Sightings - Wednesday 29th February 2012

Long-tailed Duck - 1 (possibly 2?) off Mudeford Quay
Red-throated Diver - 6 past Portland Bill
Great Northern Diver - 4 Weymouth Bay, 1 Mudeford Quay
Slavonian Grebe - 3 in Portland Harbour, 1 from Mudeford Quay, 1 Weymouth Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 5 in Portland Harbour 1 from Mudeford Quay
Glossy Ibis - 2 from North Hide, Radipole Lake
Spoonbill - 5 past Mudeford Quay
Hen Harrier - 1 adult male & 1 ringtail at Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley
Purple Sandpiper - 2 Portland Bill, 2 Mudeford Quay
Ruff - 1 at Bestwall, Wareham
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 still at Fisherman's Bank, Stanpit
Green Sandpiper - 1 Lodmoor
Great Skua - 1 Portland Bill
Iceland Gull - 1 juvenile by Radipole RSPB Visitor Centre, second winter nearby on roof of Gurka Restaurant
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill

Late news: 2 Short-eared Owls at Stourpaine yesterday

Purple Sandpiper at Mudeford © Mike Trew

Ruff at Bestwall, Wareham © Simon Kidner

Sightings - Tuesday 28th February 2012

Long-Tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford Quay
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Mudeford Quay
Great Northern Diver - 1 Mudeford Quay
Grey Plover - 44 Middlebere
Purple Sandpiper - 5 Hengistbury Head
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Fisherman's Bank (Christchurch Harbour)
Short-Eared Owl - 1 Middlebere
Black Redstart - 1 Durlston CP, 2 Portland Bill
Starling - the Gillingham town centre roost was estimated at 30-40000 birds.
Firecrest - 1 Portland Bill

Late news - a female Garganey was at Arne yesterday.

Crossbill, Wareham Forest © Will Bown

Sightings - Monday 27th February 2012

Egyptian Goose - 2 Cowards Marsh
Long-Tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford Quay
Goosander - 1 Cowards Marsh
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Mudeford Quay, 1 Portland Harbour
Red-Necked Grebe - 1 Hengistbury Head
Great Northern Diver - 1 Mudeford Quay, 2 Weymouth Bay
Bittern - 1 Hatch Pond, 1 Lodmoor
Marsh Harrier - 1 Stanpit
Grey Plover - 36 Hengistbury Head
Purple Sandpiper - 2 Hengistbury Head
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Little Gull - 1 Radipole Lake
Short-Eared Owl - 1 Wyke Down
Water Pipit - 1 Stanpit
Black Redstart - 1 Ferrybridge

Greenshank, Brownsea Island 26 Feb 2012 © Phyl England

Sightings - Sunday 26th February 2012

Black Brant - 1 Ferrybridge
Ring-Necked Duck - 2 Chard Junction GPs
Long-Tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter - 3 Abbotsbury Beach, 2 West Bexington
Grey Partridge - 1 heard Monkeys Jump (Dorchester)
Slavonian Grebe - 1 West Bexington
Great Northern Diver - 1 Mudeford Quay, 1 Portland Harbour
Bittern - 2 Lodmoor
Glossy Ibis - 1 Swineham
Hen Harrier - 1 Martinstown
Marsh Harrier - 1 Abbotsbury, 1 Christchurch Harbour, 3 Lodmoor, 2 Radipole Lake
Golden Plover  - 250+ Tarrant Rushton
Jack Snipe - 1 Cowards Marsh
Spotted Redshank - 2 Christchurch Harbour
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Iceland Gull - 2 Radipole Lake

Woodlark, Arne, 25 Feb 2012 © Peter Lister

Buzzard, Winterborne Stickland © Will Bown

Great Crested Grebe, Radipole Lake © Will Bown

Sightings - Saturday 25th February 2012

Ring-Necked Duck - 1 Chard Junction GPs, 1 Forde Abbey
Scaup - 1 Longham Lakes
Long-Tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford Quay
Goosander - 1 Longham Lakes
Smew - 2 Longham Lakes
Bittern - 3 Hatch Pond
Hen Harrier - 1 Wyke Down
Marsh Harrier - 1 Christchurch Harbour, 2 Poole Harbour.
Merlin - 1 Wyke Down
Grey Plover - 34 Christchurch Harbour
Golden Plover  - 50+ Wyke Down
Sanderling - 41 Studland Bay
Spotted Redshank - 1 Holes Bay, 1 Stanpit
Green Sandpiper - 2 Chard Junction GPs
Mediterranean Gull - 63 past Portland Bill, 180+ Weymouth Bay
Short-Eared Owl - 1 Portland Bill
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill

Firecrest - 1 Canford Heath
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down

Late news - 700+ Mediterranean Gull in Portland Harbour in early February is a county record.

Stock Dove, Lodmoor, 24th Feb © Daragh Croxson

Sanderling, Studland Bay © Simon Johnson

Scaup, Longham Lakes © Alan Pearce

Sightings - Friday 24th February 2012

Barnacle Goose - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery
Eider - 2 fem Mudeford Quay
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter - 2 off Abbotsbury beach
Red-throated Diver - 13 Portland Bill
Great Northern Diver - 1 Mudeford Quay
Slavonian Grebe - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Bittern - 2 Lodmoor
Glossy Ibis - 1 Radipole Lake
Spoonbill - 13 Arne
Red Kite - 1 Wyke Down
Marsh Harrier - 2 Lodmoor
Purple Sandpiper - 6 from Mudeford Quay
Jack Snipe - 1 Holes Bay
Spotted Redshank - 1 Holes Bay
Great Skua - 1 Portland Bill
Short-eared Owl - 1 Hartland Moor
Water Pipit - 1 Stanpit Marsh
White Wagtail - 1 Barleycrates Portland
Black Redstart - 3 Heylands Portland
Firecrest - 1 Stanpit Marsh (by golf course)
Bearded Tit - 2 Hengistbury (HHC reed bed)
Snow Bunting - Hengistbury Hd.

Late news for 23rd February - 1 male Continental Stonechat (rubicola) Barleycrates Portland

Spotted Redshank - Holes Bay © Peter ??

Sightings - Thursday 23rd February 2012

Barnacle Goose - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Ring-necked Duck -  2 drakes at Chard Junction NR
Scaup - 3 (2 drakes) at Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-tailed Duck - 1 still off Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter - 2 by cottages between Abbotsbury and West Bexington
Red-throated Diver - 19 past Portland Bill, 3 past Mudeford Quay
Great Northern Diver - 3 Weymouth Bay, 2 from Mudeford Quay
Slavonian Grebe - 1 at Mudeford Quay, 1 Weymouth Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Glossy Ibis - 1 reported near Radipole RSPB Visitor Centre
Spotted Redshank - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Ring-billed Gull - 1 adult over Preston Beach, 1 adult at Jerry's Point, Poole Harbour
Short-eared Owl - 1 Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley
Black Redstart - 1 at Tilly Whim Durslston, 1 Peveril Point, 1 Portland Bill
Snow Bunting - 1 on sandspit, Hengistbury Head

Ring-billed Gull at Jerry's Point, Poole Harbour © Dave Chown

Ring-billed Gull at Jerry's Point, Poole Harbour © Dave Chown

Sightings - Wednesday 22nd February 2012

Garganey - 1 drake still on the Stour, Shapwick
Long-tailed Duck - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter - 2 off the Coastguards Cottages, West Bexington
Goosander - 6 (4 drakes) at Longham Lakes
Bittern - 2 at Hatch Pond
Great Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Purple Sandpiper - 2 on sandspit, Hengistbury Head
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 at Fisherman's Bank, Stanpit
Snow Bunting - 1 from Mudeford Quay

Garganey on River Stour, Shapwick © Roger Harris

Sightings - Tuesday 21st February 2012

Egyptian Goose - 2 at Throop Mill, Bournemouth
Ring-necked Duck - 2 at Chard Junction GPs
Long-tailed Duck - 1 off Avon Beach, Mudeford
Goosander - 1 Lytchett Bay
Great Northern Diver - 1 off Avon Beach, Mudeford
Red-necked Grebe - 1 in Weymouth Bay
Bittern - 4 at Hatch Pond, 1+ at Lodmoor
Glossy Ibis - 1 still at Wareham Common
Purple Sandpiper - 3 Hengistbury Head
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 still at Fisherman's Bank, Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Snow Bunting - 1 near the Black House, Hengistbury Head

Bittern at Hatch Pond © Tim Balmer

Bittern at Hatch Pond © Tim Balmer

Sightings - Monday 20th February 2012

Egyptian Goose - 2 off Avon Causeway
Garganey - an unseasonable drake on the river Stour at Shapwick (possibly of suspect origin)
Ring-necked Duck - 2 still at Chard Junction GPs
Long-tailed Duck - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter - 2 off West Bexington
Goosander - redhead at Binnegar GPs
Red-necked Grebe - 1 in Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 15 in Portland Harbour
Slavonian Grebe - 1 off West Bexington, 1 in Portland Harbour, 1 off Mudeford Quay
Bittern - 4 at Hatch Pond
Glossy Ibis - 1 still on Wareham Common.  Details from the ringing scheme involved suggest that this bird was ringed in Doñana National Park, Spain back in 2004.
Hen Harrier - 1 Hartland Moor
Spotted Redshank - 2 Holes Bay
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 again at Fisherman's Bank, Stanpit
Iceland Gull - 1 again at Radipole Lake this afternoon
Short-eared Owl - 1 Hartland Moor

Glossy Ibis at Wareham Common © Phyl England

Snipe at Radipole Lake © Mike Trew

...and the suspect Hooded Merganser - still at Radipole Lake © Mike Trew

Sightings - Sunday 19th February 2012

Egyptian Goose - 2 at Cowards Marsh
Ring-necked Duck - 2 on East Lake, Chard Junction GPs
Velvet Scoter - 2 off West Bexington
Long-tailed Duck - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Bittern - 2 at Hatch Pond, 1 on Arne Moors
Glossy Ibis - 1 on Wareham Common, adjacent to Wessex Oval
Spoonbill - 11 in the Wareham Channel from Swineham Point, 2 on Brownsea Lagoon, 1 Brands Bay
Hen Harrier - 1 at Ryland's Barn Farm, Martinstown, 1 West Compton
Merlin - 1 Soldiers Road/Hartland Moor area
Spotted Redshank - 4 on Brownsea Lagoon
Short-eared Owl - 1 at Middlebere & Hartland Moor
Water Pipit - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Firecrest - 8 in Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens

Glossy Ibis at Wareham Common © Nick Hopper

Sightings - Saturday 18th February 2012

Long-tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter – 2 off West Bexington
Glossy Ibis – 1 Wareham Common, seen at 1200 and 1750
Spotted Sandpiper – 1 Fisherman's Bank Christchurch Harbour
Iceland Gull - 1 Radipole Lake
Firecrest – 1 Arne

Sightings - Friday 17th February 2012

Egyptian Goose - 2 near Throop Mill, north of Bournemouth, 3 Holes Bay
Ring-necked Duck – 2 Chard Junction GPs
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter – 2 off West Bexington
Smew – 3 Longham Lakes
Red-throated Diver – 12 past Portland Bill
Great Northern Diver - 1 Mudeford Quay
Red-necked Grebe – 1 Weymouth Bay
Bittern – 1 Radipole Lake
Iceland Gull - 1 Radipole Lake and then past Abbotsbury and Burton Cliff
Black Redstart – 1 Durlston, 1 Peveril Point

Sightings - Thursday 16th February 2012

Velvet Scoter – 2 West Bexington
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford Quay
Red-necked Grebe – 1 Weymouth Bay
Bittern - 1 over Wick Fields
Glossy Ibis – 1 Radipole Lake
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Fisherman's Bank, Stanpit
Iceland Gull - 1 Radipole Lake
Water Pipit - 1 Priory Marsh
Black Redstart – 2 Ferrybridge, 1 Bridging Camp
Firecrest - 1 Durlston

Sightings - Wednesday 15th February 2012

Long-tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford Quay
Red-throated Diver - 20 past Portland Bill
Great Northern Diver - 1 Mudeford Quay
Glossy Ibis - Radipole Lake and Lodmoor
Red Kite - 1 over A354 at Handley Cross
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Fisherman's Bank, Stanpit
Mediterranean Gull – 220 Abbotsbury, 350/400 on the Fleet at Butterstreet Cove
Black Redstart - 1 Sherborne, 1 Durlston, 1 Portland Bill
Snow Bunting - 1 on the sandspit, Hengistbury Head

Spotted Sandpiper at Stanpit © Nick Hopper

Sightings - Tuesday 14th February 2012

Bewick's Swan - 1 in water meadows north east of Moreton
Egyptian Goose - 2 near Throop Mill, north of Bournemouth
Barnacle Goose - 4 Swineham GP, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup - 1 Longham Lakes, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford Quay
Smew - drake at Abbotsbury Swannery
Great Northern Diver - 1 Mudeford Quay
Slavonian Grebe - 6 Ringstead Bay, 1 off Mudeford Quay
Bittern - 1 over Wick Fields
Glossy Ibis - at least one at both Lodmoor and Radipole Lake (may involve same individual)
Red Kite - 1 Alderholt
Purple Sandpiper - 19 Lyme Regis
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Fisherman's Bank, Stanpit
Iceland Gull - 1 Radipole Lake
Richard's Pipit - 1 Bridging Camp, The Fleet
Water Pipit - 1 Lodmoor
Hume's Warbler - 1 Littlesea Holiday Village, The Fleet
Firecrest - 1 Lodmoor, 1 Durlston
Snow Bunting - 1 on the sandspit, Hengistbury Head

Purple Sandpipers at Lyme Regis © Roger Boswell

Sightings - Monday 13th February 2012

Dunlin at Lyme Regis, © Roger Boswell

Further investigation by Roger Boswell at Lyme Regis today reveal that the possible Spotted Sandpiper he photographed on Sunday was, in fact, a dunlin. Well done Roger for your persistency.

Spoonbill - 14 Holes Bay, 5 Swineham Point
Bittern - 2 Hatch Pond
Smew - drake Christchurch Harbour, 2 Swineham GPs
Velvet Scoter - 1 West Bexington
Long-tailed Duck - Mudeford
Ring-necked Duck - 2 Chard Junction
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Great Skua - Portland
Hen Harrier - 1 Southwell, 2 Swineham Point
Hume's Warbler - Littlesea

Sightings - Sunday 12th February 2012

Glossy ibis - Wareham, then later at Swineham, also one at Canford Bridge, Wimborne at 8.30am
Spoonbill - 12 Holes Bay
Bittern - Hatch Pond, 1 Radipole
Bewick's swan - 4 Woodsford Bridge, near Tincleton
Smew - 2 Swineham, 4 Longham lakes
Long-tailed duck - 1 off Mudeford
Ring necked duck - 2 Chard Junction
Spotted sandpiper - 1 Stanpit, and photographs taken today at Lyme Regis suggest that the bird is still present there also.
Spotted redshank - 1 Stanpit, 2 Holesbay
Green sandpiper - Merley
Jack snipe - 1 Stanpit, 1 Herbury
Iceland gull - 1 juvenile at Radipole, also 1 Stanpit
Richards pipit - Wyke Regis

Bittern, Radipole © Will Bown

Spotted redshank, Holes Bay © Paul Morton

Golden plover, Sherborne © Paul Dibben

Probable spotted sandpiper (third from right), Lyme Regis © Roger Boswell

Green sandpiper, Merley © David Godfrey

Sightings - Saturday 11th February 2012

Bittern - 4 Hatch Pond

Slavonian grebe - 3 Sandsfoot
Black-necked grebe - 10 Sandsfoot
Smew - 3 Swineham, 3 Longham lakes
Long-tailed duck - 1 off Mudeford
Spotted sandpiper - 1 Stanpit
Barnacle geese - 4 Swineham
Short-eared owl - 1 Sixpenny Handley
Hen harrier - 1 Hartland Moor, 1 Wytch Farm
Merlin - Hartland Moor
Hume's warbler - 1 Litttlesea
Richard's pipit - 1 Wyke Regis bridging camp
Water pipit - 1 Lodmoor
Firecrest - Lodmoor, 5 Abbotsbury Gardens

Rodden Hive © Paul Harris

Teal, Holes Bay © David Wareham

Sightings - Friday 10th February 2012

Smew - 2 Swineham GPs
Ring necked Duck - 2 Chard Junction
Scaup - 1 Abbotsbury
Ruff - 1 Abbotsbury
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Christchurch harbour
Great White Egret - 2 Sutton Bingham Res, reported as being definitely in Dorset
Iceland Gull - Radipole Lake, briefly at lunchtime

Iceland Gull, Radipole © Chris Parnell

Iceland Gull, Radipole © Chris Parnell

Sightings - Thursday 9th Febuary 2012

Barnacle Geese - 4 Swineham Gp
Scaup - 1 imm/drake Abbotsbury Swannery
Goosander - 8 Sherborne Lake, 2 drakes Coward's Marsh
Smew - 4 redheds Swineham GP.
Red-throated Diver - 5 Portland Bill, 4 Durlston Cp.
Great Northern Diver - 1 off Mrdeford Quay
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Mudeford Quay
Black-necked Grebe - 11 Portland Hbr.
Bittern - 3 Hatch Pond Poole
Spoonbill - 11 Holes Bay
Marsh Harrier - 1 Coward's Marsh, 1 Stanpit & Wick
Golden Plover - 1000 Maiden Castle, 25-30 Coward's Marsh, 20+ Abbotsbury Swannery
Purple Sandpiper - 4 Hengistbury Head
Spotted Sandpiper - Fisherman's Bank
Mediterranean Gull - 150 Portland Bill
Razorbill - 200+ east 300 on sea Durlston Cp.
Black Redstart - Singles reported from Durlston CP, Poundbury, near Golden Cap, Nothe Gardens & Ferrybridge

Male Black Redstart © Nigel Tooth

Sightings - Wednesday 8th February 2012

Egyptain Goose - 5 east over Abbotsbury
Scaup - 1 imm/drake Longham Lakes, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Smew - 3 redheads Longham Lake
Goosander - 4 Avon Causeway, 1 Longham Lake, 1 Christchurch Hbr.
Great Northern Diver - 1 Bramblebush Bay
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Shell Bay
Slavonian Grebe - Bramblebush Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 10 Bramblebush Bay, 8 Studland Bay
Spoonbill - 11 Holes Bay (9 in NW & 2 in NE)
Marsh Harrier - 1 imm/male Lytchett Bay, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Hen Harrier - 1 male Avon Causeway
Golden Plover - 30 Abbotsbury 28 Coward's Marsh
Jack Snipe - 2 Stanpit Marsh
Common Sandpiper - 1 Holes Bay
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Fisherman's Bank
Spotted Redshank - 1 Fisherman's Bank, 1 Holes Bay
Little Gull - 1 Ferrybridge, 1 Lodmoor
Mediterranean Gull - 440 Ferrybridge, 100 Portland Bill, 12 Middle Beach Studland
Iceland Gull - 1 1st/W Radipole Lake

Bullfinch - Lodmoor © Derek Fowler

Spotted Sandpiper - Fisherman's Bank © Dave Cooke

Sightings - Tuesday 7th February 2012

 Scaup - 1imm drake Longham Lakes
Goosander - 3 West Bexington
Red-throated Diver - 1 Portland Bill
Bittern - 3 Hatch Pond Poole
Spoonbill - 3 Middlebere
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 still around the boats Fisherman's Bank Christchurch
Spotted Redshank - Stanpit Marsh (on easy Marsh)
Merlin - 2 Hartland Moor (1fem/imm 1 male)
Mediterranean Gull - 327 on the Fleet, 40 off Portland Bill
Iceland Gull - 1 Juv/1stW Radipole Lake
Dipper - 2 Lyme Regis
Black Redstart - 1 Broadway garden, 1 Dorchester.
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down (by pump house)
Corn Bunting - 120+ east Monkey's Jump Dorchester

Sum/plum Black-headed Gull - Poole Harbour © Jessica Evans

Sightings - Monday 6th February 2012

Barnacle Goose - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery is thought to be a wild bird.
Goosander - 2 Cowards Marsh, 3 over Radipole Lake
Great Northern Diver - 1 Weymouth Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Mudeford Quay, 3 West Bexington
Red-Necked Grebe - 1 Weymouth Bay
Great White Egret - 2 at Sutton Bingham are not confirmed as actually being in Dorset.
Grey Plover - 38 Christchurch Harbour
Golden Plover - 4 Portland Bill, 400+ Puddletown
Knot - 1 Portland Bill
Ruff - 2 Cowards Marsh Gate
Purple Sandpiper - 4 Portland Bill
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Fisherman's Bank Christchurch.  This bird is definitely not the bird recently present at Lyme Regis, which had missing toes.  Please do not park in Argyle Road - use the spaces near Mudeford Cricket Ground.
Spotted Redshank - 1 Christchurch Harbour.
Green Sandpiper - 1 Lodmoor
Jack Snipe - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Iceland Gull - 1 Lodmoor and 1 Radipole Lake are presumably the same bird
Short-Eared Owl - 1 Portland Bill
Water Pipit - 2 Christchurch Harbour
Black Redstart - 1 Tilly Whim
Firecrest - 1 Durlston CP
Mealy Redpoll - 1 reported at Holton Heath.

Late news - 

2 Firecrest at Lodmoor yesterday.  

Jack Snipe at Longham Lakes yesterday. 
2 Red Kite at Rushmore on the Wiltshire border yesterday.
A Dunlin photographed in Christchurch Harbour on 2nd Feb was ringed as a juvenile in
Gdansk, Poland in 2011.

Spotted Sandpiper at Christchurch Harbour, 4th Feb © Bob Moore

Sightings - Sunday 5th February 2012

Black Brant - 1 Chickerell Hive Point

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 2 Chickerell Hive Point

Goosander - 1 Cowards Marsh, 4 Longham Lakes, 6 West Christchurch (on the Stour)

Great Northern Diver - 1 Brownsea Island, 3+ Hengistbury Head/Mudeford Quay

Slavonian Grebe - 2 West Bexington

Spoonbill - 4 Brownsea Island, 13 Holes Bay

Hen Harrier - 1 Cowards Marsh

Marsh Harrier - 1 Lodmoor, 1 Lytchett Bay, 1 Middlebere

Merlin - 1 Hartland Moor

Grey Plover - 1+ Brownsea Island, 24 Butterstreet Cove

Knot - 14 Butterstreet Cove

Sanderling - 1 Stanpit

Purple Sandpiper - 1 Stanpit

Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Fisherman's Bank Christchurch.  Please do not park in Argyle Road - use the spaces near Mudeford Cricket Ground.

Spotted Redshank - 1+ Brownsea Island, 1 Holes Bay, 2 Fisherman's Bank Christchurch.

Greenshank - 1+ Brownsea Island, 2 Cowards Marsh, 1 Lytchett Bay

Green Sandpiper - 2 Waddock Cross

Jack Snipe - 1 West Bexington

Sandwich Tern - 2+ Hengistbury Head/Mudeford Quay

Water Pipit - 2 Stanpit

Richard's Pipit - 1 Wyke Regis Bridging Camp

Black Redstart - 1 Poundbury, Dorchester

Hume's Warbler - 1 near Littlesea Holiday Camp, The Fleet

Slavonian Grebe at West Bexington © M J Morse

Sightings - Saturday 4th February 2012

Barnacle Goose - 1 Rodden Hive
Goosander - 3 Cowards Marsh
Black-Necked Grebe - 58 Studland Bay is the highest count this winter
Slavonian Grebe - 3 Abbotsbury Beach, 1 Studland Bay
Bittern - 1 Arne Moors, 1 Hatch Pond
Spoonbill - 13 Holes Bay
Marsh Harrier - 1 Lytchett Bay, 4 Wareham Channel; 5+ counted leaving roosts in Poole Harbour early am.
Grey Plover - 4 Brands Bay, 1 Portland Harbour
Sanderling - 1 Brands Bay, 2 Ferrybridge
Purple Sandpiper - 1 Portland Bill
Long-Billed Dowitcher - 1 Rodden Hive
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Fisherman's Bank Christchurch.  Please do not park in Argyle Road - use the spaces near Mudeford Cricket Ground.
Spotted Redshank - 7 Holes Bay
Jack Snipe - 1 Brands Bay
Water Pipit - 2 Christchurch Harbour
Dartford Warbler - 1 Brands Bay
Firecrest - 7+ Abbotsbury Gardens
There was a substantial movement of auks (mainly Razorbill) past Portland Bill this morning.

Late news - a ringed Mediterranean Gull seen yesterday at Studland was ringed as a pullus in Belgium on 21st June 2008.

 

 

Grey Plover, Brands Bay © J Howell

Sightings - Friday 3rd February 2012

Teal - estimated 1100 at Rodden Hive
Ring-Necked Duck - 2 still at Chard Junction
Scaup - 1 Longham Lakes
Great Northern Diver - 1 Shell Bay Studland
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Studland Bay, 3 Weymouth Bay
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor, 1 Stoborough
Glossy Ibis - 2 at Lodmoor departed eastward.
Spoonbill - 11 Holes Bay
Marsh Harrier - 2 Lytchett Bay
Golden Plover  - 160 Tarrant Rushton, 360 Up Sydling
Knot - 4 Rodden Hive
Sanderling  - 1 Rodden Hive
Long-Billed Dowitcher - 1 Rodden Hive
Common Sandpiper - 1 Holes Bay
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 reported Fisherman's Bank Christchurch.  Please do not park in Argyle Road - use the spaces near Mudeford Cricket Ground.
Spotted Redshank - 1 East Marsh Christchurch, 3 Holes Bay, 1 Lytchett Bay
Greenshank - 1 Lytchett Bay
Short-Eared Owl - 1 Hartland Moor
Water Pipit - 1 Lodmoor
Black Redstart - 1 Tilly Whim
Brambling - 1 Ferndown

Late news - a Mute Swan found dead at Chapman's Pool yesterday was ringed as a cygnet at Abbotsbury in September 1994

Sightings - Thursday 2nd February 2012

Red-throated Diver - 2 Portland Bill, 1 West Bexington, 1 Durlston CP.

Great Northern Diver - 1 Portland Bill

Great White Egret - 2 Radipole Lake 12.30hrs again from North Hide at 16.10hrs

Spoonbill - 11 Holes Bay

Golden Plover - 500+ Maiden Castle, 19 West Bexington, 2 Durlston CP.

Purple Sandpiper - 4 Lyme Regis

Jack Snipe - 1 Priory Marsh Christchurch

Long-billed Dowitcher - 1 Lodmoor with Lapwing

Spotted Rdshank - 3 Holes Bay, 1 Fisherman's Bank Christchurch

Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Fisherman's Bank Christchurch

Water Pipit - 3 Priory Marsh Christchurch, 1 Lodmoor

Long-billed Dowitcher with Lapwing - Lodmoor © Daragh Croxson

Sightings - Wednesday 1st February 2012

Barnacle Goose - 4 Middlebere

Scaup - 1 Longham Lakes

Smew - 1 Longham Lakes

Hen Harrier - 1 Coward's Marsh

Merlin - 1 West Bexington, 1 Hartland Moor

Purple Sandpiper - 4 Portland Bill, 2 West Bay

Ruff - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Spotted Sandpiper - 1 at Fisherman's Bank, Stanpit (see the CHOG website for further details)