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