Sightings - Monday 28th February 2011

Slavonian Grebe - 2, Abbotsbury
Black-necked Grebe - 2, Abbotsbury
White-fronted Goose - 1, Lodmoor
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1, Lodmoor
Little Stint - 1, Stanpit
Scaup - 27, Abbotsbury
Bittern - c.3, Lodmoor
Waxwing - 12, Daws Ave, Wallisdown
Firecrest - 2, Lodmoor
Lapland Bunting - 1 fly-over, Christchurch Harbour

Sightings - Sunday 27th January 2011

Black-necked Grebe - 1, Weymouth Bay; 2, Abbotsbury
Slavonian Grebe - 1, Weymouth Bay; 2, Abbotsbury
White-fronted Goose - 1, Lodmoor
Scaup - 29, Abbotsbury
Bittern - 3, Hatch Pond
Spoonbill - 8, Middlebere/Arne
Marsh Harrier - 1, Keysworth
Red Kite - 1, Buckland Ripers
Purple Sandpiper - 7, Lyme Regis; 12, Hengistbury Head
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1, Lodmoor
Ring-billed Gull - 1st winter, Brownsea Island
Water Pipit - 1, Lodmoor
Firecrest - 2 Abbodtsbury Gardens
Great Grey Shrike - 1, Morden
Waxwing - 6, Canford Heath; 108, Rossmore Road
Brambling - 2, Swineham; 20 in a garden at Winterbourne Whitechurch

Colour-ringed Spoonbill at Middlebere © Aidan Brown

Sightings - Saturday 26th February 2011

White-fronted Goose - 1 Lodmoor
Scaup - 28 Abbotsbury Swannery
Goosander - 2 Longham Lakes
Great Northern Diver - 1 Weymouth Bay
Red-throated Diver – 4 past Hengistbury Head
Slavonian Grebe – 1 Portland Harbour, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Bittern – 3 Hatch Pond
Red Kite –1 over Moden
Purple Sandpiper - 7 Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Radipole, later back at Lodmoor
Ruff – 1 Stanpit Marsh
Sandwich Tern – 1 Poole Park
Ring-billed Gull – 1 Poole Park
Water Pipit - 1 Lodmoor
Firecrest - 1 Lodmoor
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Morden Bog

Sightings - Friday 25th February 2011

Scaup - 29 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Lodmoor
Smew - 1 Longham Lakes
Goosander - 3 Longham Lakes
Slavonian Grebe –2 Newton’s Cove, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Red Kite – 1 near Lawson Clump Wareham Forest, 1 over Fernheath Valley SSSI, Bournemouth
Black Kite - 1 reported by the info services flying over Poole this afternoon
Marsh Harrier - 2 Lodmoor
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Radipole
Sand Marin -1 over Stanpit Marsh (the earliest date ever for this species in the harbour, the previous early date being 5th March in 1997 and 2008)
Water Pipit - 1 Lodmoor
Waxwing - 20 over Creekmoor
Black Redstart - 2 Portland Bill, 1 Durlston
Firecrest - 1 Durlston

Kestrel © Tim Balmer

Sightings - Thursday 24th February 2011

Black Brant - 3 Ferrybridge
Scaup - 25 Abbotsbury Swannery
Slavonian Grebe – 4 Portland Harbour
Bittern - 3 at Hatch Pond, 1 at Radipole Lake
Cattle Egret - 2 still present between Alderholt and Ashford
Spoonbill - 8 Arne
Red Kite – 1 over Stanpit
Purple Sandpiper - 5 Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor, also reported Radipole
Sandwich Tern – 1 past Durlston
Ring-billed Gull – 1 Poole Park
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill
Firecrest - 1 Lodmoor, 2 Durlston, 3 Abbotsbury Sub tropical Gardens
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Coombe Heath Arne
Brambling – 22 Blandford

Roosting Tawny Owl - Arne Car Park © Alex Berryman

Sightings - Wednesday 23rd February 2011

Scaup - 29 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Black-throated Diver – 1 Weymouth Bay
Marsh Harrier - 1 at Lodmoor
Purple Sandpiper - 6 at Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 at Lodmoor
Northern Wheatear – 1 Easton (1st of the year)
Black Redstart - 1 at Easton

Ring-billed Gull at Poole Park © Alex Berryman

Sightings - Tuesday 22nd February 2011

Black Brant - 1 at Ferrybridge
Scaup - 29 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Smew - 1 at West Bexington, 1 at Longham Lakes
Goosander - 2 at Longham Lakes, 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Great Northern Diver - 4 at Weymouth Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 2 at Weymouth Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 2 at Arne, 2 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Bittern - 2 at Lodmoor
Cattle Egret - 2 at Perry Farm House, Alderholt
Spoonbill - 9 at Arne
Marsh Harrier - 1 at Middlebere, 1 at Lodmoor
Purple Sandpiper - 4 at Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 at Lodmoor
Jack Snipe - 2 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Green Sandpiper - 1 at Lodmoor, 1 at Longham Lakes
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Yellow-legged Gull - 1 at Middlebere
Water Pipit - 1 at Lodmoor, 1 at Longham Lakes
Waxwing - 42 at Northbrook Road, Broadstone
Dipper - 1 near Mangerton Mill
Black Redstart - 1 at Portland Bill
Firecrest - 1 at Lodmoor
Great Grey Shrike - 1 near Arne Farm

Sightings - Monday 21st February 2011

Great Northern Diver - singles at Portland Harbour and Weymouth Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 8+ at Portland Harbour, 6 at Shell Bay
Bittern - 4 at Hatch Pond, 1 at Lodmoor
Cattle Egret - 2 still near Perry Farm House, between Alderholt and Ashford
Spoonbill - 8 at Arne
Purple Sandpiper - 17 on The Cobb, Lyme Regis; 6 at Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 at Lodmoor
Ring-billed Gull - 1st winter still in Poole Park
Waxwing - 50+ in trees between Northbrook Road and Pickering Close, Broadstone

Sightings - Sunday 20th February 2011

Black Brant - 2 at Ferrybridge
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 2 at Ferrybridge
Red-crested Pochard - 1 at Little Sea, Studland
Scaup - 30+ at Abbotsbury Swannery
Velvet Scoter - 3 in Poole Harbour from the RSPB birdboat
Long-tailed Duck - 1 at Poole Harbour from the RSPB birdboat
Smew - 1 at Longham Lakes
Goosander - on the Stour, 5 at Shapwick and 2 at River Way Recreation Ground, Christchurch. Elsewhere, 3 at Longham Lakes
Great Northern Diver - 1 at Portland Harbour
Slavonian Grebe - 1 at Studland Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 6 at Portland Harbour, 6 in Poole Harbour from the RSPB birdboat
Cattle Egret - 2 still near Perry Farm House, between Alderholt and Ashford
Spoonbill - 8 at Arne
Red Kite - 1 over Rushmore Golf Course, on the Dorset/Wiltshire border
Marsh Harrier - 1 at Swineham Point
Hen Harrier - 1 at Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley
Merlin - 1 over Broadstone, 1 at Hilfield
Great Bustard - 1 at Herbury Gore
Purple Sandpiper - 7 at Portland Bill
Ruff - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 at Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh, 1 at Brownsea Lagoon
Mediterranean Gull - 86 on Brownsea Lagoon (a site record)
Sandwich Tern - 1 over Christchurch Harbour
Water Pipit - 1 at Priory Marsh
Waxwing - 40+ around Broadstone (Northbrook Road, Twin Oaks Close)
Black Redstart - 2 at Weston, 2 at Portland Bill, 1 at Hamworthy
Firecrest - 1 at Peveril Point, Swanage
Great Grey Shrike - 1 at Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley; 1 opposite the Sika Trail, Wareham Forest
Brambling - 2 at Broadstone, 1 at Shapwick, 1 at Merley

Great Bustard at Herbury Gore © Chris Rowland

Mediterranean Gull at Brownsea Lagoon © Alex Berryman

Sightings - Saturday 19th February 2011

Black Brant - 1 at Ferrybridge
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1 at Ferrybridge
Barnacle Goose - 53 flew over Swineham GP and headed back towards Lytchett Bay this morning
Scaup - 1 at Swineham GP
Great Northern Diver - 3 at Weymouth Bay, 1 at Portland Harbour
Slavonian Grebe - 9 at Studland Bay, 1 at Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 58 at Studland Bay, 10+ at Portland Harbour
Bittern - 3 at Hatch Pond, 2 at Radipole Lake, 1 at Lodmoor
Cattle Egret - 2 still near Perry Farm House, between Alderholt and Ashford
Spoonbill - 6 at Arne
Red Kite - 1 at East Morden (over the Cock & Bottle pub) - presumably the same bird that has recently been seen around the Wareham Forest
Marsh Harrier - 1 at Radipole Lake
Bar-tailed Godwit - 182 at Shore Road, Sandbanks
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 near the 'hump' at Lodmoor
Ruff - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Ring-billed Gull - 1st winter bird still present in Poole Park
Water Pipit - 1 at Lodmoor
Waxwing - 35+ at various sites around Canford Heath, 20+ along Northbrook Road, Broadstone
Black Redstart - 1 at Portland Bill, 1 at Smallmouth, Ferrybridge
Firecrest - 2+ at Sherford Bridge
Great Grey Shrike - 1 has reappeared along the pumping station road at Wyke Down, between Sixpenny Handley and Monkton-up-Wimborne

Turnstone at Poole Quay © Alex Berryman

Sightings - Friday 18th February 2011

Cattle Egret - 2 Alderholt
Bittern - 2 Hatch Pond
Red Kite - 1 Sherford Bridge

Purple Sandpiper - 2 Hengistbury Head
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 2 Stanpit
Snipe - 45 Stanpit was an unusually large count, attributed to high tides.
Black-headed Gull - estimate of 1500 in Christchurch Harbour
Barn Owl - 1 Stour LNR
Woodlark - 2 Avon Heath CP North, 2 Morden Bog
Waxwing - 9 Rossmore Rd (Parkstone)

Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill
Lesser Redpoll - 35+ Avon Heath CP North

Sightings - Thursday 17th February 2011

Grey Partridge - 2 Monkeys Jump, 8 Rainbarrow, Martinstown
Golden Pheasant - 3 Brownsea Island
Manx Shearwater - 1 past Portland Bill is the first there this year
Cattle Egret - 2 near Perry Farm House, with Little Egrets between Alderholt and Ashford on the Dorset/Hampshire border (SU131138)

Greenshank - 2 Brownsea lagoon
Green Sandpiper - 1 Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 2 Brownsea lagoon, 2 Stanpit
Purple Sandpiper - 4 Portland Bill, 1 Black House (Hengistbury)
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor - now on its third visit.
Waxwing - 28 Corfe Mullen (at Roman Road)
Black Redstart - 2 Portland Bill
Firecrest - 1 Durlston CP


Late news for Wednesday 16th February - a male Hen Harrier flew over the road, just west of Cranborne


Cattle Egret near Alderholt © Kevin Lane

Sightings - Wednesday 16th February 2011

Scaup - 30+ Abbotsbury Swannery
Hen Harrier - male west of Sherford Bridge
Marsh Harrier - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Merlin - 1 north over Stanpit
Grey Plover - 6 Stanpit Bight
Ruff - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery, 2 Priory Marsh
Spotted Redshank - 1 Priory Marsh, 1 Stanpit Bight
Purple Sandpiper - 1 Portland Bill
Ring-billed Gull - 1 first-winter Poole Park
Sandwich Tern - 1 Portland Harbour
Woodlark - 2+ singing west of Sherford Bridge
Brambling - flock of 25 Blandford
Crossbill - 6 west of Sherford Bridge

Sightings - Tuesday 15th February 2011

With a female Wheatear being reported at St. Mawes in Cornwall, I had great hopes for today's reports, but unfortunately very few have come in. Even the Long-billed Dowitcher went missing from its favoured spot today.

White-fronted Goose - 1 still with Canadas near Athelhampton House

Red-throated Diver - 3 Portland Bill

Great Skua - 1 past Durlston
Ring-billed Gull
- 1 1st/winter Poole Park

Late news from the 14th - 3 Firecrest east of Sherford Bridge.

Sightings - Monday 14th February 2011

White-fronted Goose - 11 north of Avon Causeway
Goosander - 4 north over Avon Causeway
Red-throated Diver - 4 Portland Bill
Great Northern Diver - 4 Portland Hbr
Slavonian Grebe - 2 Portland Hbr
Black-necked Grebe - 7 Portland Hbr
Spoonbill - 6 Arne
Red Kite - 1 Sherford Bridge
Marsh Harrier - 1 Coombe Heath, Arne
Merlin - 1 north of Avon Causeway
Ruff - 4 Fisherman's Bank, Stanpit

Long-billed Dowitcher
- 1 Poole Park
Ring-billed Gull - 1 Poole Park
Sandwich Tern - 1 Shell Bay
Black Redstart - 1 Newton's Cove
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Coombe Heath, Arne


Danish colour-ringed Black-headed Gull, Poole Park © Alan Hayden




















The Black-headed Gull in the above photo was ringed in Copenhagen, Denmark on 6th April 1986. At the date of ringing it was already at least 3 years old, meaning that it now 28+ years old.

Sightings - Sunday 13th February 2011

Black Brant - 2 Ferrybridge
Goosander - 3 Portland Hbr, 2 Coward's Marsh
Red-throated Diver - 4 Portland Bill, singles Branksome Chine & Durlston
Slavonian Grebe - 2 Portland Hbr
Storm Petrel
- 8 off Durlston
Bittern - 1 Hatch Pond
Red Kite - 1 still present in the Sherford Bridge area
Purple Sandpiper - 11 Sandbanks Ferry
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still present at Poole Park
Green Sandpiper - 2 Bere Regis Cress Beds, 1 Coward's Marsh, 1 Winkton Meadows
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit Marsh, 1 Poole Park
Ring-billed Gull - 1 1st/W still present at Poole Park
Water Pipit - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Waxwing - 15 over a Knowlton Rd. garden Canford Heath

Sightings - Saturday 12th February 2011

White-fronted Goose - 1 with Canadas west of Athelhampton House
Red-crested Pochard - 1 Canford Bridge
Velvet Scoter - 4 off Southborne (Overcliffe Drive)
Red-throated Diver - 10 Portland Bill
Red Kite - 1 still present in the Sherford Bridge area of Wareham Forest
Great Bustard - 1 fem Herbury Hill
Purple Sandpiper - 4 Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still present in Poole Park giving very close views
Ruff - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Spotted Redshank - 1 Holes Bay, 1 Stanpit Marsh
Ring-billed Gull - 1 1st winter Poole Park
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - 1 in alders by Sherford Bridge
Water Pipit - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Waxwing - 13 Knowlton Rd. Canford Heath, 4 top-end of North Scrubs, Stanpit Marsh
Dipper - 2 Netherbury

Sightings - Friday 11th February 2011

Brent Goose (pale-bellied) - 1 Baiter
Smew
- 1 West Bexington
Goosander - 6 Portland Harbour

Red Kite - 1 Wareham departed N.
Purple Sandpiper - 5 Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Poole Park
Mediterranean Gull - 3 Mudeford Quay, 2 Poole Park, 1 West Bexington
Ring-billed Gull - 1 Poole Park; 1 Radipole Lake (departed SW towards the Fleet; this bird is reported to have an unusual amount of white in the outer wing)
Waxwing
- 6+ Canford Heath (Knowlton Rd)
Dipper - 1 Netherbury


Ring-billed Gull at Radipole Lake © Dave Chown

Sightings - Thursday 10th February 2011

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1 Baiter, Poole
Eider - 2 females in Studland Bay, 1 female in Brand's Bay
Scaup - 33 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Slavonian Grebe - 7 Studland Bay, 1 Brand's Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 56 Studland Bay, 5 Brand's Bay
Red Kite - 1 over Sherford Bridge
Great Bustard - 1 of the released birds near the Moonfleet Hotel
Purple Sandpiper - 10 at Lyme Regis, 6 near Haven Hotel, Sandbanks
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still at Poole Park
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Ring-billed Gull - 1st winter still present at Poole Park
Waxwing - 1 still at junction of Purewell Cross Road and Normandy Drive, Christchurch
Firecrest - 1 at Durlston
Black Redstart - 1 at Durlston

Red Kite at Sherford Bridge, Wareham Forest © Kevin Lane
Dunlin at Baiter Park, Poole © Kevin Lane

Sightings - Wednesday 9th February 2011

Red-throated Diver - 3 past Hengistbury Head, 2 past Portland Bill, 1 past Durlston
Bittern - 1 at Hatch Pond
Red Kite - 1 near Morden Bog, 1 over Wool
Purple Sandpiper - 5 near Haven Hotel, Sandbanks, 4 at Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still at Poole Park
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Ring-billed Gull - 1st winter still at Poole Park
Yellow-legged Gull - 2 adults at Hatch Pond
Water Pipit - 1 at Stanpit Marsh near visitor centre
Waxwing - 21 briefly at Hatch Pond, 7 over Wick and 3 over the Railway Station Christchurch, 1 at junction of Purewell Cross Road and Normandy Drive, Christchurch
Black Redstart - 2 at Portland Bill, 2 on rooftops near WDDC offices in Dorchester, 1 in Pine View, Bridport, 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Brambling - 1 at Hengisbury Head

Additional News - a Dipper was seen yesterday by the East Street bridge in Bridport and another has been spotted regularly in Netherbury by the bridge on the east side of the village.

Waxwings at Hatch Pond © Mike Trew




Water Rail at Radipole RSPB Visitor Centre © Luke Phillips




Long-billed Dowitcher at Poole Park © Doug Knibbs



Sightings - Tuesday 8th February 2011

Barnacle Goose - 50+ mobile flock around Abbotsbury and Rodden Hive Point
Scaup - 28+ at Abbotsbury, 1 male at Lodmoor
Smew - 3 on Longham Lakes
Goosander - 5 on Longham Lakes, 4 redheads at Newton's Cove
Red-throated Diver - 2 past Durlston
Great Northern Diver - 1 past Durlston, 1 off Canford Cliffs
Red-necked Grebe - 1 in Studland Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 2 in Studland Bay, 1 in Shell Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 22+ in Studland Bay, 5 off Brownsea Is.
Spoonbill - 8 at Arne
Cormorant - flock of 540 off Branksome
Marsh Harrier - 1 at Arne
Hen Harrier - 1 at Arne
Merlin - 1 at Arne
Great Bustard - 2 released birds still present about 1/4 mile east of Moonfleet Hotel
Purple Sandpipier - 12 on the Cobb at Lyme Regis; 1 with a possible deformed bill (see photo below)
Ruff - 1 from Fisherman's Bank
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still at Poole Park
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Ring-billed Gull - 1st winter still at Poole Park
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - 1 at Arne (second report in 4 weeks)
Waxwing - only report today is 8 at Lychett Way, Upton, Poole

Dipper - 2 at Lyme Regis
Firecrest - 1 at Durlston
Black Redstart - 2 by the WDDC offices in Dorchester and 2 more(?) around the Poundbury building site

Ring-billed Gull at Poole Park © Roger Peart

Purple Sandpiper at Lyme Regis © Roger Boswell



Long-billed Dowitcher at Poole Park © Terry Elborn

Sightings - Monday 7th February 2011

Barnacle Goose - 50+ at Abbotsbury
Scaup - 20+ at Abbotsbury
Velvet Scoter - 9 off Southbourne Cliff
Goosander - 1 redhead at Abbotsbury
Black-throated Diver - 9 from Mudeford Quay, 5 past Portland Bill, 1 past Durlston Great Northern Diver - 1 from Mudeford Quay
Red-necked Grebe - 1 at Studland Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 9 at Studland Bay, 1 at Abbotsbury
Black-necked Grebe - 70 Studland Bay

Bittern - 3 at Hatch Pond
Red Kite - 1 at Sherford Bridge
Sanderling - 16 at Shore Road, Poole
Purple Sandpiper - 2 at Mudeford Quay
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still at Poole Park
Great Skua - 1 past Durlston
Ring-billed Gull - 1st winter still at Poole Park
Waxwing - 50 still at junction of Purewell Cross Road and Normandy Drive, Christchurch, and 42 over Two Riversmeet Leisure Centre (possibly the Purewell Cross birds)

Great Grey Shrike - 1 Morden Bog
Firecrest - 1 at the PC World Drain, Poole

Long-billed Dowitcher at Poole Park © Bekki Pierce


Sightings - Sunday 6th February 2011

Black Brant - 1 at Ferrybridge
Scaup - 2 at Poole Harbour
Smew - 4 at Longham Lakes
Goosander - 2 redheads at Newton's Cove, Weymouth
Black-throated Diver - 6 reported off Avon Beach, 3 past Hengistbury Head
Sooty Shearwater - 1 past Durlston
Spoonbill - 8 at Poole Harbour
Red Kite - 1 near Morden Bog
Great Bustard - 2 released birds still present, about 1 mile east of Moonfleet (also there yesterday)
Purple Sandpiper - 1 at Hengistbury Head
Ruff - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still at Poole Park
Ring-billed Gull - adult still at Radipole Lake, 1st winter still at Poole Park
Waxwing - In Christchurch, 60 still at junction of Purewell Cross Road and Normandy Drive.  15 of this flock were also seen at Purewell Meadows
Firecrest - 2 at Hengistbury Head
Brambling - 28 at Blandford

Late news from Friday 4th February - 10 White-fronted Geese flew over the Dorset section of the Avon Valley, near North End (photo below)

Long-billed Dowitcher at Poole Park © Tim Balmer

Ring-billed Gull at Poole Park © Jimmy Main

Great Bustards near Moonfleet © Jimmy Main

White-fronted Geese in the Avon Valley © Jimmy Main

Sightings - Saturday 5th February 2011

Eider - 2 in Studland Bay
Smew - 4 at Longham Lakes
Goosander - 3 at Longham Lakes, 1 past Branksome Chine
Great Northern Diver - 1 past Branksome Chine
Red-necked Grebe - 1 on the sea off Branksome Chine
Sooty Shearwater - 2 past Portland Bill
Bittern - 1 at Hatch Pond
Bar-tailed Godwit - 219 at Shore Road, Sandbanks is the highest count of the winter
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still in Poole Park
Great Skua - 1 past Branksome Chine
Ring-billed Gull - the adult was seen again at Radipole Lake and a very confiding first winter bird was located in Poole Park, close to the Dowitcher
Yellow-legged Gull - 1 past Hengistbury Head
Auks - 5,000+ past Hengistbury Head during 2.5 hours in the morning, c3,750 past Branksome Chine in 2.5 hours during the morning
Waxwing - In Christchurch, up to 60 were at the junction of Purewell Cross Road and Normandy Drive
Black Redstart - 1 at Portland Bill

Ring-billed Gull at Poole Park © Shaun Robson

Ring-billed Gull at Poole Park © Chris Parnell

Long-billed Dowitcher at Poole Park © Bekki Pierce
Waxwings at Normandy Drive, Christchurch © Chris Dresh

Sightings - Friday 4th February 2011

Black Brant - 1 at Ferrybridge
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1 at Ferrybridge
Scaup - 33 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-tailed Duck - drake off Shipstal Point, Arne
Bittern - 2 at Radipole Lake, 1 at Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 9 at Arne
Marsh Harrier - 1 at Lodmoor
Great Bustard - 2 released birds again near Moonfleet Hotel, The Fleet
Purple Sandpiper - 4 at Portland Bill
Ruff - 1 at Winkton Slurry (SZ173965)
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still in Poole Park, at the north east corner of the main boating lake
Pomarine Skua - 1 off Portland Bill
Great Skua - 1 past Durlston
Ring-billed Gull - 1 adult near the visitor centre at Radipole Lake
Waxwing - In Christchurch, up to 45 were at Purewell Doctors Surgery and/or Purewell Cross Road/Normandy Road junction.  In Upton, 8 were at the junction of Meadows Drive and Palmerston Road.  In Weymouth, 4 were at Winchester Close
Black Redstart - singles at Portland Bill and Durlston
Firecrest - 1 at Durlston

Ring-billed Gull at Radipole Lake © Dave Chown

Waxwing at Upton © Bekki Pierce

Grey Partridge recently at Maiden Castle © Kevin Lane

Sightings - Thursday 3rd February 2011

Barnacle Goose - 50+ at Abbotsbury Swannery
Red-crested Pochard - drake on Little Sea, Studland
Scaup - 30+ at Abbotsbury Swannery
Velvet Scoter - 7 in Poole Bay off Southbourne
Eider - 1 at Bramble Bush Bay
Smew - redhead on the mere at West Bexington
Red-necked Grebe - 1 past Portland Bill
Slavonian Grebe - 1 at Studland Bay
Purple Sandpiper - 3 at Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still in Poole Park (at the north eastern corner of the main boating lake)
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Green Sandpiper - 3 at Dodding's Farm Cress Beds, Bere Regis
Mediterranean Gull - 166 at Ferrybridge
Short-eared Owl - 1 at Coombe Heath DWT (not Arne)
Water Pipit - 1 by the 'hump' at Lodmoor, 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Waxwing - 40 in Bournemouth (jct of Littledown Drive and Wessex Way).  In Christchurch, 40 reportedly 'mobile around the town', 20+ by the doctors surgery in Purewell, 13 briefly in North Scrubs, Stanpit Marsh and 2+ on Stroud Lane.  In Weymouth, 6 were at Winchester Close
Black Redstart - 1 at Portland Bill
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 at Portland Bill
Raven - a total of 181 birds roosted in woods north west of Minterne Magna (a new Dorset record count)

Long-billed Dowitcher at Poole Park © Steve Morrison

Sightings - Wednesday 2nd February 2011

Barnacle Goose – 57 Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup – 28 Abbotsbury Swannery
Velvet Scoter – 7 off Southbourne, 2 off West Bexington
Smew – 1 West Bexington
Goosander – 2 Avon Causeway
Red-throated Diver - 16 past Durlston, 9 past Portland Bill
Black-throated Diver –1 off Southbourne
Great Crested Grebe – 424 off Southbourne
Slavonian Grebe - 1 at Weymouth Bay
Cormorant - 425 appeared over the top of Hengistbury Head and headed out into Poole Bay
Merlin – 1 Stanpit Marsh
Avocet – 1200 Arne
Black-tailed Godwit – 1500 Arne
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - 1 Poole Park
Waxwing - 40 Bournemouth Wessex Way by the junction for King's Park. 5 in Winchester Close, Weymouth
Firecrest - 1 Durlston, 1 in small park opposite health centre in Easton , 1 in small park opposite health centre in Easton
Great Grey Shrike –1 Coombe Heath

Black-tailed Godwit - Poole Harbour © Tim Balmer

Sightings - Tuesday 1st February 2011

Black Brant - 2 Butterstreet Cove
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 7 Butterstret Cove
Barnacle Goose - 50+ at Abbotsbury Swannery
Red-crested Pochard – 1 Little Sea Studland
Scaup - 20+ at Abbotsbury Swannery
Slavonian Grebe – 7 Studland Bay
Black-necked Grebe – 76 Studland Bay
Gannet – 1160 past/off Durlston, 370 past Hengistbury Head
Hen Harrier - male at Hartland Moor
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER - 1 Poole Park
Razorbill – 11200 past Durlston
Great Skua – 1 past Durlston, 1 off Portland Bill, 1 past Hengistbury Head
Waxwing - 5 Winchester Close Weymouth, 10 Broadstone at junction of York and Lytham Roads
Firecrest - 1 Durlston, 1 Stoborough in private garden

Long-billed Dowitcher at Poole Park © Joe Cockram


Long-billed Dowitcher at Poole Park © Alan Hayden