacle Goose - 30 in flight Lytchett
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 3 Baiter Park
Goosander - 1 Radipole Lake
Red-throated Diver - 2 past Durlston, 6 past Mudeford Quay
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Weymouth Bay
Bittern - 4 Radipole Lake, 1 Wick
Marsh Harrier - 1 Lytchett Bay
Merlin - 1 Lytchett Bay
Purple Sandpiper - 9 South Haven
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Waxwing - 40 Bournemouth near St Paul's Roundabout
Black Redstart -1 St Marys Church Swanage

Sightings - Wednesday 5th January 2011

White-fronted Goose - 19 Bestwall
Goosander - 1 Portland Harbour
Red-throated Diver - 12 past Durlston, 30 past Mudeford Quay, 26 past Portland Bill
Black-throated Diver - 3 past Mudeford Quay
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Red Kite - 1 Fontmell Magna
Ruff - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Knot - 10 Stanpit Marsh
Purple Sandpiper - 2 South Haven, 2 Mudeford Quay, 4 Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Great Skua - 2 past Portland Bill
Black Redstart - 1 Haylands Portland
Waxwing - 4 Weymouth (Knightsdale Road); 5 Gillingham garden off Common Mead Lane, Wyke, opposite The Mellowes nursing home; 2 Haylands/Weston/Easton Portland
Firecrest - 1 Durlston
Brambling - 14 Blandford

Brambling Blandford © Mike Coleman

Sightings - Tuesday 4th January 2011

Good numbers of Razorbills, Brent Geese and divers were counted off Durlston today. Other highlights included:

White-fronted Goose - 19 Bestwall
Velvet Scoter - 3 West Bexington
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Shipstal
Goosander - 1 Radipole
Smew - 3 Swineham
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Hengistbury
Spoonbill - 5 Middlebere
Bittern - 1 Radipole
Hen Harrier - 1 Middlebere; 2 Arne
Marsh Harrier - 1 Lodmoor
Merlin - 1 Arne; 1 Lodmoor
Goshawk - 1 Durlston
Ruff - 2 Winkton
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Arne
Black Redstart - 1 Durlston; 1 Portesham, 1 Dorchester WDDC offices
Waxwing - 3 Weymouth (south of the swimming pool car park at the west end of Knightsdale Road); 15 Gillingham (on Sunday 2nd)
Firecrest -1 Broadstone in a private garden
Lapland Bunting - 1 Portland

Ruff at Winkton © Alan Hayden

Sightings - Monday 3rd January 2011

White-fronted Goose - 19 Bestwall
Barnacle Goose - 1 Winkton (Avon Valley); 80 Rodden Hive
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Shipstal
Velvet Scoter - 3 Southbourne Cliffs
Scaup - 7 Lodmoor
Eider - 1 Hamworthy Park
Great Crested Grebe - impressive count of 180 Southbourne Cliffs
Slavonian Grebe - 4 Ringstead Bay, 1 Ham Common
Bittern - 2 Hatch Pond, 2 Radipole Lake, 1 Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 2 Arne
Marsh Harrier - 1 Swineham; 1 Lodmoor
Smew - 2 Swineham; 1 Coward's Marsh; 1 Poole Harbour (houseboats); 1 Longham Lakes
Goosander - 6 Longham Lakes
Egyptian Goose - 2 Winkton (Avon Valley)
Ruff - 10 Winkton (Avon Valley); 1 Stanpit
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Water Pipit - 2 Coward's Marsh; 1 Lodmoor
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Arne
Waxwing - 4 Chickerell; 5 Southwell

Green Sandpiper © Chris Chapleo

Sightings - Sunday 2nd January 2011

Good numbers of geese and wildfowl dotted around the county. Also an impressive movement of auks with 50,000 (mainly Razorbills) estimated passing Portland today.

Great Northern Diver - 1 Ringstead Bay, 2 Portland Harbour
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland
Slavonian Grebe - 4 Ringstead Bay; 2 West Bexington; 8 Abbotsbury; 16 Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 11 Portland Harbour
White-fronted Goose - 19 Bestwall
Egyptian Goose - 7 Winkton (Avon Valley)
Barnacle Goose - 1 Winkton (Avon Valley); 42 Lytchett Bay; 80 Abbotsbury
Velvet Scoter - 1 West Bexington; 2 Abbotsbury
Smew - 2 Longham Lakes
Bittern - 1 Hatch Pond; 1 Lodmoor; 1 Christchurch Harbour
Hen Harrier - 1 Avon Causeway; 1 Abbotsbury; 1 Lytchett Bay; 1 Middlebere
Marsh Harrier - 1 Chesil Beach, 2 Arne
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Ruff - 13 Winkton (Avon Valley)
Green Sandpiper - 2 Winkton (Avon Valley)
Golden Plover - 2 Winkton (Avon Valley)
Water Pipit - 1 Lodmoor
Firecrest - 2 Slepe Copse (Hartland); 2 Arne
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Arne
Starling - 53,000 estimated at the roost in Poole
Crossbill - 1 fly-over Christchurch Harbour

White-fronted Geese at Bestwall © Neil Gartshore

Sightings - Saturday 1st January 2011

White-fronted Goose - 6 Wick, 7 Winkton at dusk, others visible from Dorset in Hants
Barnacle Goose - 80 Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup - 20 Poole Harbour
Red-crested Pochard - 1 Little Sea
Eider - 1 Poole Harbour
Velvet Scoter - 1 off West Bexington
Goosander - 1 Radipole, 2 off Sandsfoot Castle, 15 Longham Lakes, 1 Holes Bay
Long-tailed Duck -1 off Shipstal Point
Smew - 2 Swineham GPs, 1 Poole Harbour, 4 Longham Lakes
Red-throated Diver - 39 past Hengistbury Head
Black-throated Diver - 2 past Hengistbury Head
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor, 2 Hatch Pond, 2 Solent Meads golf course Christchurch Harbour, 2 Radipole
Spoonbill - 1 Brownsea Island lagoon
Marsh Harrier - 1 Swineham Point, 2 Lodmoor, 2 Radipole
Hen Harrier - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery
Great Bustard - 1 Coward's Marsh
Greenshank - 6 Brownsea Island lagoon
Knot - 15 Ower Poole Harbour
Sandwich Tern - 1 Poole Harbour
Long-billed Dowitcher - Lodmoor
Waxwing - 3 Weymouth near the Job Centre, 9 over Wick
Black Redstart - 1 Weston
Water Pipit - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Firecrest - 2 Easton, 1 Stour Valley LNR
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Easton
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Coombe Heath Arne
Lapland Bunting - 1 Solent Meads golf course Christchurch Harbour