Sightings - Wednesday 31st December 2014

A Happy New Year to all our contributors and readers.

Green-winged Teal - 1 Brands Bay.
Black-Necked Grebe - 16 Portland Harbour, 18 Studland.
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Hengistbury Head, 2 Studland.
Spoonbill - 32 Arne, 4 Upton CP/Holes Bay
Spotted Redshank - 3 Holes Bay.
Purple Sandpiper - 3 Poole Harbour mouth.
Great Skua - 2 Portland Bill.
Little Gull - 1 Brands Bay/Goathorn.
Black Guillemot - 1 Poole Harbour mouth, 1 Portland Harbour.
Water Pipit - 2 Stanpit.
Yellow-Browed Warbler - 1 Gillingham fishing lakes.
Firecrest - 1 Warmwell.

Late news:  Male Hen Harrier at Holt Heath yesterday.



Goldcrest near White Mill © Trevor Wilkinson




















Black-talied Godwit at Stanpit © Joe Murphy


Sightings - Tuesday 30th December 2014

Velvet Scoter - 2 Hengistbury Head
Black-Throated Diver - 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Weymouth Bay
Black-Necked Grebe - 23 Brands Bay, 16 Portland Harbour.
Bittern - 1 Swineham
Spoonbill - 21+ Holes Bay
Marsh Harrier - 1 Swineham.
Grey Plover - 64 Brands Bay, 20 Stanpit
Knot - 2 Stanpit
Jack Snipe - 2 Swineham, 3-5 Winterbourne Abbas
Spotted Redshank - 5 Holes Bay.
Common Sandpiper - 2 Holes Bay
Green Sandpiper - 1 Winterbourne Abbas
Purple Sandpiper - 1 Hengistbury Head, 4 Portland Bill
Little Gull - 1 Brands Bay
Water Pipit - 1 Lodmoor, 1 Stanpit.
Scandinavian Rock Pipit - 5 Stanpit.
Black Redstart - 1 Durlston CP, 1 Newtons Cove, 1 The Nothe.
Ring Ouzel - 1 Preston.
Firecrest - 1 Durlston CP.

Late news:  1000 Golden Plover at Maiden Castle yesterday.

Bearded Tit at Radipole © Phyl England

Chiffchaff at Stanpit © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Monday 29th December 2014

Greenland White-fronted Goose - 1 Rodden Hive
Velvet Scoter - 2 Portland Hbr.
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 38 Stipstal Point, 1 Swineham Point
Red Kite - 2 Stubhampton
Green Sandpiper 3 Waddock Cross Cressbeds, 1 Knighton Heath
Great Skua - 1 Portland Bill
Black Guillemot - 1 Portland Castle
Richard's Pipit - 1 Redcliffe Pt.
Scandinavian Rock Pipit - 5 Stanpit Marsh
Water Pipit - 2 Priory Marsh, 1 North Marsh Stanpit.
Black Redstart - 2 Pymore Bridport, 1 Sherborne
Ring Ouzel - 1 Overcombe

Peregrine - Bournemouth © David Wareham

Grey Plover - Hengistbbury Head © Joe Murphy

DBC Guided Walk Programme: January to June 2015

All walks are open to members and non-members and are FREE.
Just turn up on the day at the meeting place/time advertised (unless booking is advised).

Walk categories
A:  Easy - fairly short walk over relatively flat ground, with no/few stiles.
B:  Medium - moderate distance, and/or moderate hills, and/or moderate number of stiles.
C:  Strenuous - long distance, and/or steep hills, and/or many stiles.
Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the time of year.
Car Park charges - in most cases where we meet in a public or site car park there will be a parking fee to pay so please bring change with you.

Sunday 11th January: Bird Crawl. 09:30 - 14:00 approx.
Just for fun, a more sedate version of a bird race.  How many species can you find around Upton Country Park and Holes Bay? Meet in the car park at the entrance to Upton CP (SY 991932). Category A - but can be muddy in places.

Sunday 15th February: Normandy Marsh. 09:30 - 14:00 approx.
Meet in the car park near Lymington Sailing Club (SZ 333950) - charges apply.
Category B - moderate distance.

Sunday 29th March: Portland Harbour / Ferrybridge. 09:30 - 13:00 approx.
Meet in the car park by the Chesil Beach Centre (SY 668756) - charges apply. Category A.

Sunday 26th April: Seacombe and Dancing Ledge. 09:30 - all day.
Meet in the car park in Worth Matravers (SY 974776) - charges apply.
Category C - some steep hills / stiles.

Sunday 24th May: Sturminster Newton. 09:30 - 14:00 approx.
Meet in the car park of Station Road (ST 787142) - charges apply.
Category B - moderate distance with one or two steep hills.

Friday 5th June 2015: White Sheet Plantation, near Wimborne. 19:30 - dusk.
Meet in the car park on the bend in the road (SU 048036). Category A.

Sunday 28th June: Martin Down. 09:30 - all day.
Meet in the car park at the end of Sillen Lane (SU 057191). Category B - moderate distance.

For further details of any of the guided walks please contact:
Richard Charman (Outdoor Meetings Organiser)
Phone: 07799 624062    or email:  walks@dorsetbirds.org.uk 

Sightings - Sunday 28th December 2014

Greenland White-fronted Goose - 1 Abbotsbury
Goosander - 1 drake over Christchurch Hbr north.
Red-throated Diver - 20 past Portland Bill
Great Northern Diver - 1 Portland Hbr.
Slavonian Grebe - 2 Sandsfoot Castle, 2 Ringstead Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 22 Studland Bay, 11 Sandsfoot Castle
Great White Egret - 1 Little Sea Studland
Spoonbill - 7 Holes Bay
Hen Harrier - 4 today in the Poole Hbr area
Jack Snipe - 1 Winterbourne Abbas Cressbeds
Spotted Redshank - 2 Brownsea Is, 1 Holes Bay, 1 Stanpit Marsh.
Sandwich Tern - 2 Hamworthy Quay
Black Guillemot - 1 Portland Castle
Short-eared Owl - 4 Wyke Down
Richard's Pipit - 1 Redcliff Point nr, Bowleaze Cove
Scandinavian Rock Pipit - 10 Stanpit Marsh
Water Pipit - 2 Stanpit Marsh
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Castle

Purple Sandpiper - Lyme Regis on The Cobb © Clinton Whale

Sightings - Saturday 27th December 2014

Greenland White-fronted Goose - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Eider - 1 Portland Hbr.
Red-throated Diver - 2 past off Mudeford Quay, 1 Durlston CP.
Great Northern Diver - 1 Portland Hbr.
Spoonbill - 2 Holes Bay
Hen Harrier - 1 Hartland Moor
Rough-legged Buzzard - 2 reported over Stour LNR from New Rd.
Purple Sandpiper - 6 Lyme Regis Cobb, 3 Portland Bill
Black Guillemot - 1 Portland Castle
'Scandinavian' Rock Pipit - 10 reported Stanpit Marsh
Black Redstart - 1 Newton's Cove

Short-eared Owl with prey - Wyke Down © Chris Minvalla

Wigeon - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Friday 26th December 2014

Eider - 1 Portland Castle, 1 Hamm Beach
Red-throated Diver - 3 Hengistbury Hd.
Black-necked Grebe - 19 off Middle Beach Studland.
Rock Pipit - 6 'Scandinavian' Stanpit Marsh
Barred Warbler - 1 Portland Bill Obs.

25th December
Goosander - 3 Blandford on the river.
Great Northern Diver - 1 Portland Bill
Purple Sandpiper - 3 North Haven Sandbank on groynes.
Black Guillemot - 1 Portland Castle
Short-eared Owl - 4 Wyke Down
Barred Warbler - 1 Portland Bill Obs.
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 in tit flock Bridport

Purple Sandpiper - Hengistbury Hd, © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Wednesday 24th December 2014

A very Merry Christmas to all members of the Dorset Bird Club and visitors to this site, especially all who have submitted sightings and photographs during the year.

Black Brant - 1 on Fleet at Wyke Regis
Great Northern Diver - 1 Portland Harbour, 1 Studland Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 2 Studland Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 15 Studland Bay
Red Kite - 3 Sutton Hill (near Sutton Waldron)
Merlin - 1 over A31 at Ashley Heath
Common Sandpiper - 2 Winspit
Sandwich Tern - 1 Hengistbury Head
Barred Warbler - 1 still at Portland Observatory

Sightings - Tuesday 23rd December 2014

Slavonian Grebe - 1 off South Beach, Studland
Black-necked Grebe - 26 off South Beach, Studland
Great White Egret - 1 Littlesea
Little Stint - 1 Mudeford Quay
Purple Sandpiper - 3 North Haven
Green Sandpiper - 1 Sturminster Marshall
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Bonxie - 1 off Portland Bill
Sandwich Tern - 1 off Middle Beach, Studland
Black Guillemot - 1 off Portland Castle
Barn Owl - 1 Llewel Mill (near Crossways)
Barred Warbler - 1 Portland Observatory
Firecrest - 1 Durlston

Sightings - Monday 22nd December 2014

Brent Goose - 1200 Ferrybridge (6 pale-bellied form)
Black-necked Grebe - 1 off Hengistbury Head, 7 off South Beach, Studland
Marsh Harrier - 2 Middlebere
Hen Harrier - 1 Middlebere
Purple Sandpiper - 12 from Mudeford Quay, 3 Portland Bill
Black-tailed Godwit - 36 Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Sandwich Tern - 2 South Beach, Studland
Black Guillemot - 1 off Portland Castle
Water Pipit - 1 Stanpit
Barred Warbler - 1 Portland Observatory Garden

Sightings - Sunday 21st December 2014

Brent Goose - 120 Stanpit
Velvet Scoter - 2 Ringstead Bay
Slavonian Grabe - 1 Ringstead Bay
Purple Sandpiper - 3 North Haven (Poole Harbour entrance)
Black-tailed Godwit - 25 Stanpit
Black Guillemot - 1 (possible) St Aldhelm's Head, 1 off Mudeford Quay
Barred Warbler - 1 Portland Observatory garden
Firecrest - 1 Rushcombe (Roman Road), 1 Hengistbury

Great Bustard  - 1 Lytchett Bay

Short-eared Owl Wyke Down (20 Dec) copyright Joe Mitchell


Sightings - Saturday 20th December 2014

Eider - 1 female off Boscowen Centre, Portland Harbour
Common Scoter - 13 off Middle Beach, Studland
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Shell Bay (am), 1 (same bird?) off South Beach (pm)
Slavonian Grebe - 2 off Middle Beach, Studland
Black-necked Grebe - 19 off Middle Beach, Studland
Spoonbill - 2 Holes Bay
Marsh Harrier - 1 Swineham
Hen Harrier - 1 Swineham
Avocet - 100+ - Holes Bay
Black-tailed Godwit- 350 Upton CP - Holes Bay
Sandwich Tern - 2 at Poole Harbour entrance
Black Guillemot - 1 off Portland Castle
Short-eared Owl - 1 Slepe Heath
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Castle, 1 Hengistbury Head
Barred Warbler - 1 Portland Observatory Garden
Firecrest - 1 Hengistbury Head

Sightings - Friday 19th December 2014

Eider - 3 Portland Harbour
Goosander - 1 redhead again at Sturminster Marshall GP
Great Northern Diver - 1 Studland Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Studland Bay
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Studland Bay, 1 Shell Bay
Black-necked Grebe - at least 19 in Studland Bay, 3 off Jerry's Point
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Hen Harrier - 1 Wyke Down
Purple Sandpiper - 16 Hengistbury Head, 2 Portland Bill
Sandwich Tern - 2 Studland Bay
Black Guillemot - 1 Studland Bay (from Middle Beach
Richard's Pipit - 1 still at Redcliff Point
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill
Barred Warbler - 1 PBO garden
Firecrest - 2 Durlston
Cirl Bunting - 1 West Bexington
 
Hen Harrier at Wyke Down © Dave Hill
 

 

Sightings - Thursday 18th December 2014

Velvet Scoter - 2 still in Ringstead Bay
Goosander - 7 Spetisbury, 1 Frampton
Red-throated Diver - 2 Hengistbury Head
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Ringstead Bay
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Shell Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Shell Bay
Merlin - 1 Upper Parkstone, 1 Spetisbury, 1 Middlebere
Hen Harrier - 4 Wareham Channel area,  a ringtail in Lytchett Bay
Purple Sandpiper - 1 Portland Bill
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill
Barred Warbler - 1 still in Portland Observatory garden
 

Sightings - Wednesday 17th December 2014

Eider - 3 Portland Harbour
Velvet Scoter - 2 Ringstead Bay
Goosander - 1 redhead Sturminster Marshall GP
Great Northern Diver - 5 Portland Harbour
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Ringstead Bay
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Shell Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 12 Portland Harbour
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 1 Arne
Hen Harrier - 2 Arne
Red Kite - 3 Cheselbourne
Jack Snipe - 1 Chedington, 1 Lodmoor
Caspian Gull - 1st winter at Radipole RSPB car park
Black Guillemot - 1 Portland Harbour
Short-eared Owl - 1 Arne
Richard's Pipit - 1 still at Redcliff Point
Black Redstart - up to 3 around Sherborne
Barred Warbler - 1 still in Portland Observatory garden
Firecrest - 2 Durlston

Sightings - Tuesday 16th December 2014

Barnacle Goose - 38 Rodden Hive
Eider - 3 Portland Harbour
Long-tailed Duck - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery
Red-throated Diver - 2 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Portland Harbour, 1 Portland Bill
Black-throated Diver - 1 Portland Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 3 Portland Harbour
Spoonbill - 4 Stanpit, 1 Holes Bay
Hen Harrier - 1 Wyke Down
Great Bustard - 3 over Portland
Purple Sandpiper - 1 Portland Bill
Short-eared Owl - 4 Wyke Down
Swallow - 1 Hengisbury Head
Richard's Pipit - 1 Redcliff Point
Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Bay
Black Redstart - 1 Blacknor (Portland)
Barred Warbler - 1 still at Portland Observatory
 
Black-tailed Godwit at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy
 



Sightings - Monday 15th December 2014.

Long-tailed Duck - 1 off Shipstal.
Black-necked Grebe - 21 Middle Beach, 2 Shipstal, 1 Rodden Hive, 1 Shell Bay.
Red Kite - 1 over Tarrant Gunville.
Merlin - 1 Herbury.
Lapwing - c450 Rodden Hive, c110 Middlebere.
Short-eared Owl - 2 Wyke Down, 1 Arne Moors.
Firecrest - 2 Knoll Beach, 1 Hengistbury.
Lesser Redpoll - 2 Shell Bay.

Caspian Gull 1st W – Radipole © Dave Chown.

Short-eared Owls – Wyke Down  © Dave Hill.

Sightings - Sunday 14th December 2014.

Great Northern Diver - 2 Studland Bay, 1 Shell Bay, 1 Brands Bay.
Black-necked Grebe - 28 Studland Bay, 2 Shell Bay.
Slavonian Grebe - 3 Studland Bay.
Merlin - 1 near Worgret Manor.
Ringed Plover - 37 Stanpit.
Grey Plover - 12 Stanpit, 10 Brands Bay.
Bar-tailed Godwit - 2 Lychett Bay.
Black-tailed Godwit - 100+ Brands Bay, 60 Stanpit.
Caspian Gull - 1 1stW bird Radipole.
Sandwich Tern - 2 Shell Bay.
Rock Pipit - 9 "scandinavian" type Stanpit.
Cirl Bunting - 1 reported at Cogden.

Sanderlings – Shell Bay  © Will Bown.

Sightings - Saturday 13th December 2014.

Pintail - 4 Stanpit Marsh, 1 drake Longham Lakes.
Velvet Scoter - 2 Ringstead Bay.
Golden Plover - 600 Monkey Jump to Maiden Castle.
Lapwing - 376 Lodmoor, 250 Monkey Jump.
Pomarine Skua - 1 W passing Durlston CP.
Black Guillemot - still in Portland Harbour.
Short-eared Owl - 1 Arne Moors.
Black Redstart - 2 Blacknor, 1 Portland Bill.
Redwing - 14 Longfield Christchurch, 10 Maiden Castle area.
Fieldfare - 200 Maiden Castle area.
Barred Warbler - still at Portland Observatory.
Yellowhammer - 6 Maiden Castle area.
Corn Bunting - 6 Rainbarrow Farm.

Goosander drake – Canford Bridge© Roger Peart.

Somerset Atlas of Breeding & Wintering Birds: pre-pub offer

Foreword by Simon King; Introduction by Stephen Moss
Illustrations by Mike Langman

To be published November 2014

Somerset is a wonderful county for birds. From Exmoor, the Quantocks and Bridgwater Bay in the west, through the Blackdown, Mendip and Polden Hills and the low-lying Levels and Moors in the centre, to Selwood Forest in the east, it supports more than 200 different species of bird. 

Now Somerset’s very special birdlife has been mapped in a new book: the Somerset Atlas of Breeding & Wintering Birds, to be published in November.

Produced by the Somerset Ornithological Society (SOS) and British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), with thousands of records collected by more than 600 volunteers, this is the very first time the birds of Somerset have been documented so thoroughly.

The Atlas will be an invaluable resource both now and in the future, to help us plan how best to help Somerset’s birdlife. It is also a fascinating snapshot of the current status and distribution of birds in Somerset.

Species featured include common residents such as the Robin and Blackbird, summer visitors including the Cuckoo, Swift and Swallow, passage migrants such as seabirds and waders, and winter visitors – amongst them thousands of ducks, geese and swans.

The Atlas also confirms that Somerset is now home to some exciting new arrivals, taking advantage of the newly created wetland habitats on the Somerset Levels. Bitterns have returned to breed after an absence of almost half a century, while new arrivals from the south including Great White and Little Egrets, Little Bittern, and the reintroduced flock of Cranes now in residence on the southern part of the levels. Meanwhile Buzzards, Red Kites and Peregrines – once driven to the edge of extinction by poisoning and pesticides – are now a regular sight in Somerset’s skies.

But it’s not all good news. Many once common and familiar birds have either declined in numbers or in a few sad cases have disappeared completely. The tiny Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is not longer found in the county’s cider apple orchards, while Yellowhammers no longer sing their characteristic ‘little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheeese’ song from many of our hedgerows. Willow Tit, Grasshopper Warbler and Merlin have almost disappeared as breeding birds, while Turtle Doves and Corn Buntings are no longer found in Somerset at all.

To combat these declines, conservationists, birders and volunteers are now joining forces to improve existing habitats and create new ones, to try to bring these lost birds back and to encourage new colonists. Who knows what the next decade will bring: maybe White Storks, Glossy Ibis and even Bee-eater could breed here for the first time.

The Somerset Atlas of Breeding & Wintering Birds is on a special offer price of £25 + £4.95 postage and packing - £29.95 total, until 31 December 2014, after which the cover price will rise to £35 + p&p.

To order, please send a cheque payable to ‘Somerset Ornithological Society’ to:

Somerset Atlas Offer, Motcombe House, Combe Wood Lane, Combe St. Nicholas, Chard, Somerset TA20 3NH

Sightings - Friday 12th December 2014.

Great Northern Diver - 5 Weymouth Bay, 1 off Sandbanks.
Bittern - 2 Lodmoor, 1 Swineham/Arne Moors border.
Black-necked Grebe - 2 off Sandbanks, 1 going west off Christchurch Harbour.
Slavonian Grebe - 2 going west off Christchurch Harbour.
Marsh Harrier - 11 This evening around the Wareham Channel, 2 - Radipole.
Hen Harrier - 2 Ringtails in the Wareham Channel.
Golden Plover - c1100 Maiden Castle.
Lapwing - c300 Lodmoor, 110 Radipole.
Sanderling - 14 Sandbanks, 2 Long Groyne Christchurch Harbour.
Woodcock - 2 Rushcombe.
Swallow - 1 Brownsea.
Richard's Pipit - 1 still at Bowleaze Cove.
Brambling - 1 Wick.

Sightings - Thursday 11th December 2014

Swallow - 1 Ferrybridge
Purple Sandpiper - 21 Hengistbury Head
Great Skua - 3 past Portland Bill
Barred Warbler - 1 Portland Bird Obs

Sightings - Wednesday 10th December 2014

Eider - 3 Portland Harbour
Black-throated Diver - 1 Overcombe
Spoonbill - 40 Arne
Black Guillemot - 1 off Portland Castle
Short-eared Owl - 4 Wyke Down
Swallow - 1 Brownsea Island
Richard's Pipit - 1 Redcliff Point
Barred Warbler - 1 Portland Bird Obs
Firecrest - 2 Hengistbury Head

Sightings - Tuesday 9th December 2014

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 6 Ferrybridge
Eider - 3 Portland Harbour
Merlin - 1 Wyke Down
Woodcock - 4 Merley Park
Short-eared Owl -1 Wyke Down
Siberian Chiffchaff - probable Winspit Valley
Barred Warbler - 1 Portland Bird Obs

Sightings - Monday 8th December 2014

Bean Goose - 2 Arne Moors/Swineham
Velvet Scoter - 2 Ringstead Bay
Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 Brownsea Island lagoon
Short-eared Owl - 4 Wyke Down
Richard's Pipit - 1 Redcliffe Point
Barred Warbler - 1 Portland Bird Obs

Bean Geese Arne Moors © Joe Mitchell

Sightings - Sunday 7th December 2014

Bean Goose - 2 remain in Bestwall/Swineham Meadows area
Velvet Scoter - 2 Ringstead Bay
Black-throated Diver - 1 off Overcombe Corner
Great Northern Diver - 4 off Overcombe Corner
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Great White Egret - 1 Slepe Heath, pos same over The Moors
Spoonbill - 14 Holes Bay
Black Guillemot - 1 Portland Castle
Richard's Pipit - 1 Red Cliff Pt.
Barred Warbler - 1 Portland Bill Obs garden
Starling - 5-7000 Avon Causeway/Ogber, 1500-2000 Verwood

Sightings - Saturday 6th December 2014

Bean Goose - 2 Bestwall Water Meadow (Stilt Pools)
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 2 Ferrybridge
Black-necked Grebe - 23 Studland Bay
Spoonbill - 1 Lytchett Bay
Purple Sandpiper - 6 on the sandspit Hengistbury Hd.
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stabpit Marsh
Black Guillemot - 1 still off Portland Castle
Richard's Pipit - 1 Redcliff Pt.
Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Bay
Black Redstart - 2 Blacknor Pt.
Northern Wheatear - 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Barred Warbler - 1 resurfaced at Portland Obs garden
Firecrest - 1 Pennsylvania Castle

Common Gull - Hengistbury Hd. © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Friday 5th December 2014

Eider - 1 from Portland Castle
Common Scoter - 5 central Poole Hbr.
Great Northern Diver - 2 off Brownsea Is, 1 of Portland Castle
Black-necked Grebe - 2 central Poole Hbr.
Spoonbill - 32 Brownsea Is.
Hen Harrier - 3 Poole Hbr.
Woodcock - 2 Durlston CP.
Spotted Redshank - 1 Brownsea Is.
Greenshank - 1 Brownsea Is.
Sandwich Tern - 2 Shell Bay
Richard's Pipit - 1 Redcliff Point
Water Pipit - 2 Lytchett Bay
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Broadstone (ringed in private garden)
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Winspit Valley
Firecrest - 3 Pennsylvania Castle, 2 Durlston CP, 1 Broadstone, 1 Osmington.
Snow Bunting - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Black Redstart - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy



Sightings - Thursday 4th December 2014

Long-tailed Duck - 4 Abbotsbury
Spoonbill - 7 over Poole Bus Station
Short-eared Owl - at least 1 Wyke Down
Richard's Pipit - 1 still Redcliff Point
Black Redstart - 2 Blacknor, 1 Sherborne Boys School
Ring Ouzel - 1 Portland Bill
Firecrest - 1 Durlston CP.

Sightings - Wednesday 3rd December 2014

Goosander - 4 The Fleet (Herbury).
Great Northern Diver - 1 Hengistbury Head.
Red-Throated Diver - 15 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Bill.
Black-Necked Grebe - 1 The Fleet (Rodden Hive Point).
Spoonbill - 14 Brownsea Island.
Grey Plover - 2 Brands Bay.
Golden Plover - 200+ Maiden Castle.
Spotted Redshank - 8 Brownsea Island.
Purple Sandpiper - 2 Poole Harbour mouth, 2 Portland Bill.
Pomarine Skua - 1 Hengistbury Head.
Short-Eared Owl - 4+ Wyke Down.
Hoopoe - 1 Portland Bill, 1 reported West Lulworth.
Swallow - 1 near Rodden Hive.
Richard's Pipit - 1 Redcliff Point (E of Bowleaze Cove).
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill, 4+ Portland (Blacknor).
Firecrest - 2 Hengistbury Head, 2 Pennsylvania Castle.

Brambling - 2 Hengistbury Head.

Short-Eared Owl at Wyke Down © Joe Murphy

Sightings - Tuesday 2nd December 2014

Mallard - a report of eight day-old chicks at Broadwindsor is remarkable.
Red-Throated Diver - 6 Hengistbury Head, 10 Portland Bill.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Lytchett Bay
Grey Plover - 2 Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Bay, 1 Stanpit
Rock Pipit - 4+ littoralis-form Stanpit.
Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill, 1 Portland (Blacknor).
Barred Warbler - 1 still at Portland Bill
Siberian Chiffchaff - a possible at Lytchett Bay

Late news:  Hoopoe at Renscombe at the weekend.


Hen Harrier at Middlebere on Monday © Dave Hill


 

Sightings - Monday 1st December 2014

Velvet Scoter - 1 Hengistbury Head
Great Northern Diver - 1 Hengistbury Head
Red-Throated Diver - 4 Hengistbury Head
Black-Throated Diver - 1 Hengistbury Head
Grey Plover - 4 Stanpit
Ruff - 1 Stanpit.
Jack Snipe - 1 Stanpit
Bar-tailed Godwit - 2 Stanpit, one in full breeding plumage.
Puffin - 6 Durlston CP.
Black Redstart - 1 Bowleaze Cove, 1 Portland (Blacknor)
Barred Warbler - 1 trapped and ringed at Portland Bill
Twite - 1 Christchurch Harbour.

Late news:  Hen Harrier and Merlin on Holt Heath yesterday.


Spoonbills, Middlebere/Saturday  © Dominic Greves