Sightings - Thursday 31st January 2013

Whooper Swan - 1 Holmebridge area
Smew - 2 Longham Lakes
Goosander - 2 Canford Bridge Merley
Sandwich Tern - 1 Mudeford Quay
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill, 1 Chesil Cove, 1 Lyme Regis
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Sixpenny Handley
Siberian Chiffchaff - 2 PC World Drain Poole
Firecrest - 1 Durlston, 1 Creekmoor Ponds
Snow Bunting - 1 Ferrybridge, 1 West Bexington


Snow Bunting Ferrybridge copyright Mike Trew
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Sightings - Wednesday 30th January 2013

Bewick's Swan - 1 Longham Lakes
Smew - 2 Longham Lakes
Red-throated Diver - 2 past Durlston, 2 past Portland Bill
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill, 1 Durlston
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Sixpenny Handley
Snow Bunting - 1 Ferrybridge, 1 West Bexington
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Sightings - Tuesday 29th January 2013

Purple Sandpiper - 23 Hengistbury Head sandspit
Sanderling - 28 Shell Bay
Glaucous Gull - 1 West Bexington
Firecrest - 1 Hengistbury Head
Snow Bunting - 1 Ferrybridge, 1 West Bexington
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Sightings - Monday 28th January 2013

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1, Ferrybridge
Eider - 1, Portland Harbour
Scaup - 9, Abbotsbury
Goosander - 2, West Bexington
Common Sandpipier - 2, Holes Bay
Sandwich Tern - 1, South Haven/Studland
Firecrest - 3, Slepe Copse (nr Hartland Moor)
Common Rosefinch - 1 probable in a private garden in Broadstone
Snow Bunting - 1, West Bexington

also notable is the very high numbers of auks reported off Portland today, with numbers in excess of 25,000.
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Sightings - Sunday 27th January 2013

Egyptian Goose - 7, Cowards Marsh
Bewick's Swan - 2, Longham Lakes/Hampreston Floods
Smew - 2 (both redheads), Longham Lakes
Goosander - 2, West Bexington
Bittern - 1, Hatch Pond
Green Sandpiper - 1, Tincleton Cress Beds; 5 Cowards Marsh; 1 Hengistbury
Lapwing - impressive count of 2000, Puddletown
Ruff - 2, Cowards Marsh
Glaucous Gull - 1
Red Kite - 2, Durweston Bridge
Merlin - 1, Horton Inn
Short-eared Owl - 2, Wyke Down
Hoopoe - 1, Hamworthy, in area around Dawkins Road, Carters Road & Galloway Road
Water Pipit - 1, Lodmoor
Great Grey Shrike - 1, Sixpenny Handley
Black Redstart - 1, Hamworthy
Snow Bunting - 1, West Bexington



Hoopoe, Hamworthy. Paul Moreton


Hoopoe, Hamworthy, Chris Dresh


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Sightings - Saturday 26th January 2013

Bean Goose - 3, Hampreston Floods (seem early am only, and later in Hampshire)
Egyptian Goose - 5, Coward's Marsh
Bewick's Swan - 2, Hampreston Floods
Whooper Swan - 1, Holme Bridge
Smew - 1 (redhead), Longham Lakes
Scaup - 9, Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - 1, Abbotsbury
Goosander - 2, Abbotsbury; 2 West Bexington; 1 Coward's Marsh
Red-throated Diver - 1 Wareham Channel (Swineham); 8 Portland; 2 Hengistbury
Black-throated Diver - 1, Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 1, Abbotsbury Head
Lapwing - high count of c.1000 over Tyneham
Golden Plover - impressive count of 3000+ at Maiden Castle
Spotted Redshank - 1, Stanpit; 1 Holes Bay
Purple Sandpiper - 5, Portland
Ruff - 3, Lodmoor; 2 Coward's Marsh, 9 nr Sopley
Black-tailed Godwit - still in the region of 3000 in the Avon Valley
Red Kite - 1, Langton Matravers
Hoopoe - 1, Hamworthy (elusive; outside 30 Carter's Road late pm)
Water Pipit - 1, Lodmoor
Firecrest - 3, Abbotsbury Gardens
Great Grey Shrike - 1, Sixpenny Handley
Black Redstart -  1, Nothe Fort; 1 Newton's Cove
Snow Bunting - 1, Ferrybridge


Ruff and Lapwing, Lodmoor, Daragh Croxson


Goosander, West Bexington.  Mike Morse
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Sightings - Friday 25th January 2013

Tundra Bean Goose - 3, Longham Lakes
Barnacle Goose - 4, West Bexington
Bewick Swan - 2, Longham Lakes (with Bean Geese)
Long-tailed Duck - 1, between Brownsea and Arne
Great-Northern Diver - 5 scattered within Poole Harbour
Spoonbill - 2, Arne
Green Sandpiper - 1, Weymouth
Purple Sandpiper - 5, Hengistbury
Jack Snipe - 2, West Bexington
Golden Plover - 124, West Bexington; 1, Stanpit
Red Kite - 1, Winspit
Hoopoe - 1 Turlin Moor (in front of 14 Egmont Road)
Black Redstart - 2, Durlston
Snow Bunting - 1, West Bexington
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Sightings - Thursday 24th January 2013

Great Northern Diver - 1 Portland Harbour
Scaup - 2 Radipole
Velvet Scoter - 2 Portland Harbour
Slavonian Grebe - 2 Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 3 Portland Harbour
Tundra Bean Goose - 3 Longham Lakes
Spoonbill - 1 Christchurch harbour
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down
Waxwing - 27 Symes Road, Poole; 
Woodlark - 1 Portland
Black Redstart - 1 Portland; 1 Poundbury
Snow Bunting - 1 West Bexington; 1 Ferrybridge

Three Bean Geese were found at Longham lakes, Ferndown, feeding on the flooded fields north of the causeway. (apologies for the poor quality of the photos!)


Bean geese, Longham Lakes (c) Chris Parnell

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Sightings - Wednesday 23rd January 2013

Spoonbill - 14 Holes Bay
Hoopoe - 1 seen well, but briefly, around n the corner of Annet Close and Samson Rd, near Hoyal Road, Turlin Moor today.
Great Grey shrike - 1 Wyke Down
Woodlark - 8 near Solent Meads clubhouse/cafe, Hengistbury; 1 Portland

Late news for yesterday - storm petrel picked up alive in a Swanage garden sadly died overnight.

  
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Sightings - Tuesday 22nd January 2013

Spoonbill - 5 Upton CP
Scaup - 9 Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury
Golden Plover - 7 Baiter
Waxwing - 1 Swanage; 31 Lytchett Matravers
Black Redstart - 1 Upton CP


Fieldfare, Broadstone (c) Peter Townsend




Waxwing, Swanage (c) Phyl England

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Sightings - Monday 21st January 2013

White-fronted Goose - 8 probables over Lytchett Bay
Barnacle Goose - 4 Abbotsbury
Spoonbill - 11 Holes Bay
Scaup - 9 Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury
Ruff - 2 Upton CP
Marsh Harrier - 1 Abbotsbury
Woodlark - 1 Portland, 1 Holes Bay, 4 Durlston
Waxwing - 20 Lytchett Matravers
Black Redstart - 1 Upton CP

Also local birders have reported good numbers of fieldfares in local gardens.



Black redstart, (c) Ian Ballam, Upton CP


Waxwing and fieldfare, Lytchett Matravers, (c) Paul Morton

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Sightings - Sunday 20th January 2013

Whooper Swan - 1 Holmebridge
Pink-footed Goose - 1 Holmebridge
Barnacle Goose - 4 Abbotsbury Swannery
Egyptain Goose - 2 Avon Causeway, 1 Bestwell
Scaup - 10 Abbotsbury swannery
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Grey Partridge - 5 Wyke Down
Red-throated Diver - 3 West Bexington, 1 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Durlston Cp, 1 Abbotsbury (on sea)
Slavonian Grebe - 3 Portland Harbour
Bittern - 3 Lodmoor, 1 Radipole
Spoonbill - 15 Holes Bay (NE), 1 Brand's Bay
Marsh Harrier - 3 Swineham Pt, 1 Lodmoor
Hen Harrier - 1m Swineham Pt, 1m Wyke Down, 1fem Fitzworth/Ower, 1m Lytchett Bay
Merlin - 1 Swineham Pt, 1 Wyke Down
Golden Plover - 2000 Abbotsbury/Rodden, 800 West Bexington, 346 Christchurch Hbr.
Lapwing - 1060 Christchurch Hbr.
Ruff - 2 Upton CP field north of by-pass
Woodcock - 1 Portland Bill, 1 pos 2 Lodmoor
Jack Snipe - 1 Lytchett Bay, 1 Portland Bill
Common Sandpiper - 1 Holes Bay
Green Sandpiper - 3 Tincleton Cressbeds, 1 Lytchett Bay, 1 Stanpit Marsh
Sandwich Tern - 2 Lytchett Bay
Little Owl Avon Causeway
Short-eared Owl - 1 Wyke Down
Woodlark - 3 Arne, 2 Holes Bay, 10 Durlston Cp, 2 Lorton, 2 Lodmoor, 1 Portland Bill
Water Pipit - 1 Tincleton Cressbeds, 1 Swineham Pt.
Waxwing - 3 Sandford
Black Redstart - single at Upton Cp, Durlston CP, Weston & Portland Bill
Fieldfare - 3900 Durlston Cp, 4000 Christchurch Hbr, 2000 Abbotsbury, 1000+ over Green Island, 1500 over South Haven
Redwing - 1600 Christchurch Hbr, 1000 Abottsbury, 300 Merley, 250 Durlston CP.
Blackcap - 1 male Private garden Upton
Firecrest - 1 Upton CP, 1 Private garden Upton, 1 Upton Cp, 1 West Bexington, 1 Abbotsbury.
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down
Brambling - 5 Wareham, 2 West Holme, 1 Lytchett Bay, 1 Durlston Cp, 1 Iwerne Minster
Snow Bunting - 1 West Bexington

Common Snipe - Todbar © John Howell

Greenshank - Holes Bay © Simon Johnson

Black Redstart - Upton CP © Bob Moore

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Sightings - Saturday 19th January 2013

Cold weather movements continued today with large numbers of Fieldfare, Redwing, Skylarks, Lapwing, Golden Plover and smaller numbers of other species being recorded from east to west in the county. I've only given below a small number of the counts reported to give an idea of their distribution.

Whooper Swan - 1 Frome Valley (seen from High Tor)
Pink-footed Goose - Holmebridge
Pale-bellied Brent - 2 Baiter Park (with Db Brent)
Barnacle Goose - 4 Abbotsbury Swannery
Egyptain Goose - 1 Holmebridge
Scaup - 9 Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Goosander - 5 Cowards Marsh
Red-throated Diver - 9 Hengistbury Hd.
Great Northern Diver - 2 Studland off Pilot's Pt, 1 Weymonth Bay.
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Spoonbill - 16 Holes Bay
Red Kite - River Way Christchurch
Marsh Harrier - 2 Lytchett Bay, 2 Arne, 1 Lorton Valley, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery.
Hen Harrier - 1 male Arne, 1 male Middlebere (pos. same), 1 Wyke Down
Merlin - 1 fem Rylands Barn Fm, 1m West Holme
Golden Plover - 6000 along the Fleet, 344 Hengistbury Hd, 320 Priory Marsh, 300 Lorton Valley, 88 Waterditch Fm, 10 Lytchett Bay.
Lapwing - 400 Waterditch Fm, 350 West Bexington, 175 Bournemouth E.Cliff, 100+ Lorton Valley.
Ruff - 2 nr. Upton Cp, 1 Avon Causeway
Woodcock - 1 Lorton Valley, 1 Portland Bill, 1 Lodmoor
Jack Snipe - 1 Waterditch Fm, 1 Portland Bill
Spotted Redshank - 5 Holes Bay, 2 Lytchett Bay.
Little Gull - 1 (1stW) Lytchett Bay
 Woodlark - 35 Hengistbury Hd (9 grounded), 3 Lytchett Bay, 1 Portland Bill
Skylark - 500+ Lorton Valley, 350+ Lytchett Bay, 200 Waterditch Fm.
Fieldfare - 13200 Hengistbury Hd, 1000+ Durlston CP, 600 Waterditch Fm, 398 Lytchett Bay, 200+ Upton Cp, 150 Lorton Valley
Redwing - 6700 Hengistbury Hd, 400 Lorton Valley, 360 Bournemouth E.Cliff, 120 Lodmoor, 100 Durlston CP.
Linnet - 3000 Ryland's Barn Fm Martinstown.
Brambling - 2 Bournemouth E.Cliff, 1 Holmbridge, 1 Lytchett Bay
Yellowhammer - 100 Ryland's Barn Fm Martinstown
Snow Bunting - 1 West Bexington, 1 Ferrybridge
Corn Bunting - 150+ Ryland's Barn Fm Martinstow, 3 Hengistbury Hd.

Spoonbill - Holes Bay (NE) © Bob Moore

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Sightings - Friday 18th January 2013

Scaup - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Spoonbill - 16 Holes Bay NE.
Red Kite - 1 near Melplash
Marsh Harrier - 3 Lodmoor, 1 Radipole.
Merlin - 1 Durlston CP.

Some cold weather movements observed today mostly heading South/South West.

Golden Plover - 1420 Radipole, 1000+ in field nr Hive Beach, 650 Southdown Ridge, 500 West Bexington, 300 Abbotsbury, 240 Durlston CP, 75 Hillfield, 55 Portland Bill, 45 Canford Heath, 20 Langton Matravers, 20 Stoborough, 15 Briantspuddle, 11 Chetnole.

Lapwing - 250 Chetnole, 160 Bridport, 70 Lytchett Bay, 70 West Bexington, 34 Portland Bill, 30 Langton Matravers, 20 Briantspuddle, 18 Weymouth.

Woodpigeon - c1000 Hillfield

Woodlark - 6 Durlston CP, 4 Southdown Ridge, 2 Langton Matravers, 1 Radipole

Skylark - 1658 over Radipole, 850 Durlston CP, 200 Portland Bill, 300 Southdown Ridge, 125 Chetnole, 110 Lodmoor, 50 Briantspuddle, 45 Langton Matravers, 30 Abbotsbury

Black Redstart - 1 Radipole lake

Fieldfare - 470 Chetnole, 300 West Bexington, 65 Hillfield, 60 Landton Matravers, 50 Briantspuddle, 47 Radipole, 40 Lytchett Bay, 40 Abbotsbury, 40 Bridport, 35 Radipole, 22 Southdown Ridge.

Redwing - 675 Chetnole, 600 West Bexington, 175 Radipole, 120 Hillfield, 60 Briantspuddle, 50 Abbotsbury, 30 west Lodmoor.

Rook - 800 Hillfield.
Snow Bunting - 1 West Bexington.

Golden Plover flying into Lodmoor © Daragh Croxson

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Sightings - Thursday 17th January 2013

Scaup - 9 Abbotsbury
Eider - 1 Portland Hbr.
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Velvet Scoter - 2 Portland Hbr (from Sandsfoot Castle)
Red-throated Diver - 6 Portland Bill, 1 Swineham Pt.
Black-throated Dive - 1 Portland Hbr (from Sandsfoot Castle)
Great Norhern Diver - 3 Portland Hbr, 2 Whitley Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 5 Portland Hbr.
Black-necked Great - 17 Portland Hbr.
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 16 Holes Bay.
Marsh Harrier - 2 Swineham (1m+1f). 1 Abbotsbury.
Golden Plover - 2000 Maiden Castle
Mediterranean Gull - 100+ Portland Hbr.
Sandwich Tern - 1 off Swineham Pt, 1 Whitley Bay.
Water Pipit - 1 Lodmoor
Black Redstart - 2 Portland
Firecrest - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Puddletown, 1 Peveril Pt.
Snow Bunting


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Sightings - Wednesday 16th January 2013

Long-tailed Duck - 3, Abbotsbury
Scaup - 10, Abbotsbury 
Velvet Scoter - 2, Portland Harbour
Goosander - 4, Cowards Marsh
Black-throated Diver - 1, Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 1, Abbotsbury
Glossy Ibis - 1, Stanpit
Spoonbill - 9, Holes Bay
Common Sandpiper - 1, Holes Bay
Iceland Gull - 1, Radipole Lake 
Hen Harrier - 1, Rylands Barn Farm
Water Pipit - 1, Stanpit
Black Redstart - 1, Wyke Regis Bridging Camp
Firecrest - 1, Hengistbury
Snow Bunting - 1, Ferrybridge
Sparrowhawk, copyright Joe Murphy

  

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Sightings - Tuesday 15th January 2012

Whooper Swan - 1, Frome Valley (1km east of East Holme)
Long-tailed Duck - 1, Abbotsbury
Black-necked Grebe - 1, Abbotsbury; 20 Portland Harbour; 7 Poole Harbour (nr. Furzey Is)
Slavonian Grebe - 6, Portland Harbour
Spoonbill - 16, Arne
Bittern - 1, Lodmoor
Black-tailed Godwits - c.3500 in the Avon Valley nr Christchurch
Sanderling - 43 Sandbanks
Purple Sandpiper - 1, Sandbanks
Golden Plover - 3, Portland; 1 Middlebere; c.1500 nr Maiden Castle
Hen Harrier - 1, Arne
Marsh Harrier - 3, Hartland area
Merlin - 1, West Compton; 1 Sunnyside
Short-eared Owl - 1, Hartland area
Water Pipit - 1, Lodmoor
Firecrest - 1, Arne; 1 Lodmoor
Black Redstart - 1, Hengistbury; 1, Poundbury
Snow Bunting - 1, Ferrybridge
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Sightings - Monday 14th January 2013

Scaup - 9, Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - 3, Abootsbury; 1 Hengistbury
Velvet Scoter - 2, Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 1, Abbotsbury; 20 Portland Harbour;
Slavonian Grebe - 4, Portland Harbour
Common Sandpiper - 1, Holes Bay
Sanderling - 33, Shore Road
Black-tailed Godwit - 3210 counted in Avon Valley
Ruff - 1, Avon Causeway
Spotted Redshank - 1, Holes Bay; 1 Stanpit
Knot - 1, Stanpit
Sandwich Tern - 3, Baiter
Marsh Harrier - 1, Abbotsbury
Black Redstart - 1, Weymouth (Newton's Cove); 2+, White Nothe; 1 Portland Bill
Firecrest - 1, Hengistbury
Brambling - 2, Hengistbury
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Sightings - Sunday 13th January 2013

Pink-footed Goose - 1, East Stoke
Egyptian Goose - 2, East Stoke
Goosander - 1, Spetisbury
Long-tailed Duck - 1, Poole Harbour; 3 Abbotsbury
Spoonbill - 15, Arne
Slavonian Grebe - 3, Portland Harbour (from Sailing Academy)
Black-throated Diver - 1, Poole Harbour
Spotted Redshank - 2, Holes Bay; 1 Stanpit
Purple Sandpiper - 2, Portland; 9 Hengistbury
Jack Snipe - 1, Stanpit
Marsh Harrier - up to 6 around Wareham Channel/Arne Moors/Hartland
Hen Harrier - 3, Middlebere
Bittern - 1, Hatch Pond
Siberin Chiffchaff - 1, Holes Bay
Short-eared Owl - 1, Swineham
Water Pipit - 1, Lodmoor
Waxwing - 1, Hilfield; 20+ Lytchett Matravers
Black Redstart - 1, Portland
Brambling - 5, East Stour
Snow Bunting - 1, Ferrybridge

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Sightings - Saturday 12th January 2013

Egyptian Goose - 1 plus a hybrid at Holmebridge
Goosander - 1 Weymouth Bay
Great Northern Diver - 1 Branksome Chine, 1 Studland Bay, 1 Weymouth Bay
Red-Necked Grebe - 1 Studland Bay, 1 Weymouth Bay
Spoonbill - 1 Brownsea Island
Merlin - 1 Soldiers Road
Golden Plover - 1 Lodmoor
Grey Plover - 200 Brownsea Island
Curlew - 33 Lytchett Bay is a site record.
Snipe - 293 Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 2 Lytchett Bay
Ruff - 2 Avon Causeway
Waxwing - 27 Lytchett Matravers

Late news:  Marsh Harrier at Redcliffe yesterday           
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Sightings - Friday 11th January 2013

Pink-Footed Goose - 1 Holmebridge
Scaup - 10 Abbotsbury Swannery
Goosander - 1 Stanpit, 2 West Holme
Goldeneye - 5 Holes Bay
Long-Tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Marsh Harrier - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery, 5+ in western Poole Harbour           
Hen Harrier - 2+ western Poole Harbour
Merlin - 1 Maiden Castle
Yellow-Legged Gull - 4 on roof of Kerry Foods, Holes Bay
Sandwich Tern - 1 Baiter
Golden Plover - 500+ at Maiden Castle
Sanderling - 29 Sandbanks
Spotted Redshank - 1 Holes Bay
Common Sandpiper - 2 Holes Bay/PC World drain
Short-Eared Owl - 1 Holton Heath/Arne, 2 Wyke Down
Waxwing - 20 Broadstone, 5 Guys Marsh (Shaftesbury), 27 Lytchett Matravers
Water Pipit - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Siberian Chiffchaff - two birds of tristis type present but silent at Holes Bay/PC World drain
Firecrest - 1 Castle Cove, Weymouth
Snow Bunting - 1 West Bexington

Late news:  Hen Harrier at Winfrith Heath yesterday.

Waxwings at Lytchett Matravers © John Wareham

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Sightings Thursday 10th January 2013

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 2 Ferrybridge
Scaup - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-Tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Velvet Scoter - 2 Portland Harbour
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Poole Harbour
Slavonian Grebe - 9 Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 24 Portland Harbour
Meditteranean Gull - 400 Weymouth Bay
Waxwing - 24 Lytchett Matravers
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 PC World drain Holes Bay
Snow Bunting -  1 West Bexington for its 71st day
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Sightings - Wednesday 9th January 2013

Scaup - 10 Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-Tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Arne
Velvet Scoter - 2 Portland Harbour
Glossy Ibis - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Marsh Harrier - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Merlin - 1 West Compton
Auk species:  The Portland Bill flock was today estimated at 25000+ birds.
Golden Plover - 800-1000 at Maiden Castle
Grey Plover - 5 Stanpit
Snipe - 120+ at Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Waxwing - 12 Dorchester, 22 Eyebridge (Wimborne)
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill
Snow Bunting - 1 Ferrybridge
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Sightings - Tuesday 8th January 2013

Whooper Swan - 1 near the Aquatic Ecology lab, East Stoke
Barnacle Goose - 4 Abbotsbury
Pink-footed Goose - 1 Holmebridge
Scaup - 10 Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Arne
Iceland Gull - 1 East Cliffs Portland
Great Skua - 1 Portland
Waxwing - 20 Lytchett Matravers
Black Redstart - 1 Portland

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Sightings - Monday 7th January 2013

Whooper Swan - 1 near the Aquatic Ecology lab, East Stoke
Pink-footed Goose - 1 Holmebridge
Scaup - 10 Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-Tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Goosander - 6 on River Frome in East Stoke - Holme Bridge area
Red-Throated Diver - 4  Christchurch Harbour sandspit
Marsh Harrier - 1 Abbotsbury Swannerys
Common Gull - 300+ on Chesil Beach at Abbotsbury
Yellow-Legged Gull - 1 Christchurch Harbour sandspit
Grey Plover - 16 Stanpit
Snipe - 132+ at Lytchett Bay is a very good count for the site.
Jack Snipe - 1 Lytchett Bay
Whimbrel - 1 Middlebere
Green Sandpiper - 3 Lytchett Bay
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Waxwing - 24 Lytchett Matravers
Snow Bunting - 1 West Bexington

Late news:  100+ count of Common Snipe at West Bexington at the weekend was a site record.


Whooper Swan, Frome Valley © Will Bown













Waxwing at Lytchett Matravers © Ian Ballam

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Sightings - Sunday 6th January 2013

Whooper Swan - 1 East Stoke
Pink-footed Goose - 1 Holmebridge
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury
Scaup - 10 Abbotsbury
Velvet Scoter - 2 Portland Harbour
Spoonbill - 17 Arne
Waxwing - 25 Lytchett
Snow Bunting - 1 Ferrybridge
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Sightings - Saturday 5th January 2013

Whooper Swan - 1 East Stoke, 1 Tincleton
Pink-footed Goose - 1 Holmebridge
Egyptian Goose  - 1 Holmebridge
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury
Scaup - 10 Abbotsbury
Velvet Scoter - 2 past Portland Bill
Red-throated Diver - 12 past Portland Bill
Purple Sandpiper - 10 Lyme Regis
Meditteranean Gull - 816 Ferrybridge/Portland Harbour
Common Gull - 146 Lodmoor
Firecrest - 1 Pennsylvania Castle
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Sightings - Friday 4th January 2013

Whooper Swan - 1 still near the level crossing at East Stoke
Pink-footed Goose - 1 in the Frome Valley west of Holmebridge
Scaup - 10 on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Eider - 1 in Portland Harbour
Long-tailed Duck - 3 still on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Velvet Scoter - 2 still in Portland Harbour
Red-throated Diver - 10 past Portland Bill, 5 from West Bexington, 2 past Mudeford Quay
Black-throated Diver - 1 in Portland Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 2 in Portland Harbour
Slavonian Grebe - 1 in Studland Bay, 1 Shell Bay, 1 in Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 14 in Portland Harbour, 2 in Studland Bay
Bittern - 1 at Hatch Pond
Red Kite - 1 over Sutton Hill near Sutton Waldron
Purple Sandpiper - 9 at Lyme Regis, 2 at Portland Bill
Sandwich Tern - 1 from Knoll Beach Studland
Firecrest - 1 at Pennsylvania Castle
Black Redstart - 1 at Lyme Regis, 1 at Hengistbury Head
Snow Bunting - 1 still at Ferrybridge, 1 still at West Bexington

Purple Sandpiper at Lyme Regis © Andrew Grinter


Whooper Swan at East Stoke © Phyl England

 
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Sightings - Thursday 3rd January 2013

Whooper Swan - 1 near the level crossing at East Stoke
Scaup - 9 still on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Eider - 1 in Portland Harbour
Long-tailed Duck - 3 on the Fleet at Abbotsbury, 1 past Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter - 2 still in Portland Harbour
Red-throated Diver - 9 past Portland Bill, 3 past Mudeford Quay
Black-throated Diver - 1 in Portland Harbour,1 from Mudeford Quay
Great Northern Diver - about 5 in Portland Harbour, 4 in Weymouth Bay, 2 from Mudeford Quay, 1 past Portland Bill
Slavonian Grebe - 7 in Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 17 in Portland Harbour, 1 on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Bittern - 1 at Hatch Pond
Marsh Harrier - 1 at Lodmoor
Golden Plover - about 300 at Maiden Castle
Purple Sandpiper - 2 at Portland Bill
Water Pipit - 1 at Lodmoor
Black Redstart - 1 at Portland Bill, 1 at the Nothe
Snow Bunting - 1 still at Ferrybridge
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Sightings - Wednesday 2nd January 2013

Scaup - 9  on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Eider - 1 in Portland Harbour
Long-tailed Duck - 2 on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Velvet Scoter - 2 in Portland Harbour
Goosander - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Red-throated Diver - 32 past Portland Bill, 2 off West Bexington, 1 past Durlston, 1 in Weymouth Bay
Black-throated Diver - 1 past Portland Bill, 2 in Weymouth Bay
Great Northern Diver - 8 in Portland Harbour, 7+ in Weymouth Bay, 1 past Portland Bill, 1 in Studland Bay, 1 past Hengistbury Head
Slavonian Grebe - 7 in Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 11 in Studland Bay,  9 in Portland Harbour
Bittern - 1 at Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 13 at Shipstal Point Arne
Marsh Harrier - 2 at Lodmoor, 1 at Abbotsbury
Purple Sandpiper - 9 at Hengistbury Head
Jack Snipe - 1 Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 6 on lagoon at Brownsea Island, 1 Stanpit
Ring-billed Gull - a first winter reported at Lodmoor this afternoon
Water Pipit - 1 Lodmoor
Black Redstart - 1 at Portland Harbour (Small Mouth), 1 Hengistbury Head
Firecrest - 1 Castle Cove, 1 Cogden Beach, 1 Durlston, 1 Hengistbury Head
Snow Bunting - 1 still at Ferrybridge, 1 still at West Bexington

Yesterday ; 2 Red-crested Pochard drakes were at Sturminster Marshall GPs

Hen Harrier at Middlebere yesterday © Dominic Greves



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Sightings - Tuesday 1st January 2013

A Happy New Year to all from the Dorset Bird Club

Whooper Swan - 1 still near the level crossing at East Holme
Velvet Scoter - 2 in Portland Harbour
Red-throated Diver - 17 past Portland Bill, 5 past Hengistbury Head, 3 off Abbotsbury Beach
Black-throated Diver - 1 Portland Harbour, 1 in Poole Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 4 in Portland Harbour, 6 in Poole Harbour, 2 in Weymouth Bay, 1 past Portland Bill
Red-necked Grebe - 1 in Portland Harbour, 1 in  Poole Harbour
Slavonian Grebe - 6 in Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 9 in Portland Harbour, 3 in Poole Harbour
Bittern - 2 at Hatch Pond, 1 Lodmoor
Glossy Ibis - 1 around Stanpit Marsh
Spoonbill - 15 in Poole Harbour
Red Kite - 1 at Ashmore
Marsh Harrier - 2 at Stanpit, 1 at Radipole
Merlin - 1 at Studland near Little Sea
Purple Sandpiper - 14 on the sandspit at Hengistbury Head, 1 at Portland Bill
Ruff - 1 Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Little Gull - 1 past Portland Bill
Ring-billed Gull - an adult briefly at Lodmoor
Black Redstart - 1 at Portland Bill
Firecrest - 1 near Sandsfoot Castle Portland Harbour, 1 at Studland, 1 Hengistbury Head
Snow Bunting - 1 still at Ferrybridge, 1 still at West Bexington

Great Northern Diver in Poole Harbour © Phyl England
Marsh Harrier at Radipole © Mark Wright


Glossy Ibis at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy
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Sighting - Monday 31st December 2012

Very little to report...
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