Sightings - Saturday 30th April 2011

Red-crested Pochard - drake Swineham GP.
Red-throated Diver - 2 Hengistbury Hd.
Black-throated Diver - 1 past Chesil
Cattle Egret - 1 Lodmoor 08.00hrs flew off east.

Hobby - 2 Longham Lakes, 1, Radipole, 1 Durlston Cp.
Purple Sandpiper - 2 on the Cobb Lyme Regis
Long-billed Dowitcher - the near summer plumaged bird remains at Lodmoor
Bar-tailed Godwit - 400 Weymouth Bay p.m, 300 Chesil, 100 Abbotsbury, 48 Christchurch, 26 Lodmoor
Whimbrel - 50 Chesil, 25 Stanpit, 17 Hengistbury, 7 Lodmoor, 2 Radipole, 2 Longham Lakes
Common Sandpiper - 3 Stanpit Bight, 1 Longham lakes, 1 Lodmoor
Green Sandpiper - Singles Longham, Lodmoor & Abbotsbury
Spotted Redshank - 2 Brownsea Is, 1 Stanpit
Wood Sandpiper - 1 landed on the East marsh Stanpit a.m.
Pomarine Skua - 1 past Chesil
Arctic Skua - 3 Chesil, 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Little Gull - 1 Longham Lakes, 1 Durlston Cp.
Black Tern - 2 Chesil
Short-eared Owl - 1 Lodmoor
Bee-eater - 1 reported at Easton a.m possible same 1, Verne Common 12.30hrs.
Yellow Wagtail - 2 Stanpit, 2 Durlston Cp.
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill
Whinchat - 3 Stanpit, 1 Hatch Pond
Ring Ouzel - 1 Portland Bill
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 Durlston Cp
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Brownsea Is.

Sightings - Friday 29th April 2011

Black-throated Diver -1 past Portland Bill
Great Northern Diver - 1 past Hengistbury Head, 1 past Portland Bill
Black Stork - 1 flew over Morden Bog late morning, with presumably the same individual seen distantly in flight over the Wareham Forest early afternoon
Red Kite - 1 near Sturminster Marshall, 1 near Chideock
Marsh Harrier - 1 Coombe Heath
Hen Harrier - 1 Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley
Hobby - 4 Wareham Forest, 1 Durlston, 1 Arne Moors
Purple Sandpiper - 1 Portland Bill
Jack Snipe - 1 Durlston
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1st summer still at Lodmoor
Great Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Puffin - 1 past Durlston, 1 Portland Bill
Cuckoo - 2 Wareham Forest, 1 Cannon Hill Plantation, Colehill, 1 Longham Lakes, 1 Durlston
Short-eared Owl - 1 Portland Bill
Nightingale - 1 Durlston
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill
Redstart - 1 Wareham Forest
Whinchat - 2 Portland Bill
Ring Ouzel - 2 Portland Bill
Grasshopper Warbler - 2 Portland Bill
Firecrest - 1 Wareham Forest, 1 Abbotsbury Sub-tropical Gardens
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 Durlston

Late news from yesterday; a Stork sp. was seen in the Wareham/Arne area

Bar-tailed Godwits at Lodmoor © Daragh Croxson

Sightings - Thursday 28th April 2011

Garganey - 1 drake still at Abbotsbury Swannery
Black-throated Diver -2 past Portland Bill
Great Northern Diver - 1 past Portland Bill
Black Stork - reported flying over Arne and also over the Bakers Arms roundabout, Lytchett Minster, early evening
Red Kite - 1 over Hartland Moor, 1 over Spetisbury
Osprey - 1 flying north over Frampton
Hobby - 3 Arne, 2 over Wick, Christchurch Harbour, 1 Town Common, Christchurch, 1 Portland Bill
Little Ringed Plover - 1  Longham Lakes
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1st summer still at Lodmoor
Bar-tailed Goodwit - a new spring record for Portland including just over 6000 past the Bill (further details are available on the Latest News page on the PBO web site http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk ), also 100+ across Weymouth Bay
Arctic Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Great Skua - 3 past Portland Bill
Cuckoo - 1 Town Common, Christchurch, 1 Portland Bill
Short-eared Owl - 1 Portland Bill
Yellow Wagtail - 2 Portland Bill
Nightingale - 1 Durlston
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill
Whinchat - 1 Sunnyside Farm
Ring Ouzel - 1 Portland Bill
Garden Warbler - 1 Radipole
Spotted Flycatcher -3 Portland Bill

Also; a Vagrant Emperor briefly at Town Common, Christchurch today

Vagrant Emperor at Town Common, Christchurch © Chris Dresh

Sightings - Wednesday 27th April 2011

Garganey - 1 drake still at Abbotsbury Swannery
Red-throated Diver - 1 past Portland Bill
Great Northern Diver - 1 past Portland Bill
Osprey - 1 still at Arne
Hobby - 2 Hartland Moor, 1 Sunnyside Farm
Little Ringed Plover - 3 Longham Lakes
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1st summer still at Lodmoor
Arctic Skua - 6 past Portland Bill
Great Skua - 2 past Portland Bill
Puffin - 1 past Hengistbury Head
Cuckoo - 1 along R. Stour between Sapwick and Wimborne, 1 Longham Lakes
Whinchat - 4 Portland Bill, 1 Hengistbury Head
Grasshopper Warbler - 2 Christchurch Harbour
Garden Warbler - 5 Portland Bill, 3 at Wick, Christchurch Harbour
Subalpine Warbler - 1 at south end of Tavern Lawns opposite The Nothe Tavern at The Nothe, Weymouth
Spotted Flycatcher -2 Portland Bill, 1 Christchurch Harbour
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Reap Lane, Portland, 1 Southwell, Portland


Subalpine Warbler at The Nothe, Weymouth © Kevin Lane

Resident Hooded Merganser at Radipole Lake © David Wareham

Sightings - Tuesday 26th April 2011

Garganey - drake on the meadow poole at Abbotsbury Swannery
Great Northern Diver - 2 past Portland Bill
Manx Shearwater - 120 past Portland Bill, 6 past West Bexington
Red Kite - 3 over Abbotsbury Swannery, 2 over Lodmoor, 1 over Harman's Cross and Ulwell
Osprey - 1 at Arne
Marsh Harrier - 2 at Radipole Lake
Little Ringed Plover - 1 at Lodmoor
Purple Sandpiper - 5 at The Cobb, Lyme Regis
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 at Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 2 on Brownsea Lagoon
Pomarine Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Arctic Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Great Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Arctic Tern - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Cuckoo - 1 at Portland Bill, 1 at West Bexington, 1 at Ailwood Down, 1 at Morden Bog
Red-rumped Swallow - 1 Portland Bill and Southwell
Waxwing - 11 at Dogwood Road, Broadstone
Whinchat - 2 at Portland Bill
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Lorton Valley
Subalpine Warbler - 1 briefly on the southern slopes of The Nothe, Weymouth
Spotted Flycatcher - 2 at Portland Bill, 1 at Winspit
Pied Flycatcher - 2 in the Reap/Barleycrates Lane area, Portland
Serin - 1 flew over the gully at Durlston

Late news - c2 Wood Warblers were at Rodwell Halt yesterday (25th)


Yellowhammer at Chamberlayne's Heath © Vaughan Ashby
Cuckoo at Morden Bog © Julian Stone


Blackcap at Lodmoor © Daragh Croxson
Dartford Warbler at Town Common © Chris Dresh

Sightings - Monday 25th April 2011

Garganey - drake at Abbotsbury Swannery
Great Northern Diver - 1 at Dancing Ledge
Red Kite - 4 over Abbotsbury Gardens, 3 over Broadwey, 2 over Loders, 2 over the Bride Valley, 1 over Eype Down, 1 over Sherborne Lake, 1 over Poundbury
Osprey - 1 at Arne
Little Ringed Plover - 2 at Longham Lakes
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 at Lodmoor
Arctic Skua - 2 past Portland Bill
Great Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Roseate Tern - 1 past Hengistbury Head
Waxwing - 14 at Stinsford Road, Poole
Nightingale - 1 (presumably a migrant) singing briefly at Rushcombe Bottom, Corfe Hills
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery

Linnet at Lytchett Heath © Shaun Robson

Tree Pipit at Puddletown Forest © Vaughan Ashby

Pair of Mandarins at Canford © Roger Peart

Wing-tagged Red Kite over the Bride Valley © Nick Stantiford

Sightings - Sunday 24th April 2011

Garganey - drakes at Hatch Pond, Upton CP and Abbotsbury Swannery
Great Northern Diver - 1 in Weymouth Bay, 1 past Durlston
Balearic Shearwater - singles off Portland Bill and Abbotsbury Beach
Cattle Egret - 1 flew in off the sea at West Bexington and then headed inland
Night Heron - 1 still at Stour Valley LNR, Bournemouth
Osprey - singles over Arne and Lytchett Bay (possibly the same bird)
Red Kite - singles over Weymouth, Arne, Bryanston and Ballard Down/Ulwell
Little Ringed Plover - 1 at Abbotsbury Beach
Curlew Sandpiper - the first bird of the year was on Brownsea Lagoon
Ruff - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 at Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 2 on Brownsea Lagoon
Great Skua - 4 past Portland Bill
Arctic Tern - 1 past Hengistbury Head
Turtle Dove - 1 at West Bexington
Waxwing - up to 13 on Stinsford Road, Poole
Nightingale - many reports now received of birds on territory.  Apart from these, unusual records/locations involved a singing bird near the viewing screen at Upton CP and another near Swanage Tip
Whinchat - 5 at Barleycrates/Reap Lanes, Portland, 1 at Sunnyside Farm, Ridge
Wheatear - c500 in the Barleycrates/Reap Lanes area, Portland
Subalpine Warbler - a female was trapped and ringed at PBO.  It was released into the Obs Quarry, but only showed briefly on one occasion afterwards

Garganey at Hatch Pond © Shaun Robson

Garganey at Upton CP/Holes Bay © Kevin Lane

Sightings - Saturday 23rd April 2011

Red-crested Pochard – 1 Little Sea
Night Heron – 1 Stour LNR SZ100965
Red Kite - 1 over St Catherines Hill Christchurch, 1 over West Parley, 1 over Butter Street Cove and Littlesea, 1 over Winterborne Whitechurch
Hobby – 1 Wareham Meadows, 1 St Catherines Hill Christchurch, 1 Reap Lane Portland, 1 Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher – 1 Lodmoor
Whimbrel - 23 past Chesil Beach
Arctic Skua - 1 past Chesil Beach, 6 past Portland Bill
Hoopoe – 1 Arne on a private part of the reserve
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 Portland
Wood Warbler –1 Portland

Mediterranean Gull, Poole Harbour © Kevin Lane

Sightings - Friday 22nd April 2011

Garganey - 1 Abbotsbury, 1 flew along river at Hengistbury Head
Common Scoter – 53 past Chesil Beach
Velvet Scoter - 2 past Chesil Beach
Black-throated Diver – 1 past Portland Bill
Night Heron – 1 Stour LNR SZ100965
Marsh Harrier – 1 South Bockhampton, 1 past West Bexington, 1 Radipole
Corncrake – possible reported from West Bexington
Little Ringed Plover - 1 at Longham Lakes
Bar-tailed Godwit – 39 past Chesil Beach
Whimbrel - movement past West Bexington, 216 past Chesil Beach
Long-billed Dowitcher – 1 Lodmoor
Arctic Skua - 10 past Chesil Beach
Pomarine Skua – 1 past Portland Bill
Common Tern – 42 past Chesil Beach
Arctic Tern – 4 past Chesil Beach
Commic Tern – 109 past Chesil Beach
Black Tern – 2 past Portland Bill
Cuckoo - 2 at Badbury Rings, singles at Morden Bog, Longham Lakes, Batterley Drove and Town Common (Christchurch)
Water Pipit – 1 Wick Hams Christchurch Harbour

Late news - a probable Bee-eater flew west over Edward Road, Dorchester on Tuesday 19th April at around 6:30pm

Night Heron at Stour Valley LNR © Vincent Blood

Little Tern at Ferrybridge © Paul Baker

Sightings - Thursday 21st April 2011

Garganey - 1 Abbotsbury
Night Heron – 1 Stour LNR SZ100965
Hobby – 1 Lodmoor
Long-billed Dowitcher – 1 Lodmoor
Great Skua - 2 past Durlston
Little Gull - 1 Longham Lakes
Turtle Dove –1 Reap Lane Portland
Cuckoo - 1 at Longham Lakes
Blue-headed Wagtail – male at Weston at Barleycrates Lane Portland
Bee-eater – 1 heard over Durlston
Swift – 2 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Portland
Ring Ouzel - 1 Lodmoor, 1 Durlston, 1 Christchurch Harbour
Lesser Whitethroat - 6 Durlston
Night Heron at Stour Valley LNR © Dave Cooke

Ring Ouzel at Lodmoor © Daragh Croxson

Sightings - Wednesday 20th April 2011

Eider – 25 off West Cliffs Portland
Night Heron – 1 Stour LNR SZ100965
Hobby – 1 Radipole Lake
Marsh Harrier – 3 Radipole Lake
Long-billed Dowitcher – 1 Lodmoor
Whimbrel - 21 past Portland Bill, 3 Ferrybridge
Great Skua -1 past Portland Bill, 2 past St Aldhelm’s Head
Turtle Dove – 1 Wick Fields Christchurch Harbour
Nightjar – 1 very early bird Broadstone
Short-eared Owl -1 Durlston
Yellow Wagtail - 13 Portland
Red-rumped Swallow – 1 at West Bexington, 1 north over Priory Marsh Christchurch Harbour
Whinchat - 11 Portland including 9 near Barleycrates
Grasshopper Warbler - 4 Portland Bill
Ortolan Bunting - 1 Portland Bill

Night Heron at Stour Valley LNR © Kevin Lane

Nightjar at Broadstone © Kevin Lane
Reed Warbler at Bestwall © Simon Kidner

Sightings - Tuesday 19th April 2011

Garganey - 2 Longham lakes, 3 Abbotsbury, 1 female Castleman trailway between Merley and Broadstone
Common scoter - 74 past St Aldhelm's Head
Little gull - 3 past St Aldhelm's Head, 1 Longham Lakes
Sandwich tern - 5 Ferrybridge
Common tern - 5 Ferrybridge, 7 Lodmoor
Little tern - 4 Ferrybridge
Great Skua - 1 past St Aldhelm's Head
Long billed dowitcher - Lodmoor
Little ringed plover - 2 Lodmoor
Night heron - showing well in evening on island in River Stour, at Stour LNR, SZ100965
Spoonbill - 1 flew east at Hengistbury Head
Red kite - 1 over Alderholt
Hobby - 1 Worth Matravers
Cuckoo - 1 calling at Ridge, 1 Sturminster Marshall golf course
Whinchat - 2 Winspit
Lesser whitethroat - Radipole and Lodmoor
Grasshopper warbler - Barleycrates Lane, Portland
Yellow wagtail - 9 Hengistbury, 1 Barleycrates Lane
Tree pipit - 2 Hengistbury, 1 Morden Bog

Sightings - Monday 18th April 2011

Garganey - 3 at Abbotsbury Swannery, 2 at Longham Lakes
Great Northern Diver - 2 in Weymouth Bay, 1 past St Aldhelm's Head
Manx Shearwater - 24 past St Aldhelm's Head
Night Heron - still present at private pool at West Bexington
Red Kite - 1 between Ringstead Bay and White Nothe, 1 over Sturminster Newton
Marsh Harrier - 1 at St Aldhelm's Head
Little Ringed Plover - 1 at Lodmoor
Ruff - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Whimbrel - 17 past St Aldhelm's Head, 15 past Hengistbury Head, 2 at Stanpit Marsh, 1 at Ferrybridge
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 at Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Arctic Skua - 8 past St Aldhelm's Head
Little Gull - 21 past St Aldhelm's Head
Black Tern - 1 at Longham Lakes
Cuckoo - 1 at Christchurch Harbour
Tree Pipit - 15 over Christchurch Harbour, 5 over Portland
White Wagtail - 2 over Portland
Yellow Wagtail - 11 over Christchurch Harbour, 7 over Portland
Waxwing - 14 along Stinsford Road, Poole
Nightingale - 3 at White Nothe, 1 at Sturminster Marshall
Whinchat - 5 at Portland
Wheatear - 175+ at Portland
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 at Christchurch Harbour, 1 at Radipole Lake
Garden Warbler - 1 at Christchurch Harbour
Grasshopper Warbler - 5 at Christchurch Harbour, 4 at Portland
Willow Warbler - 100+ at Portland
Pied Flycatcher - 1 at Portland
Brambling - 1 over Portland
Ortolan Bunting - reported at 5pm along the causeway at Longham Lakes

Night Heron at West Bexington © Kevin Lane

Sightings - Sunday 17th April 2011

Pale-bellied Brent Goose -31 Weymouth Bay
Garganey - 2 Abbotsbury, 2 Longham Lakes
Great Northern Diver - 1 Weymouth Bay
Night Heron - 1 at Stour LNR, Bournemouth, 1 on private land at West Bexington
Red Kite - 2 Shroton, 1 over Alderholt, 1 Kingcombe, 1 Radipole Lake, 1 Bloxworth
Hen Harrier - Hartland Moor
Long-billed Dowitcher - Lodmoor
Little Gull - 1 Longham Lakes
Short-eared Owl - Stanpit
Yellow Wagtail - 1 Wick, 6 Stanpit
Whinchat - 1 Stanpit
Grasshopper Warbler - 2 Stanpit, 1 North Bestwall meadows
Brambling - 2 Blandford
Ortolan - an adult male on the causeway between Longham Lakes

Ortolan Bunting at Longham Lakes © Shaun Robson

Ortolan Bunting at Longham Lakes © Aidan Brown

Night Heron at Stour LNR, Bournemouth © Dave Cooke

Sightings - Saturday 16th April 2011

Great Northern Diver - 5 Weymouth Bay
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Garganey - 3 Abbotsbury, 4 Longham Lakes
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 214 Weymouth Bay
Hobby - Wick
Short-eared Owl - Abbotsbury
Cuckoo - Hengistbury Head
Ring Ouzel - 1 Portland
Nightingale - 4 White Nothe
Grasshopper Warbler - 5 Portland. 4 Hengistbury Head
Garden Warbler - Wick ditch

Late news for Friday, April 15
Night Heron reported from a private garden in Abbotsbury
Garganey at Abbotsbury Swannery © Brett Spencer




Pale-bellied Brent flock in Weymouth Bay © Brett Spencer

Sightings - Friday 15th April 2011

Garganey - 4 (2 pairs) Longham Lakes
Velvet Scoter - 6 past Hengistbury Head
Balearic Shearwater - 1 past Portland Bill - the recent series of records is thought to be of a single lingering bird.
Spoonbill - 1 past Hengistbury Head
Osprey - 1 Christchurch Harbour went north up the Avon valley.
Avocet - 1 past Hengistbury Head
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Longham Lakes
Purple Sandpiper - 2 Hengistbury Head
Whimbrel - 4 past Durlston Head. 6 past Hengistbury Head, 3 past Portland Bill
Common Sandpiper - 6 Ferrybridge, 3 Pirate's Cove (The Fleet)
Arctic Skua - 2 past Portland Bill
Little Gull - 1 Longham Lakes
Common Tern - 4 past Durlston Head, 1 past Hengistbury Head
Cuckoo - 1 Portland Bill
Yellow Wagtail - 1 Hengistbury Head, 4 Portland Bill
Waxwing - 5 roosting Canford Heath NR
Nightingale - 1 Corfe Castle
Black Redstart - 1 Reap Lane (Portland)
Redstart - 4 Portland Bill
Whinchat - 1 Barleycrates Lane (Portland), 1 Durlston Head
Wheatear - 9 Hengistbury Head, 75 Portland Bill
Ring Ouzel - 1 Cogden, 1 Portland Bill
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Cogden, 2 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Durlston Head, 1 nr Ferrybridge, 6 Portland Bill
Blackcap - 10 Durlston Head
Garden Warbler - 1 Hengistbury Head is the first CHOG record this year
Lesser Whitethroat - 2 Durlston Head
Willow Warbler - 100 Portland Bill
Brambling - 1 Hengistbury Head

There was an unconfirmed report of a Cretzschmar's Bunting at Kimmeridge.

Sightings - Thursday 14th April 2011

Garganey - 4 (2pr) Longham Lakes, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Red-throated Diver - 3 over Christchurch Hbr.
Red Kite 1 reported Win Green
Merlin - Singles at Stanpit, Durlston & Hartland Moor
Hobby - 1 Stanpit

Little Ringed Plover - 2 Longham lakes, 1 Stanpit
Little Stint - 1 Stanpit

Whimbrel - 11 Stanpit, 1 Durlston Cp.
Common Sandpiper - 2 Stanpit
Arctic Skua - 1 Durlston Cp.
Little Gull - 1 Longham Lakes
Hoopoe - 1 Coombe Heath Arne

White Wagtail - 2 Longham Lakes
Redstart - 2 Dur;ston Cp.

Wheatear - 8 Sunnyside Fm Arne, 3 Stanpit, 2 Wick
Grasshopper Warbler - 4 Wick Fields, 1 Stanpit, 1 Durlston Cp.
Sedge Warbler - 10 Stanpit
Blackcap - 30 Stanpit
Willow Warbler - 30 Durlston Cp.

Wood Warbler - 1 Civic Offices Christchurch, 1 Longham Lakes

Sightings - Wednesday 13th April 2011

Garganey - 3 Creekmoor Ponds, 1 pair Longham Lakes
Red-throated Diver - 9 Portland Bill, 1 E St. Aldhelm's Head
Black-throated Diver - 2 St Aldhelm's Head
Manx Shearwater - 70 Portland Bill, 7 St. Aldhelm's Head, 1 Durlston
Os
prey - 1 over Stanpit
Merlin - 1 fem Durlston
Little Ringed Plover - 2 Longham Lakes
Purple Sandpiper - 3 Hengistbury Head

Ruff - 1 Stanpit
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor, approaching summer plumage.
Whimbrel - 2 Newton's Cove, 1 Stanpit
Common Sandpiper - 4 Hatch Pond, 1 Lytchett Bay
Spotted Redshank - 2 Stanpit
Greenshank - 4 Lytchett Bay, 1 Stanpit
Great Skua - 2 Portland Bill
Arctic Skua - 1 St Aldhelm's Head, 1 Portland Bill

Little Gull - 1 1st/W Longham Lakes
Common Tern - 1 Durlston
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Durlston

Garden Warbler - 1 Portland Bill
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Durlston



Sightings - Tuesday 12th April 2011

Garganey - 1 Langton Herring
Manx Shearwater - 19 past Portland Bill
Red Kite - 1 Puddletown
Osprey - 1 north over West Moors 13.30hrs, 1 Morden Bog
Hobby - 1 Morden Bog
Whimbrel - 1 Langton Herring, 1 east past Durlston Cp.
Spotted Redshank - 2 Stanpit
Glaucous Gull - 1
on the Beach at Abbotsbury
Little Tern - 2 on beach at Ferrybridge, 1 Stanpit
Sandwich tern - 4 Portland Bill
Cuckoo - 2 M/fem Morden Bog, 1 Witchampton
Yellow Wagtail - 2 over Hengistbury Hd, 1 Durlston Cp.
Redstart - 1 Durlston cp.
Wheatear - 10 Portland Bill, 7 Hengistbury Hd, 6 Durlston Cp.(2 Greenland type individuals)
Redwing - a single late bird over Durlston Cp.
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Durlston Cp.
Willow Warbler - 20+ Durlston Cp.
Firecrest - 2 Abbotsbury
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Durlston Cp.

Sightings - Monday 11th April 2011

Red-throated Diver - 2 St Aldhelm's Hd,1 Portland Bill, 1 off Redcliff.
Great Northern Diver - 3 Weymouth Bay
Hen Harrier - 1 Lodmoor
Purple Sandpiper - 3 Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - remains at Lodmoor
Whimbrel - 1 Lodmoor
Common Sandpiper - 1 Peveril Pt, 1 near Eype
Arctic Skua - 1 past Durlston Cp.
Little Tern - 3 Stanpit p.m.
Cuckoo - 1 Durlston Cp.
Swift - 1 Lodmoor
Short-toed Lark
- 1 Portland Bill
(early a.m. not since)
Yellow Wagtail - 7 Portland (5 Reap Lane, 2 at the Bill)
, 2 Durlston Cp.
Redstart - 11 Hengistbury Hd, 5 Portland Bill, 3 Durlston Cp, 1 Old Harry.
Wheatear - 50 Portland Bill, 20 Durlston Cp, 7 Lytchett Bay, 5 Old Harry, 3 Longham Lakes, 3 Stanpit.
Ring Ouzel - Durlston Cp.
Grasshopper Warbler - 2 Portland Bill, singles Hengistbury, Durlston & Lodmoor
Sedge Warbler - 3 Hengistbury Hd
Reed Warbler - 3 Hengistbury Hd.
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 singing Durlston Cp.
Whitethroat - 12 Hengistbury Hd, 3 Portland Bill, 1 Durlston Cp.
Wood Warbler - 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Chiffchaff - 50 Portland Bill
Willow Warbler - 400 Hengistbury Hd, 50 Portland Bill
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Portland Bill
House Martin - 1 Durlston Cp, 1 Peveril Pt.

Sightings - Sunday 10th April 2011

Egyptian Goose - 1 at Chard Junction GP
Red Kite - 1 Radipole Lake; 1 Abbotsbury Gardens; 1 Wyke Regis; 2 Lodmoor/White Horse Hill, 2 Studland/Ballard Down, 1 Ryall, 1 over Easton
Osprey - 1 flew north over Chickerell
Marsh Harrier - 2 Radipole

Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Greenshank - 4 Lytchett Bay
Spotted Redshank - 2 Stanpit
Common Sandpiper - 1 Radipole

Green Sandpiper - 3 Hammoon, 1 Lytchett Bay
Arctic Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Great Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Little Gull - 25+ past Portland Bill
Little Tern - 3 at Ferrybridge
Black Tern - 1 past Portland Bill
Whiskered Tern - 1 at Swineham is the first Poole Harbour record
Short-toed Lark - 1 at Portland Bill
Red-rumped Swallow - 1 over Southwell
Tree Pipit - 3 Portland
White Wagtail - 4 Portland
Yellow Wagtail - 7 Portland
Nightingale - 1 singing at Culverwell, Portland
Redstart - 10 Portland
Whinchat - 2 Top Fields, Portland, 1 on the undercliff between Eype and West Bay
Ring Ouzel - 2 Greenlands Farm, 1 Barleycrates Lane, Portland
Grasshopper Warbler - singles at Abbotsbury Gardens and Lodmoor. On Portland, 2 at the Bill and singles at Barleycrates Lane, Top Fields and Suckthumb Quarry
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 singing at Easton
Firecrest - 3+ Abbotsbury Gardens
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Barleycrates Lane, Portland, 1 at Weston
Woodchat Shrike - 1 Lytchett Bay (on private land)



Woodchat Shrike at Lytchett Bay © Kevin Lane

Whiskered Tern at Swineham GP © Kevin Lane

Whiskered Tern at Swineham GP © Brett Spencer

Sightings - Saturday 9th April 2011

Velvet Scoter - 1 Chesil Beach
Red Kite - 1 Sturminster Newton, with possibly the same over Shroton
Marsh Harrier - 1 Hartland Moor, 1 Lodmoor, 1 Swineham
Hen Harrier - 1 Hartland Moor
Kestrel - 1 Chesil Beach came in off the sea
Merlin - 1 Chesil Beach came in off the sea
Little Ringed Plover - 2 Longham Lakes
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Little Gull - 1 Chesil Beach
Waxwing - 36 roosting Canford Heath NR
Black Redstart - 1 Purbeck (Durlston-Winspit)
Redstart - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Nightingale - 1 Purbeck (Durlston-Winspit), 3 White Nothe
Whinchat - 1 Purbeck coast Durston-Winspit
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Purbeck (Durlston-Winspit)
Reed Warbler - 2 Christchurch Harbour
Garden Warbler - 1 Purbeck (Durlston-Winspit)
Lesser Whitethroat - 2 Christchurch Harbour
Whitethroat - 12 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Lodmoor, 1 Longham Lakes
Dartford Warbler - 2 Hartland Moor, 1 (heard) Tadnoll NR
Bearded Tit - 2+ calling, Swineham
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Arne

Sightings - Friday 8th April 2011

Scaup - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Red Kite - 1 Barleycrates Lane (Portland)
Marsh Harrier - 1 subadult male Hartland Moor
Avocet - 5 past Portland Bill
Little Ringed Plover - 2 Lodmoor
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Whimbrel - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Spotted Redshank - 2 East Marsh.
Greenshank - 1 over Abbotsbury Swannery, 2 Lodmoor
Little Gull - 1 first-winter at Abbotsbury Swannery
Puffin - 2 pelagic south of Swanage
Short-eared Owl - 1 Portland Bill, 1 Barleycrates/Reap Lane, Portland
Short-toed Lark - 1 Portland Bill
Red-rumped Swallow -1 Portland Bill
Blue-headed Wagtail - 1 Barleycrates Lane, Portland
White Wagtail - 3 over Hengistbury Head, 1 West Cliffs, Portland
Waxwing - 25+ on Canford Heath NR
Nightingale - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Redstart - 7 at Durlston, 18 Hengistbury Head,
25+ Portland, 3 Stanpit
Whinchat - 1 Whitepits (Christchurch Harbour), 1 Barleycrates Lane, Portland
Ring Ouzel - 4 Barleycrates/Reap Lane, Portland
Grasshopper Warbler - 2 reeling at Durlston, 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Barleycrates Lane, Portland
Sedge Warbler -
1+ Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Durlston, 1 Barleycrates Lane, Portland, 1 Hengistbury Head, 10 Stanpit
Wood Warbler - 1 very early bird at Wick Fields
Willow Warbler - 520 through Hengistbury Head by 10 am
Pied Flycatcher - 5 Barleycrates/Reap Lane, Portland, 2 Christchurch Harbour,
1 Durlston
Brambling - 11 Avon Country Park
Serin - 1 Windmills, Portland

Late news:
Hoopoe 1 Abbotsbury Gardens car park, yesterday.
Rose-coloured Starling An unconfirmed report from North Chideock yesterday

Sightings - Thursday 7th April 2011

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 4+ Newton's Cove
Great Northern Diver - 3 at Weymouth Bay
Red Kite - 1 over Bournemouth, 1 near Maiden Newton, 1 over Cerne Abbas
Hobby - 1 over Durlston, 1 Barleycrates Lane
Purple Sandpiper - 7 at Portland Bill
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still at Lodmoor
Whimbrel - 1 past Durlston
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Common Sandpiper - 1 at Chard Junction GP
Cuckoo - 1 at Morden Bog
Short-toed Lark - 1 still in ploughed field opposite PBO
Tree Pipit - 2 at Morden Bog, 2 over Portland, 1 over Durlston
Yellow Wagtail - 3 over Hengistbury Head, 3 over Portland, 2 over Durlston
White Wagtail - 4 at Portland, 2 at Hengistbury Head
Waxwing - 33 between Walditch Gardens and Rowbarrow Close, Canford Heath
Black Redstart - 1 at Durlston
Redstart - 12 at Durlston, 10 at Portland, 2 at Morden Bog, 1 at Hengistbury Head, 1 at Tarrant Gunville
Stonechat - 1 of the race rubicola at Lloyds Cottage, Portland
Grasshopper Warbler - 4 at Durlston, 2 at Stanpit Marsh, 1 at Lodmoor
Willow Warbler - 250 at Hengistbury Head, 140+ at Durlston
Pied Flycatcher - 1 in woods below Parkstone Heights, Poole
Brambling - 5 at Blandford, 1 over Durlston, several still in a garden in Winterborne Whitechurch

Red-flanked Bluetail (yesterday) at Durlston © Mike Coleman

Sightings - Wednesday 6th April 2011

Velvet Scoter - 5 past Portland Bill
Manx Shearwater - 15 past Portland Bill
Balearic Shearwater - 1 past Portland Bill
Red Kite - 1 at Morden Bog
Osprey - 1 over Wyke Regis
Marsh Harrier - 2 at Radipole Lake, 1 Wareham Channel
Hobby - 1 at Southwell
Merlin - 1 at Portland Bill, 1 at Lytchett Bay
Little Ringed Plover - 1 at Lodmoor
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still at Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 2 at Stanpit Marsh
Great Skua - 1 past St Aldhelm's Head
Little Gull - 2 at Christchurch Harbour
Glaucous Gull - reported again distantly off Portland Bill
Common Tern - 4 past Portland Bill, 2 on the Stour at Christchurch, 1 at Stanpit Marsh, 1 at Lodmoor/Weymouth Bay
Cuckoo - the first of the year was at Morden Bog
Short-toed Lark - 1 still in ploughed field opposite PBO
Tree Pipit - 2 over Portland, singles at Hengistbury Head, Canford Heath and Morden Bog
White Wagtail - 5 at Portland Bill, 2 at St Aldhelm's Head
Waxwing - 10+ at Stinsford Road, Poole
Red-flanked Bluetail - female still present in the Saxon Field at Durlston
Redstart - 4 at Portland, 2 at Durlston
Black Redstart - 1 at Portland Bill
Ring Ouzel - singles at Top Fields, Portland and Sherford Bridge
Reed Warbler - 5 Lodmoor, 1 Stour LNR
Garden Warbler - 1 reported at Creekmoor Ponds
Firecrest - 1 at Portland Bill
Pied Flycatcher - 1 at Portland

Red-flanked Bluetail at Durlston © Nick Hopper

Sightings - Tuesday 5th April 2011

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 15 at Ferrybridge
Manx Shearwater - 1 past Durlston
Marsh Harrier - 3 at Radipole Lake, 1 at Lodmoor
Purple Sandpiper - 7 at Hengistbury Head
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 still at Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 2 at Stanpit Marsh
Great Skua - 2 past Portland Bill
Glaucous Gull - 1 on the Bill Common, Portland early am, then flew west
Common Tern - 1 at Ferrybridge
Short-toed Lark - 1 still in the ploughed field opposite PBO
Blue-headed Wagtail - a male along the causeway at Longham Lakes
White Wagtail - 3 along the causeway at Longham Lakes
Waxwing - 50 at Hatch Pond/Nuffield Ind Est, 35+ Pimpern Close, Canford Heath, 20 on Sopers Lane, Waterloo
Red-flanked Bluetail - female still present in the Saxon field at Durlston
Redstart - 1 at Portland Bill
Black Redstart - 1 at Portland Bill
Willow Warbler - 100 at Portland Bill
Firecrest - 1 at Durlston

Blue-headed Wagtail at Longham Lakes © Kevin Lane

Sightings - Monday 4th April 2011

Garganey - 1 flew north over Hengistbury Head
Scaup - 6 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Black-throated Diver - 1 past Portland Bill
Red Kite - 1 hunting south of Cranborne
Hobby - singles at Forston and Chickerell
Merlin - 1 at Portland Bill
Purple Sandpiper - 1 at Hengistbury Head
Little Stint - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Spotted Redshank - 2 on Brownsea Lagoon
Little Gull - 1 at Christchurch Harbour
Yellow-legged Gull - 1 on Brownsea Lagoon
Hoopoe - 1 still in gardens at the Grove, Portland
Short-toed Lark - 1 still at Portland Bill, in ploughed field opposite PBO
Red-rumped Swallow - 1 initially on wires along North Bestwall Road, Wareham - later relocated over Swineham Farm
White Wagtail - 4 on Portland
Yellow Wagtail - 2 at Portland Bill
Waxwing - 34+ at the junction of Sherborn Crescent/Herstone Close, Canford Heath and up to 20 on Goldfinch Road, Creekmoor
Red-flanked Bluetail - female still present in the Saxon field at Durlston
Black Redstart - 2 at Portland Bill, 1 at Durlston
Redstart - 3 at Hengistbury Head, 5 on Portland, 1 at Durlston
Stonechat - a male of the race rubicola at Top Fields, Portland
Ring Ouzel - 1 at Portland Bill
Sedge Warbler - 2 at Christchurch Harbour
Whitethroat - 1 at Wick Fields
Firecrest - 1 at Portland Bill
Pied Flycatcher - 1 at Weston,  1 at Avalanche Road, Portland

Red-rumped Swallow at Wareham © Nick Hopper

Red-rumped Swallow at Swineham Farm © Kevin Lane

Red-rumped Swallow at Swineham Farm © Kevin Lane

Sightings - Sunday 3rd April 2011

Scaup - 6 Abbotsbury
Great Northern Diver - 5 Weymouth Bay
Spoonbill - 3 past Hengistbury Head, 2 Middlebere
Red Kite - 1 over Butterstreet Cove heading towards Abbotsbury, 1 Bakers Arms, 1 Morden Bog
Osprey –  2 Middlebere
Hobby - 1 Durlston
Purple Sandpiper - 16 Highcliffe
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Hoopoe - 1 The Grove, Portland
Short-toed Lark - 1 in field near Portland Observatory
Water Pipit - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Yellow Wagtail - 1 Durlston, 1 Christchurch Harbour
Waxwing - about 20 over Canford Heath
RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL - 1 still in Saxon Field, Durlston
Sedge Warbler - 5 Lodmoor
Reed Warbler 2 Lodmoor
Whitethroat - 1 Durlston
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Portland Bill
Redstart - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Great Grey Shrike – 1 still at Morden Bog
Tree Sparrow - 1 Barn Fields, Christchurch Harbour
Brambling - 25 Blandford

Additional sightings from yesterday: A Red Kite at Morden Bog, a Spoonbill at Lodmoor, a Redstart two Ring Ouzels and a Hobby on Portland, and a Redstart at Stanpit

Additional sighting from Thursday 31st March: A Hoopoe was on the camping field at Holton Lee (private), near Upton.

Short-toed Lark at Portland Bill © Kevin Lane

Short-toed Lark at Portland Bill © Brett Spencer

Red-flanked Bluetail at Durlston © Chris Dresh

Pied Flycatcher at Portland Bill © Brett Spencer

Sightings - Saturday 2nd April 2011

Red-throated Diver - 7 past St.Aldheim's Head
Marsh Harrier - 2 Lodmoor and another(?) 2 at Radipole
Osprey – 1 Middlebere
Little Ringed Plover - 1 probable past St.Aldheim's Head
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor
Greenshank - 1 Lodmoor
Great Skua - 1 past St.Aldheim's Head
Little Gull - 2 past St.Aldheim's Head
Sandwich Tern - 119 past St.Aldheim's Head
House Martin - 50+ over Bestwall
Waxwing - 50 over Nuffield Industrial Estate, 80-90 at Sherborn Crescent, Canford Heath
RED-FLANKED BLUETAIL - 1 in Saxon Field, Durlston (See posting below for details and more photographs)
Sedge Warbler - 1 Lodmoor
Great Grey Shrike – 1 still at Morden Bog 

Red-flanked Bluetail at Durlston © Steven Morrison

Red-flanked Bluetail at Durlston © Brett Spencer
Red-flanked Bluetail at Durlston © Phyl England


 


 

Red-flanked Bluetail at Durlston (Saturday 2nd April 2011)

A Red-flanked Bluetail, Dorset's second record, was found at Durlston this morning, in the vicinity of the Saxon Field (photos below).

Red-flanked Bluetail at Durlston © Kevin Lane

Red-flanked Bluetail at Durlston © Kevin Lane