Sightings - Saturday 31st March 2012

Garganey - 1 drake Shapwick
Scaup - 1 Abbotsbury
Glossy Ibis - 1 today at Radipole
Spoonbill - 3 Middlebere
Red Kite - 1 West Bexington, 1 Abbotsbury
Osprey - 1 over Littlesea (Fleet) & Wyke Regis (pos. same)
Little Ringed Plover - 1 over Little Sea (Fleet)
Purple Sandpiper - 5 Mudeford Quay
Spotted Sandpiper - wintering bird reappeared Fisherman's Bank with signs of summer plumage.
Short-eared Owl - 2 Eggardon Hillfort
Sand Martin - 10+ Abbotsbury
Swallow - 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Richard's Pipit - 1 Wyke Bridging Camp.
Black Redstart - Singles reported from Durlston, Portland & Lodmoor
Common Redstart - 5 Portland, 2 Hengistbury Hd, 2+ Durlston CP.
Wheatear - 15 Hengistbury Hd, 4 Portland Bill
Ring Ouzel - 4 Barleycrates Portland, 1 Durlston CP.
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Durlston CP, 1 Portland Bill
Sedge Warbler - 1 Radipole Lake
Humes Warbler - 1 still Wyke Regis nr, Littlesea holiday camp.
Willow/Chiffchaff - 1500 Portland Bill (532 trapped & ringed), 50 Hengistbury Hd, 45 Durlston CP.
Pied Flycatcher - Sev Portland.

Richard's Pipit - Wyke Regis © Nick Hull

Common Redstart - Littlesea Fleet © Ian Dodd

Sightings - Friday 30th March 2012

Garganey - 1 Overcombe, 1 Shapwick
Mandarin - 3 Forde Abbey
Red-Throated Diver - 1 Portland Bill
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Red Kite - 1 Durlston
Hen Harrier - 1 past Hengistbury Head
Osprey - 1 Durlston
Sandwich Tern - 16 Butterstreet Cove
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Lodmoor
Water Pipit - 2 Priory Marsh
Rock Pipit - 1 Scandinavian-type Priory Marsh
Tree Pipit - 1 Hengistbury Head
Richard's Pipit - 1 now inside Bridging Camp, Wyke Regis
White Wagtail - 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Priory Marsh
Swallow - 1 Durlston
Sand Martin - 4 Durlston
Redstart - 1 Durlston, 4 Hengistbury Head, 3 Portland (Barleycrates Lane), 3 Portland Bill
Black Redstart - 1 Durlston, 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland (Barleycrates Lane), 1 Portland Bill
Ring Ouzel - 1 Durlston, 6 Portland (Barleycrates Lane), 1 Portland Bill
Sedge Warbler - 1 Lodmoor
Firecrest - 1 Hengistbury Head

Late news - Cuckoo yesterday at Bere Regis



Mistle Thrush at Wimborne, 29 Mar 2012: © Roger Peart

Sightings - Thursday 29th March 2012

Wood Duck - 1 Abbotsbury
Glossy Ibis - 2 still Radipole Lake
Red Kite - 1 Wyke Down over the Ackling Dyke
Marsh Harrier - 2 Abbotsbury, 1 West Bexington
Osprey - 1 Portland Bill
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Abbotsbury, 1 Lodmoor
Green Sandpiper - 2 Lodmoor
Common Swift - 1 Portland Bill
Richard's Pipit - 1 Wyke Regis Bridging Camp
Tree Pipit - 1 Avon CP.
Black Redstart - 2 Durlston CP.
Common Redstart - 1 West Bexington
Ring Ouzel - 1 Portland Bill, 1
Willow Warbler - 1 Nothe Weymouth

 

 

Common Redstart, West Bexington copyright Mike Morse

Sightings - Wednesday 28th March 2012

Garganey - 2 (m/f) by River Way Recreation Ground, Christchurch
Common Scoter - 53 Portland Bill
Red-throated Dive - 6 Portland Bill
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Glossy Ibis - 2 still Radipole
Marsh Harrier - 3 Radipole, 1 Mordon Bog
Osprey - 2 Littlesea Fleet, 1 Portland Bill, 1 over Bincombe Valley
Hobby - 1 over Stanpit Marsh
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Priory Marsh Christchurch
Iceland Gull - 1 Ferrybridge
Short-eared Owl - 1-2 Wyke Down
Hoopoe - 1 Portland, 1 Hengistbury Head
Swallow - 2 Chard Junction
House Martin - 2 Mordon Bog
Richard's Pipit - 1 still Wyke Regis Bridging Camp.
Tree Pipit - 1 Portland Bill
Meadow Pipit - 300 Durlston CP.
Common Redstart - 1 Portland Bill, 1 Blacknor Portland.
Ring Ouzel - 3 Durlston CP, 1 Wick Christchurch.
Grasshopper Warbler -1 singing Winspit.
Willow Warbler - 1 West Bexington

Sightings - Tuesday 27th March 2012

Barnacle Geese - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Garganey - 2 by River Way Recreation Ground, Christchurch
Scaup - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Osprey - 1 Briantspuddle
Glossy Ibis – 2 Radipole Lake
Red Kite - 2 West Bexington, 1 Wyke Regis, 1 north of Piddletrenthide
Marsh Harrier - 1 West Bexington, 1 Christchurch Harbour area, 2 Radipole Lake
Purple Sandpiper – 13 Lyme Regis Cobb
Iceland Gull – 1 Radipole Lake
Richards Pipit - 1 Wyke Regis
Water Pipit – 1 Longham Lakes
White Wagtail - 3 Portland Bill
Swallow – 2 Durlston, 1 Verwood
Black Redstart - 1 West Bexington
Northern Wheatear – 8 Durlston, 50 Portland Bill, 25 Barleycrates Lane, 12 Christchurch Harbour
Ring Ouzel - 1 Wyke Regis, 1 Barleycrates Lane Portland
Hume’s Warbler – 1 Wyke Regis
Willow Warbler – 1 Wick Christchurch Harbour, 1 Throop Mill

Sightings - Monday 26th March 2012

Barnacle Geese - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Garganey - 2 still on Stour by River Way Recreation Ground, Christchurch
Scaup - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Black-Throated Diver - 1 Portland Bill
Slavonian Grebe - 1 in Summer plumage at West Bexington
Manx Shearwater - 1 Portland Bill
Red Kite - 1 Abbotsbury. 1 Gussage All Saints, 1 Morden Bog, 1 Puddletown, 1 Shaftesbury, 1 Sherborne, 1 West Bexington, 1 Wyke Down
Hen Harrier - 1 Hengistbury Head
Merlin - 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Bill, 1 near Winterborne Stickland
Hobby - 1 Morden Bog
Golden Plover - 1 Portland Bill
Grey Plover - 1 Lodmoor
Little Ringed Plover - 2 Lodmoor, 1 Lytchett Bay       
Green Sandpiper - 1 Cowards Marsh, 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Lytchett Bay
Water Pipit - 3 Priory Marsh
Rock Pipit - 1 Scandinavian-type Priory Marsh
Tree Pipit - 1 Morden Bog, 1 West Cliffs, Portland
White Wagtail - 2 Portland Bill
House Martin - 1 West Cliffs, Portland, 2 Wyke Regis
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill
Ring Ouzel - 1 Durlston, 1 Wyke Regis
Firecrest - 2 Portland Bill
Great Grey Shrike - 1 still present at Wyke Down.

Late news (all from yesterday) - Little Ringed Plover at Cowards Marsh; Osprey over Briantspuddle; Red Kite over Poundbury.

Red Kite over Sherborne © Paul Dibben

White Wagtail at Portland © Will Bown

Sightings - Sunday 25th March 2012

Garganey - 1 Radipole
Glossy Ibis - 2 still at Radipole
Osprey - 1 over Upwey
Red Kite - 1 Wyke Down
Marsh Harrier - 1 Lodmoor, 3 Radipole, 1 Swineham
Merlin - 1 Swineham
Grey Plover - 1 Lodmoor
Little Ringed Plover - 2 Lytchett Bay
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Little Gull - 1 Wick
Water Pipit - 3 Priory Marsh
Ring Ouzel - 2 Wakeham, Portland
Great Grey Shrike - 1 still present at Wyke Down.

Brent Geese at Ferrybridge ©Alick Simmons

Little Ringed Plover at Lytchett Bay ©Shaun Robson

Sightings - Saturday 24th March 2012

Barnacle Geese - 3 Abbotsbury
Eygptian Goose - 3 Longham Lakes, 3 Lytchett Bay
Wood Duck - 1 Abbotsbury
Garganey - 2 (m&f) on Stour Christchurch.
Scaup - 1 Abbotsbury
Slavonian Grebe - 2 (partial Sum/plum) off Chesil Beach
Red Kite - 1 Lytchett Bay (08:50hrs),1 north Stanpit Marsh (11:30hrs)
Osprey - 1 over Cogden NT (14:20hrs)
Stone Curlew - 1 Priory Marsh Stanpit
Golden Plover - 50 nr Blandford Camp
Sandwich Tern - 20+ Abbotsbury, 5 Stanpit
Cuckoo - 1 heard three times Sutton Waldron
Richard's Pipit - 1 Wyke Regis Bridging Camp.
Meadow Pipit - 600 Stanpit
Water Pipit - 1 Priory Marsh Stanpit
Wheatear - 2 Stanpit Marsh, 1 West Bexington
Ring Ouzel - 1 fem. Arne
Hume's Leaf Warbler - 1 nr. post 13 by Littlesea holiday park

Sightings - Friday 23rd March 2012

Barnacle Goose - 3 still at Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup - 2 drakes still at Abbotsbury Swannery
Wood Duck - 1 still at Abbotsbury Swannery, origin unknown.
Garganey - 1 Swineham, 2 still on Stour by River Way Recreation Ground, Christchurch
Great Northern Diver - 1 Portland Harbour
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour
Bittern - 2 Lodmoor.
Glossy Ibis - 2 still at Radipole
Red Kite - 1 over Parkstone
Marsh Harrier - 3 Radipole, 2 Lodmoor (probably a total of three birds in the Weymouth area)
Hen Harrier - 1 Wyke Down.
Hobby - 1 Hurn
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Priory Marsh and another bird over Hengistbury Head
Ruff - 1 Priory Marsh
Jack Snipe - 1 West Bexington
Green Sandpiper - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery

Yellow-Legged Gull - 2 Middlebere
Sandwich Tern - 2 Mudeford Quay, 2 Portland Harbour
Short-eared Owl - 1+ still present at Wyke Down
Richard's Pipit - 1 still present near the Bridging Camp, Wyke Regis
Water Pipit - 1 Priory Marsh
Black Redstart - 1 Wyke Regis, 4 Portland Bill
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - 1 Bulbarrow
Swallow - 2 Durdle Door, 1 Radipole Lake
Sand Martin - 2 Portland Bill, 6 Stanpit Marsh
Hume's Warbler - 1 still near Littlesea Holiday Camp, Wyke Regis
Firecrest - 3 Portland Bill
Great Grey Shrike - 1 still present at Wyke Down.

Garganey at Christchurch ©Phyl England

Sightings - Thursday 22nd March 2012

Barnacle Goose - 3 still at Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup - 2 drakes still at Abbotsbury Swannery
Garganey - 2 still on Stour by River Way Recreation Ground, Christchurch
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour
Cattle Egret - 1 near Dorchester between Blue Bridge and Coker's Frome Farm
Glossy Ibis - 2 still at Radipole
Red Kite - 1 over Stourpaine
Marsh Harrier - 2 Radipole, 1 Lodmoor, 1 over Christchurch Harbour
Merlin - 1 over Lodmoor
Little Ringed Plover - 1 over Stanpit and another later at Priory Marsh
Purple Sandpiper - 1 Portland Bill
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Great Skua - 1 Durlston, 1 Portland Bill
Short-eared Owl - 1 over Lodmoor
Richard's Pipit - 1 still present near the Bridging Camp, Wyke Regis
Meadow Pipit - 1650 over Christchurch Harbour
Water Pipit - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Black Redstart - 3 Portland Bill, 1 still at Tilly Whim, Durlston
Hume's Warbler - 1 still near Littlesea Holiday Camp, Wyke Regis
Firecrest - 1 Durlston, 1 Portland Bill

Cattle Egret near Dorchester © Allan Neilson

Glossy Ibis at Radipole © Will Bown

Red-necked Grebe in Portland Harbour © Will Bown

Sightings - Wednesday 21st March 2012

Barnacle Goose - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup - 2 drakes at Abbotsbury Swannery
Garganey - 2 still  River Way Recreation Ground, Christchurch
Red-necked Grebe - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Cattle Egret - 1 still near Kingston Maurward
Glossy Ibis - 2 from Radipole Lake North Hide
Hen Harrier - 1 male at Wyke Down
Marsh Harrier - 1 Lodmoor
Short-eared Owl - 3 at Wyke Down
Ring Ouzel - 1 at Blacknor, Portland
Black Redstart - 2 Portland Bill, 1 Durlston, 1 Hengistbury Head
Hume's Warbler - 1 still near Littlesea Holiday Camp Wyke Regis
Willow Warbler - 1 Durlston, 1 Portland Bill, 1 Portland Castle
Firecrest - 2-3 pairs around RSPB Arne car park, 1 Portland Bill
Great Grey Shrike - 1 still at Ackling Dyke, Wyke Down
Brambling - 1 Portland Castle

Late news: A Turtle Dove, photographed yesterday, (see below), has apparently been visiting a garden in Woodsford for the last six days. Earliest previous Dorset record was 22nd March 1998.

Garganey on the Stour at Christchurch © Alan Hayden & Leo Pyke



Turtle Dove at Woodsford © Frank Gardiner

Wheatear at Portland Bill © Will Bown

Sightings - Tuesday 20th March 2012

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1 Middlebere
Garganey - 2 on the Stour at River Way Recreation Ground, Christchurch
Goosander - 1 at Ferrybridge
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour
Cattle Egret - 1 still near Kingston Maurward
Spoonbill - up to 8 in the Arne/Middlebere area
Glossy Ibis - 2 from Radipole Lake North Hide
Marsh Harrier - 2 Lodmoor, 1 Middlebere
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Iceland Gull - 1 still at Radipole Lake, 1 off Durlston
Yellow-legged Gull - 3 Middlebere
Swallow - 1 Lodmoor
Water Pipit - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Black Redstart - 4 Portland Bill, 1 Bridging Camp, 1 Durlston
Willow Warbler - 2 at West Compton
Great Grey Shrike - 1 still along the Ackling Dyke, Wyke Down
Brambling - 1 at Whitesheet Plantation

Iceland Gull at Radipole Lake © Mike Trew

Cattle Egret at Kingston Maurward © Mike Trew

Sightings - Monday 19th March 2012

Barnacle Goose - 3 still present Abbotsbury Swannery are believed to be wild birds.
Garganey - 2 on R. Stour in West Christchurch.
Scaup - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery.
Long-Tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford sandspit.
Wood Duck - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery, origin unknown.
Goosander - 3 on R. Stour at Cowards Marsh.
Velvet Scoter - 3 West Bexington.
Eider - 1 Mudeford sandspit.
Manx Shearwater - 1 at Portland Bill was their first of the year.
Bittern - 2 Lodmoor.
Spoonbill - 3 Lodmoor.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Middlebere.
Hen Harrier - 1 Wyke Down.
Merlin - 1 Hartland Moor.
Grey Plover - 2 Stanpit.
Whimbrel - 1 Portland Bill.
Purple Sandpiper - 5 Mudeford sandspit, 4 Portland Bill.
Iceland Gull - 1 Portland Bill.
Puffin - 2 Portland Bill.
Wheatear - 4 Durlston CP, 4 Hengistbury Head, 2 West Compton, 1 Wyke Down.
Black Redstart - 1 Hengistbury Head, 2 Portland Bill, 1 Tilly Whim, 1 West Bexington.
Willow Warbler - 1 Durlston CP.
Firecrest - 2 Hengistbury Head, 3 Portland Bill.
Great Grey Shrike - 1 still present at Wyke Down.

Late news - Swallow at Lodmoor yesterday; Hoopoe reported Middlebere yesterday.

Kestrel at Portland © Will Bown

Sightings - Sunday 18th March 2012

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1 Poole Harbour (Newfoundland car park area).
Long-Tailed Duck - 1 Christchurch Harbour mouth
Wood Duck - 1 reported Abbotsbury Swannery, origin unknown.
Velvet Scoter - 3 West Bexington
Eider - 2 Christchurch Harbour mouth
Great Northern Diver - Christchurch Harbour mouth
Glossy Ibis - 2 Lodmoor; also at Radipole.
Spoonbill - 3 Lodmoor
Red Kite - 1 Gussage St Michael, 1 Thornicombe
Green Sandpiper - 1 Wytch Channel
Meadow Pipit - 49 arrived in 30 minutes at Hengistbury Head
Richard's Pipit - 1 still present at Bridging Camp, The Fleet.
Sand Martin - 2 Hengistbury Head
Wheatear - 3 Hengistbury Head, 1 Peveril Point, 1 West Bexington
Black Redstart - 1 Durlston CP, 1 Peveril Point, 1 West Bexington
Hume's Warbler - 1 still near Littlesea Holiday Camp Wyke Regis
Willow Warbler - 1 Radipole Lake
Firecrest - 1+ Arne car park
Great Grey Shrike - 1 still at Wyke Down

Gadwall ©John Hammick

Sightings - Saturday 17th March 2012

Velvet Scoter - 3 off West Bexington
Great Northern Diver - 3 Weymouth Bay
Red-throated Diver - 1 Mudeford Quay
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Weymouth Bay
Cattle Egret - 1 still near Kingston Maurward
Glossy Ibis - 2 Radipole Lake from North Hide
Spoonbill - 3 Lodmoor
Hen Harrier - 1 male at Wyke Down
Merlin - 1 across Wareham to Swanage Road
Purple Sandpiper - at least 30 from Mudeford Quay
Ruff - 1 Lodmoor
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Fisherman's Bank
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Little Gull - 1 Mudeford Quay
Iceland Gull - 2nd winter at Radipole Lake
Common Tern - 1 Longham Lakes
Puffin - 2 Portland Bill
Cuckoo - 1 reported seen from a moving car near Weymouth, is one of the earliest Dorset records
Swallow -1 Hengistbury Head
Richard's Pipit - 1 still near the Bridging Camp, Wyke Regis
Black Redstart - 1 Bridging Camp, Wyke Regis
Hume’s Warbler - 1 still near Littlesea Holiday Camp Wyke Regis
Willow Warbler - 1 Lodmoor
Firecrest - 10 Abbotsbury Gardens, 1 Portland Bill
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down

Great Grey Shrike at Wyke Down © Simon Kidner

Sightings - Friday 16th March 2012

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 4 flew from Mudeford Quay to Stanpit Bight
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter - 2 off West Bexington
Great Northern Diver - 1 Weymouth Bay
Cattle Egret - 1 still near Kingston Maurward, 1 on bank of the Frome near Wareham
Spoonbill - 2 Lodmoor
Glossy Ibis - 2 Radipole Lake from North Hide
Black Guillemot - 1 off Portland Bill
Merlin - 1 Durlston
Purple Sandpiper - 18 Mudeford Quay
Ruff - 1 Lodmoor
Green Sandpiper - 2 Lodmoor
Sand Martin - 11 Lodmoor
Black Redstart - 1 Sherborne, 1 West Bexington, 1 Kimmeridge, 1 Durlston, 1 Hengistbury Head
Wheatear - 40 Portland Bill, 8 Christchurch Harbour area,  5 Kimmeridge, 3 Peveril Point, 2 on the Cobb at Lyme Regis,  2 West Bexington, 1 Winspit
Hume’s Warbler - 1 still near Littlesea Holiday Camp Wyke Regis
Firecrest - 1 Portland Bill, 1 Hengistbury
Snow Bunting - 1 by southern end of Beach Huts on Hengistbury Head

Spoonbill at Lodmoor © Daragh Croxson

Sightings - Thursday 15th March 2012

Velvet Scoter - 2 West Bexington
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Cattle Egret - 1 Kingston Maurward
Spoonbill - 2 Lodmoor, with presumably the same over Radipole Lake
Hen Harrier - 1 Wyke Down
Ruff - 1 Lodmoor
Short-eared Owl - 1 Wyke Down
Swallow - 1 Portland
Sand Martin - 1 Portland, 1 West Bexington
Wheatear - 6 West Bexington, 1 Portland
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down
Crossbill - 18 Morden Bog

Sightings - Wednesday 14th March 2012

Barnacle Goose - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Garganey - 4 Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Mudeford Quay
Scaup - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery
Goosander - 6 at Avon Causeway
Cattle Egret - 1 Kingston Maurward
Spoonbill - 2 Lodmoor
Glossy Ibis  - 1 Radipole Lake
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Lodmoor, 1 Stanpit Marsh
Ruff - 1 Lodmoor
Yellow-legged Gull - 1 Lodmoor
Short-eared Owl - 1 near Portesham
Water Pipit - 2, Priory Marsh, Stanpit, 1 Lodmoor
Wheatear - 1 Reap Lane, Portland
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down

Ruff at Lodmoor © Daragh Croxson

Sightings - Tuesday 13th March 2012

Long-tailed Duck - 1 still off Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter - 2 still off Abbotsbury Beach
Eider - 2 off Mudeford Quay
Cattle Egret - 1 in cattle field near Kingston Maurward (SY719914)
Spoonbill - 2 at Lodmoor
Ruff - 1 at Lodmoor
Sand Martin - several at Lodmoor
Richard's Pipit - 1 still near the Bridging Camp, The Fleet
Great Grey Shrike - 1 north of Wyke Down along Ackling Dyke

Sightings - Monday 12th March 2012

Long-tailed Duck - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Spoonbill - 2 Lodmoor
Cattle Egret – 1 Kingston Maurward
Glossy Ibis – 2 Radipole Lake
Black Redstart –1 Sherborne, 1 Portland
Great Grey Shrike – 1 Wyke Down
Firecrest – 1 Portland Bill



















Cattle Egret Kingston Maurward (yesterday) © Nick Hopper

Sightings - Sunday 11th March 2012

Long-tailed Duck - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter – 3 off Abbotsbury Beach
Spoonbill - 2 Arne, 2 Lodmoor
Bittern – 1 Lodmoor
Cattle Egret – 1 Kingston Maurward
Glossy Ibis – 2 Radipole Lake
Red Kite - 1 East Bexington
Sand Martin - 1 Radipole Lake
Short-eared Owl – 1 Wyke Down
Richard’s Pipit – 1 Bridging Camp Wyke Regis
Black Redstart – 1 Durlston
Great Grey Shrike – 1 Wyke Down
Hume’s Warbler - 1 above Littlesea Holiday Camp Wyke Regis
Firecrest – 1 Durlston





















Red Kite East Bexington Nick Hopper


















Mandarin at Merley © John Hammick

Sightings - Saturday 10th March 2012

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 2 Stanpit Marsh
Red-crested Pochard – 2 Canford Bridge Wimborne Minster
Long-tailed Duck - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter – 1 off Abbotsbury Beach
Eider – 2 off Mudeford Quay
Marsh Harrier – 1 Stanpit Marsh, 1 Radipole Lake
Purple Sandpiper – 12 Christchurch Harbour sandspit
Iceland Gull - 1 Radipole Lake
Rock Pipit - 5 littoralis Crouch Hill Christchurch Harbour
Black Redstart – 1 Portland Obs Quarry
Great Grey Shrike – 1 north of Wyke Down at Ackling Dyke
Firecrest – 3 Portland, 1 Peveril Point




















Coot at Radipole Lake © David Wareham

Sightings - Friday 9th March 2012

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 4 Stanpit Marsh
Long-tailed Duck - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Eider – 2 off Mudeford Quay
Spoonbill – 2 Lodmoor, 14 Middlebere
Bittern – 1 Radipole Lake
Purple Sandpiper – 13 Christchurch Harbour sandspit
Iceland Gull - 1 Radipole Lake
Rock Pipit - 6 littoralis Crouch Hill Christchurch Harbour
Northern Wheatear – 2 Portland Bill, 1 Durlston
Black Redstart – 2 Durlston, 1 Bridging Camp Wyke Regis

Sightings - Thursday 8th March 2012

Velvet Scoter - Abbotsbury
Short-eared Owl - West Bexington
Wheatear - 3 Hengistbury Head
Black Redstart - 1 Peveril Point, 1 The Nothe, 3 Durlston, 1 Portland
Sand Martin - 9 Hengistbury Head
Water Pipit - 1 Stanpit
White Wagtail - 1 Stanpit

Curlew, Shore Road, Poole © Roger Peart

Short-eared owl - West Bexington © Mike ?

Wheatear, Hengistbury Head © David Wareham

Sightings - Wednesday 7th March 2012

Long tailed Duck - Mudeford
Glossy Ibis - 2 North Hide, Radipole
Spoonbill - 1 Lodmoor
Bittern - 1 Throop Mill
Wheatear - 1 Portland
Black Redstart - 1 Tilly Whim Caves

Glossy ibis, Radipole © Chris Patrick

Great crested grebe, Hatch Pond © David Wareham

Sightings - Tuesday 6th March 2012

Glossy Ibis - 2 North Hide, Radipole
Spoonbill - 1 Lodmoor, 1 Stanpit
Jack Snipe - Canford Heath
Green Sandpiper - West Bexington
Red Kite - 1 Stanbridge
Merlin - Cogden
Hen Harrier - ringtail at Wyke Down
Water Pipit - 2 Stanpit
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down
Black Redstart - 2 Portland, 1 Peveril Point

Sightings - Monday 5th March 2012

Long-tailed Duck - off Mudeford Quay
Glossy Ibis - 2 North Hide, Radipole
Spoonbill - 1 Lodmoor
Long-billed Dowitcher - 1st winter back at Lodmoor
Spotted Sandpiper - Christchurch harbour
Iceland Gull - 1 East cliffs, Portland
Water Pipit - 2 Stanpit
Black Redstart - Durlston, 1 Poundbury
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Swineham Point, possibly 2

Sightings - Sunday 4th March 2012

Long-tailed Duck - 2 off Mudeford Quay
Great Northern Diver - 1 Bowleaze Cove
Bittern- 1 Lodmoor
Glossy Ibis - 2 Radipole Lake from the north hide
Marsh Harrier - 1 Lodmoor
Purple Sandpiper - 23 Hengistbury sandspit
Ruff - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 still Fisherman's Bank
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit Marsh, 1 Barn Bight Hengistbury
Mediterranean Gull - 20+ Dudbury Golf Caourse, 6 Longham Lakes
White Wagtail - 1 at Wick Farm Meadows
Black Redstart - 2 Portland Bill
Sand Martin - 1 Radipole Lake (1st of the year)

Reed Bunting Radipole Lake © Tim Downton

Bittern Radipole Lake © Tim Downton

Sightings - Saturday 3rd March 2012

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1 Christchurch Hbr
Eider - 2 still off Mudeford Quay
Long-tailed Duck - 1 briefly off Mudeford Quay
Great Northern Diver - 1 Mudeford Quay
Black-necked Grebe - Mudeford Quay
Purple Sandpiper - 23 Hengistbury (Sandspit)
Ruff - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Spotted Redshank - 1Hengistbury from Holloway's Dock, 1 Stanpit Marsh
Mediterranean  Gull - 15 Longham lakes
Puffin - 1 Portland Bill (first returning bird)
Firecrest - 7 Abbotsbury Gardens

Coot Radipole Lake © Jessica Evans

Kingfisher Radipole Lake © Tim Downton

Sightings - Friday 2nd March 2012

Eider - 2 fem off Mudeford Quay
Common Scoter - 1 drake Sherborne Lake
Bittern - 1 Radipole, 1 Lodmoor
Red Kite - 1 Wyke Down
Hen Harrier - 2 Wyke Down
Golden Plover - 400 Wyke Down
Jack Snipe - 1 Standpit Marsh
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 still Fisherman's Bank
Barn Owl - 1 Weston Portland
Short-eared Owl - 1 still Wyke Down
Rock Pipit - 12 Stanpit Marsh (2 showed characteristics of littoralis)
Black Redstart - 2 Portland Bill
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down

Water Rail - Radipole Lake © Jessica Evans

Sightings - Thursday 1st March 2012

Long-tailed Duck - 1 at Mudeford Quay
Black-necked Grebe - 1 from Mudeford Quay
Glossy Ibis - 2 still at Radipole
Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail at Hardy Monument
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 still at Fisherman's Bank, Stanpit
Iceland Gull - 1 juvenile at Radipole Lake
Short-eared Owl - 2 at Hardy Monument
Black Redstart - 2 at Portland Bill
Great Grey Shrike - 2 at Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley