Sightings - Thursday 31st August 2017

Garganey - 1 Stanpit
Cattle Egret - at least 2 Abbotsbury Swannery
Spoonbill - 1 Middlebere
Osprey - 6 Middlebere/RSPB Arne
Whimbrel - 8 Christchurch Harbour
Ruff - 1 Lychett Fields
Dunlin  - 224 Lytchett Fields
Greenshank - 9+ Lytchett Fields, 1 Middlebere
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Lytchett Fields, 1 Stanpit
Great Skua - 1 Portland Bill
Nightjar - 1 ringed at Durlston CP
Wryneck - 1 Durlston CP
Blackcap - 65 ringed at Durlston CP, 20 ringed at Ballard Down
Grasshopper Warbler - 20 ringed (and 1 recaptured) at Durlston CP, 5 ringed at Ballard Down, 1 Portland Bill
Spotted Flycatcher - 2 Stanpit
Redstart - 4 Durlston CP, 1 near Martinstown, 1 Hengistbury Head
Whinchat - 5 West Bexington, 4 Durlston CP, 1 Stanpit, 1 Hengistbury Head
Yellow Wagtail - 30+ Middlebere, 30+ Portland Bill
Tree Pipit - 10 Durlston CP

Yesterday : Bonaparte's Gull and 10 Spotted Redshank on Brownsea Island lagoon.
Posted by at

2016 records requiring descriptions

Please see below a spreadsheet listing all the records for 2016 where no description has been submitted. The records highlighted yellow are ones where a photo or sound recording has been located on the web and if accepted these records will appear in the Bird Report as "per DBC et al, photo" but we would obviously prefer the finders name to appear next to the record instead of this.

To download copies of the Rarity Forms please visit http://www.dorsetbirds.org.uk/dorset-bird-list/ Please could you take five minutes to complete the photo-description form to add some details to the sighting if you were the finder. Emailing just a photograph does not constitute a submission. This helps us establish an archive which can then be viewed for future reference.

If you photographed any of the birds not highlighted yellow in the spreadsheet please could you forward copies to recorderATdorsetbirds.org.uk

The two records in bold are BBRC species.

Thank you for your help.
Posted by at

Sightings - Wednesday 30th August 2017

Cattle Egret - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Spoonbill -  19 Wareham Channel, 12 Middlebere, 1 Lytchett Fields, 1 Christchurch Harbour
Osprey - 1 Lytchett Fields, 1 Wareham Channel
Whimbrel - 5 Stanpit
Knot - 2 Stanpit
Ruff - 1 Lychett Fields
Sanderling - 1 Stanpit
Greenshank - 2 Stanpit
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Lytchett Fields
Short-eared Owl - 1 Hengistbury Head
Nightjar - 1 Hengistbury Head
Rose-coloured Starling - a juvenile over Portland Bill heading north
Spotted Flycatcher - 2 Stanpit
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Stanpit
Whinchat - 1 Stanpit
Yellow Wagtail - 20+ Lytchett Fields, 22 Christchurch Harbour
Posted by at

Outdoor Field Visits

Outdoor Field Visits – Richard Charman

All of the walks are open to members and non-members and are FREE but please be aware that there may be a charge for car parking at some locations. Just turn up on the day at the meeting place / time advertised (unless booking is required or advised).

Walk categories are as before:

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.

Sunday 10th September 2017
Durlston Country Park  09:30 – morning only.
Meet in the car park (charges apply) at Durlston Country Park (SZ 033774).
Early autumn migrants.
Category B.


Sunday 8th October 2017
West Bexington  09:30 – morning only.
Meet in the beach car park (SY 531864) – charges apply.
Autumn migrants.
Category A/B.

Sunday 19th November 2017
Hartland Moor and Middlebere  09:30 – all day.
Park by the side of the road near the entrance track to Middlebere Farm (SY 963853).
Category A/B.

Saturday 2nd  December 2017
Normandy Marsh  09:30 – 13:00 approx.
Meet in the car park near Lymington Sailing Club (SZ 333950) – charges apply.
Waders and wildfowl.
Category A.

Follow on meeting at Blackwater Arboretum 14:00 – 15:30 approx.
Meet in the car park at Rhinefield Ornamental Drive (SU268047).
Category A.

Sunday 7th January 2018
Bird Crawl  09:30 – 15:30 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 main car park at Upton Country Park (SY 992929) – charges apply.
Category A – but can be muddy in places.


Any queries to Richard: email walks@dorsetbirds.org.uk

                                      Tel 07799 624062
Posted by at

Sightings - Tuesday 29th August 2017

Cattle Egret - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery
Quail - 1 Cogden Beach
Spoonbill - 29 Middlebere
Ringed Plover - 61 Ferrybridge, 22 Lytchett Fields
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Lytchett Fields, 1 Wick
Green Sandpiper - 14 Lytchett Fields
Ruff - 1 Lychett Fields
Dunlin - 183 Lychett Fields
Sanderling - 6 Ferrybridge
House Martin - 75 Hengistbury Head
Yellow Wagtail - 15 Hengistbury Head
Tree Pipit - 3 Hengistbury Head
Redstart - 3 Hengistbury Head, 3 Ballard Down
Whinchat - 1 Ballard Down
Blackcap - 19 Hengistbury Head 
Hooded Crow - 1 Studland (Glebelands/Ballard Down)

Late news yesterday - 13 Balearic Shearwaters, Short-eared Owl and Pied Flycatcher Portland.
                                    Little Gull Stanpit

Wood Sandpiper - Lytchett Fields © Ian Ballam

Little Egret - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy
Redstart - Middlebere © Clive Hargrave


Spotted Flycatcher - Middlebere © Clive Hargrave

Stonechat - Hengistbury Head © David Wareham

Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit - Lytchett Fields © Ian Ballam

Posted by at

Sightings - Monday 28th August 2017

Spoonbill - 22 Brownsea
Osprey  - 1 Portland heading south, 1 Arne
Marsh Harrier - 1 Portland
Hobby - 2 Ferrybridge
Merlin - 1 Portland
Ringed Plover - 26 Ferrybridge
Dunlin  - 150 Ferrybridge
Green Sandpiper - 1 Wick, 1 Arne
Common Sandpiper - 1 Wick
Wood Sandpiper - 2 Wick
Ruff - 1 Lychett Fields
Arctic Tern - 1 Brownsea
Bonaparte's Gull - 1 Brownsea
Yellow Wagtail - 400+ Portland, 57 Ferrybridge, 35 Wick
Tree Pipit - 3 Hengistbury Head, good numbers at Portland
Firecrest - Hengistbury Head
Grasshopper Warbler - 2 Portland
Garden Warbler - 1 Durlston
Redstart - 1 Durlston
Wheatear - 5, Wick, 2 Ferrybridge
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 Durlston
Hooded Crow - 1 Studland (Glebelands)
Linnet - 300+ south, Ferrybridge

Last night 2 Ortolan Buntings flew over Stoborough at 10.27 and 3.58 am, and 2 Arctic Terns. Identified from sound recordings.
Posted by at

Sightings - Sunday 27th August 2017

Cattle Egret - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery
White Stork - 1 over Chesil Beach (green ringed)
Spoonbill - 1 imm Brands Bay, Studland
Osprey - 1 Lychett Fields, 1 north over Abbotsbury Swannery
Goshawk - 1 juv Sherford Bridge
Ringed Plover - 92 Ferrybridge
Greenshank - Lychett Fields
Black Tern - 1 past Chesil Beach
Hooded Crow - 1 Manor Farm and seen Ballard Down, Studland
Yellow Wagtail - 17 Ferrybridge, 22 Portland, 35 Stanpit
Tree Pipit - 1 Lychett Fields, 1 Stanpit
Redstart - 1 Durlston, 1 Lychett Fields
Wheatear - 16 Ferrybridge, 3 Portland, 6 Stanpit, 5 Hengistbury Head
Whinchat - 2 Wick
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 Portland, 1 Lychett Fields

Nightjar - east Dorset   © Andy Lawson

Posted by at

Sightings - Saturday 26th August 2017

White Stork - Portland (green ringed)
Spoonbill - 18 Brownsea Island, 7 Middlebere
Osprey - 1 Ballard Down
Hobby - 1 Stanpit
Wood Sandpiper - 3 Stanpit
Little Stint - 1 Brownsea
Bonaparte's Gull - Brownsea
Wryneck - 1 West Lulworth
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Hengistbury Head
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Stanpit
Garden Warbler - 1 Ballard Down, 3 Hengistbury Head/Wick
Firecrest - 1 Stanpit
Spotted Flycatcher - 2 Avon Heath, 2 Hengistburyhead
Redstart - 1 Hengistbury Head
Whinchat - 1 Hengistbury Head, 3 Ballard Down
Yellow Wagtail - 70 and a flock of 30 west, Hengistbury Head
Tree Pipit - 4 Hengistbury Head, 1 Ballard Down
Posted by at

Sightings - Friday 25th August 2017

Garganey - 4 still Longham Lakes
Balearic Shearwater - 4 off Portland Bill
Great White Egret - 1 Wytch Lake, 1 Lodmoor
White Stork - 1 over Southwell & Portland Bill (rehab. bird)
Spoonbill - 11 Middlebere, 6 Brownsea Is, 5 west over Hengistbury Hd.
Osprey - 3+ Poole Hbr, 1 Stanpit Marsh, 1 Portland Bill
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Lodmoor, 1 Stanpit Marsh
Ruff - 1 Lodmoor
Red-necked Phalarope - 1 Arne Bay
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Lodmoor
Bonaparte's Gull - 1 again Brownsea Is.
Swift - 3 Lodmoor, 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Hobby - 1 Ferrybridge
Swallow - 100 Ferrybridge
Willow Warbler - 20 Hengistbury Hd.
Whitethroat - 25 Hengistbury Hd.
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Southwell garden, 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Spotted Flycatcher - 4 Rushcome, 3 Ringstead, 2 Stanpit Marsh
Redstart - 3 Ringstead, 2 Rushcome, 1 Reap Lane Portland, 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Whinchat - 1 Membury Hill
Wheatear - 12 Ringstead, 7 Stanpit Marsh, 5 Hengistbury Hd, 5 Melbury Hill
Yellow Wagtail - 250 Abbotsbury Swannery late p.m, 150 Portland Bill, 100+ Ringstead, 45 Hengistbury Hd, 32 SW Lodmoor, 10 Stanpit Marsh, 9 Reap Lane
Grey Wagtail - 2 Hengistbury Hd
Tree Pipit - 11 Ringstead, 1 Reap Lane.

Late - 24th August a report of a imm Red-backed Shrike Hartland Moor near gate to Hartland Way.

Wheatear Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

















imm Arctic Tern - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

















Wheatear - Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale





Posted by at

Sightings - Thursday 24th August 2017

Garganey - 4 Longham Lake
Spoonbill - 10 Middlebere
Osprey - 5 (4juv & 1ad) Middlebere
Greenshank - 14 Hengistbury Hd, 4 Middlebere, 1 Ferrybridge
Snipe - 19 Stanpit Marsh
Sandwich Tern - 5 Ferrybridge, 1 Middlebere
Swift - 35 Longham Lakes (two groups), 2 Hengistbury Hd.
Sand Martin - 100+ Longham Lake
Willow Warbler - 25 Hengistbury Hd.
Blackcap - 25 Durlston CP, 4 Hengistbury Hd, 2 Southwell
Garden Warbler - 9 Durlston CP, 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Lesser Whitethroat - 3 Durlston CP, 1 Southwell, 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Whitethroat - 20 Hengistbury Hd, 4 Martinstown.
Grasshopper Warbler - 18 Durlston CP.
Sedge Warbler - 5 Hengistbury Hd, 4 Durlston CP.
Spotted Flycatcher - 10 Durlston CP, 4 Southwell, 2 Hengistbury Hd.
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Durlston CP.
Redstart - 7 Durlston CP, 3 Martinstown, 4 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Middlebere
Whinchat - 2 Hengistbury Hd.
Wheatear  - 20 Durlston CP, 15 Southwell, 5 Ferrybridge, 2 Baiter, 1 Martinstown
Yellow Wagtail - 41 Hengistbury Hd,  28 Stanpit Marsh, 15 Durlston CP, 11 Wick, 8 Southwell, 2 Ferrybridge.
Grey Wagtail - 4 Durlston CP, 1 Southwell
Tree Pipit - 11 Hengistbury Hd, 7 Stanpit Marsh

Raven Hengistbury Head © Geoff Norquoy


















Sanderling - Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy














Posted by at

Sightings - Wednesday 23rd August 2017

Eider - 1 Portland Hbr.
Cattle Egret - 1 came in to roost Abbotsbury Swannery.
Spoonbill - 2 Brownsea Is.
Osprey - 6+ Poole Hbr, 1 Charmouth.
Whimbrel - 5 Hengistbury Hd.
Ruff - 2 Stanpit Marsh
Little Stint - 1 Brownsea Is.
Common Sandpiper - 18 Stanpit Marsh, 4 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Lodmoor
Green Sandpiper - 2 Wick, 1 Stanpit Marsh, 1 Ferrybridge
Spotted Redshank - 1 Brownsea Is.
Greenshank - 11 past west  3 grounded Hengistbury Hd, 9 Abbotsbury Swannery
Black Tern - 1 juv, Stanpit Marsh
Sandwich Tern - 2 Ferrybridge
Bonaparte's Gull - 1 Brownsea Is.
Swift - 20 Longham Lakes, 4 Hengistbury Hd.
Spotted Flycatcher - 2 Hengistbury Hd, 2 Southwell garden.
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Southwell garden Portland
Redstart - 1 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Acton.
Whinchat - 3 Acton, 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Wheatear - 10 Acton, 5 Hengistbury Hd, 4 Ferrybridge
Yellow Wagtail - 7 Hengistbury Hd, 7 Lytchett Fields, 3 Ferrybridge
Ortolan Bunting - 1 over Durlston CP.

Yellow Wagtail - Lytchett Fields © Ian Ballam


Kingfisher - Lytchett Fields © Ian Ballam










Posted by at

Sightings - Tuesday 22nd August 2017

Garganey - 4 at Longham Lakes.
Cattle Egret - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery.
Spoonbill - 9 at Middlebere.
Balearic Shearwater - 13+ past Portland Bill.
Little Stint - 1 on Brownsea Lagoon.

Late news - An Ortolan Bunting was sound-recorded flying over Portland Bird Obs overnight 21st/22nd.

Cattle Egret (juv) - Abbotsbury Swannery © Steve Groves

Posted by at

Sightings - Monday 21st August 2017

Garganey - 4 still at Longahm Lakes.
Balearic Shearwater - 1 off Portland Bill.
Osprey - 8 around Arne.
Little Stint - 1 on Brownsea lagoon.
Yellow-legged Gull - 12 in Lytchett Bay, 1 off Portland Bill.
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Ballard Down.
YELLOW WARBLER - 1 at Culverwell, Portland. Only the 6th British record and the first on the mainland.

See the following photographers blogs for more photos:
http://timwhitewildlife.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/mega-american-yellow-warbler.html
http://petermooreblog.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/well-that-was-unexpected.html

Yellow Warbler - Culverwell © Tim White

Yellow Warbler - Culverwell © Tim White

Yellow Warbler - Culverwell © Tim White


Yellow Warbler - Culverwell © Brett Spencer
Yellow Warbler - Culverwell by Peter Moore
Yellow Warbler - Culverwell by Andy Lawson

Posted by at

Sightings - Sunday 20th August 2017

Spoonbill - 10 Middlebere
Great White Egret - 1 at Middlebere
Osprey - 3 at Middlebere
Little Stint - 2 juvs on Brownsea
Wood Sandpiper - 1 at Lodmoor
Balearic Shearwater - 125 past Portland Bill
Grasshopper Warbler - 66 ringed at Durlston (a county record?)

Osprey - Middlebere © Peter Rudland

Osprey - Middlebere © Phyl England

Spoonbill - Middlebere © Phyl England

Great White Egret - Middlebere © Phyl England

Posted by at

Sightings - Saturday 19th August 2017

Garganey - 4 at Longham Lakes
Spoonbill - 9 at Middlebere
Great White Egret - 1 over Hengistbury
Head
Balearic Shearwater - 92+ past Portland Bill
Little Stint - 1 Brownsea Lagoon

Posted by at

Sightings - Friday 18th August 2017

Spoonbill - 7 at Middlebere
Great White Egret - 1 at Middlebere
Cattle Egret - 1 at Abbotsbury
Sooty Shearwater - 1 past Portland Bill
Balearic Shearwater - 26 past Portland Bill
Osprey - 2 at Middlebere
Turtle Dove - 1 at Stanpit


Posted by at

Sightings - Thursday 17th August 2017

Garganey - 4 Longham Lakes
Whimbrel - 7 Stanpit Marsh
Green Sandpiper - 2.Stanpit Marsh
Common Sandpiper - 5 Lodmoor, 2 Christchurch Harbour
Greenshank - 3 Hengistbury Head, 1 Longham Lakes
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Stanpit Marsh, 1 on private land near Wareham
Pied Flycatcher - 1 RSPB Arne
Posted by at

Sightings - Wednesday 16th August 2017

Cattle Egret - 8 (3 adults, 5 juvs) Middlebere
Great White Egret - 1 over South Haven, 1 Middlebere
Spoonbill - 7 Middlebere
Osprey - 4+ Middlebere
Little Stint - 1 Brownsea Island
Green Sandpiper - 1.Abbotbury Swannery
Spotted Redshank - 1 Holes Bay
Greenshank - 8+ Middlebere
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Bonaparte's Gull - 1 Brownsea Island
Grasshopper Warbler - 13 Durlston CP
Spotted Flycatcher - 25 Durlston CP, 20+ Lambert's Castle, 4 Hengistbury Head, 1 Pymore
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Durlston CP
Redstart - 3 Durlston CP, 3 Lambert's Castle
Whinchat - 1 Middlebere, 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Abbotbury Swannery
Tree Pipit - 39 Durlston CP

Cattle Egrets at Middlebere © Terry Lillington





Posted by at

Reports of interest, Tuesday 15th August 2017.

Garganey - 4 Longham Lakes.
Balearic Shearwater - 25+ Portland Bill.
Yellow-Legged Gull - 1 Portland Bill.
Grey Plover - 1 Ferrybridge.
Avocet - 11 Brownsea Island.
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Stanpit.
Common Sandpiper - 4 Brownsea Island, 3 Stanpit.
Greenshank - 2 Brownsea Island, 3 Stanpit.
Yellow Wagtail - 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Bill,
Garden Warbler - 3 Stanpit.
Whitethroat - 35 Hengistbury Head.
Wheatear - 4 Christchurch Harbour, 15 Portland Bill.
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 Longham Lakes.
Posted by at

Reports of interest, Monday 14th August 2017.

Manx Shearwater - 9 Portland Bill.
Balearic Shearwater - 50+ Portland Bill.
Great White Egret - 1 west over southern Poole Harbour.
Spoonbill - 9 Middlebere.
Osprey - 2+ Poole Harbour are almost certainly from the reintroduction scheme.
Arctic Skua - 4 Portland Bill.
Great Skua - 3 Portland Bill.
Yellow-Legged Gull - 1 Portland Bill.
Whimbrel - 3 Christchurch Harbour.
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Christchurch Harbour.
Green Sandpiper - 1 Middlebere.
Common Sandpiper - 3 Christchurch Harbour, 2 Portland Bill.
Greenshank - 4 Christchurch Harbour, 4 Middlebere.
Nightjar - 1 was ringed at Durlston NR.
Yellow Wagtail - 3 Christchurch Harbour, 7 Portland Bill.
Sedge Warbler - 1 controlled at Portland Bill was originally ringed there on 30th July 2016.
Grasshopper Warbler - 17 were ringed at Durlston NR.
Wheatear - 4 Christchurch Harbour.
Redstart - 1 Quarry Hill (Chideock), 2 Martinstown.
Spotted Flycatcher - 5 Quarry Hill (Chideock).
Posted by at

Reports of interest, Sunday 13th August 2017.

Brent Goose - 2 Wych Channel.
Golden Pheasant - 2 males Furzey Island.
Balearic Shearwater - 56 Portland Bill.
Marsh Harrier - 1 The Fleet.
Osprey - 1 Brownsea Island.
Hobby - 1 Briantspuddle Heath, 1 Bridport.
Yellow-Legged Gull - 1 Wych Channel.
Grey Plover - 1 Ferrybridge.
Whimbrel - 10 Christchurch Harbour.
Knot - 1 Christchurch Harbour.
Wood Sandpiper - 2 Christchurch Harbour.
Common Sandpiper - 3 Christchurch Harbour.
Greenshank - 2 Christchurch Harbour.
Spotted Redshank - 3 Brownsea Island.
Garden Warbler - 1 Christchurch Harbour, 2 Portland Bill, 1 Talbot Woods.
Lesser Whitethroat - 2 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Portland Bill.
Grasshopper Warbler - 2 Portland Bill.
Wheatear - 3 Christchurch Harbour, 15 Portland Bill.
Redstart - 2 Shipton Gorge.
Whinchat - 1 Portland Bill, 1 Ringstead.
Spotted Flycatcher - 6+ Brianstpuddle Heath, 1 Ringstead, 3 Shipton Gorge.
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Fitzworth, 1 Ringstead.
Posted by at

Reports of interest, Saturday 12th August 2017.

Eider - 1 Portland Harbour.
Manx Shearwater - 1+ Portland Bill.
Balearic Shearwater - 1+ Portland Bill.
Spoonbill - 1 Hengistbury Head.
Bonaparte's Gull - 1 Brownsea Island.
Whimbrel - 1 Brownsea Island.
Little Stint - 1 Brownsea Island.
Greenshank - 2 Stanpit.
Spotted Redshank - 3 Brownsea Island.
Hooded Crow - 1 Christchurch Harbour.
Garden Warbler - 2 Wick.
Melodious Warbler - 1 Greenlands Farm.
Wheatear - 1 Crouch Hill, 4 Greenlands Farm, 1 Ferrybridge, 1 Portland Bill.
Redstart - 2 Greenlands Farm.
Spotted Flycatcher - 11 Greenlands Farm.
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Greenlands Farm.
Firecrest - 1 Brownsea Island.



Posted by at

Sightings - Friday 11th August 2017.

Garganey - 3 Longham Lakes.
White Stork - 1 Langton Herring.
Sanderling - 14 Christchurch Harbour, 3 Ferrybridge.
Common Sandpiper - 3 Christchurch Harbour.
Green Sandpiper - 4 over Stanpit Marsh.
Greenshank - 2 ChristchurchHarbour.
Wood Sandpiper - 1 over Crouch Hill.
Tree Pipit - 8+ Durlston CP.
Yellow Wagtail - 4 Durlston CP.
Wheatear - 4 Ferrybridge, 1 Peveril Point.
Garden Warbler - 3 Stanpit Marsh, 1 Wick.
Blackcap - 4 Wick.
Common Whitethroat - 19 Wick.
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Wick.
Melodious Warbler - 1 Durlston CP.
Sedge Warbler - 4 Wick.
Reed Warbler - 2 Wick.
Willow Warbler - 32 Wick.
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 Peveril Point.
Marsh Tit - 2 Durlston CP.
Crossbill - 2 Durlston CP.

Dartford Warbler imm. Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy. 

Posted by at

Sightings - Thursday 10th August 2017.

Marsh Harrier - 1 juv. over Holes Bay.
Lapwing - 40 Stanpit Marsh.
Whimbrel - 10 Stanpit Marsh, 3 Holes Bay.
Little Stint - 1 Brownsea Island.
Common Sandpiper - 14 Brownsea, (10 of which were at Seymer's Marsh), 5 Holes Bay, 1 Ferrybridge.
Greenshank - 10 Brownsea Island, 2 Stanpit Marsh, 1 Ferrybridge.
Yellow-legged Gull - 12 Holes Bay, 1 juv. Brownsea Island.
Bonaparte's Gull - 1 Brownsea Island.
Cuckoo - 2 Hengistbury Head.
Tree Pipit - 5 Portland Bill,1 Ringstead Bay.
Yellow Wagtail - 3 Portland Bill, 2 Ferrybridge, 1 Ringstead Bay.
Nightingale - 1 Long Field Hengistbury Head.
Wheatear - 40 Portland Bill, 16 Ringstead Bay, 5 Reap Lane Portland, 3 Stanpit Marsh, 1 Holes Bay.
Whinchat - 2 Portland Bill, 1 Ringstead Bay.
Garden Warbler - 2 Portland Bill, 1 Stanpit Marsh.
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Portland Bill.
Whitethroat - 32 Hengistbury Head, 1 Stanpit Marsh.
Willow Warbler - 36 Portland Bill, 25 Hengisbury Head, 9 Ringstead Bay, 1 Ferrybridge.
Sedge Warbler - 30 Portland Bill.
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 Portland Bill.

Report today of a White Stork in fields by The Fleet, between Moonfleet and Butterstreet.

Raven – Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy.

Posted by at

Sightings - Wednesday 9th August 2017.

Common Scoter - 17 past Portland Bill.
Manx Shearwater - 41 past Portland Bill.
Balearic Shearwater -16 past Portland Bill.
Great Skua - 1 past Portland Bill.
Arctic Skua - 2 past Portland Bill.
Spoonbill - 6 Lytchett Bay.
Marsh Harrier - 2 Poole Harbour.
Little Ringed Plover - 1 juv. Lytchett Fields.
Whimbrel - 1 Ferrybridge.
Little Stint - 1 Brownsea Island.
Common Sandpiper - 4 Lytchett Fields, 1 Blandford.
Green Sandpiper - 20 Lytchett Fields, 2 Stanpit Marsh.
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit Marsh.
Greenshank - 5 Stanpit Marsh.
Wood Sandpiper - 1 Stanpit Marsh.
Bonaparte's Gull - 1 Brownsea Island Lagoon.
Wheatear - 7 Portland Bill, 1 Ferrybridge.
Sedge Warbler - 3 Portland Bill.
Willow Warbler - 1 Portland Bill.
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 Portland Bill.

News from last evening, the 8th. Yellow-legged Gull 29 roosted Middlebere.

Posted by at

Sightings - Tuesday 8th August 2017.

Balearic Shearwater - 200+ feeding off Portland Bill.
Spoonbill - 2 Lytchett Fields.
Cattle Egret - 12 at Lodmoor then flew over Radipole late evening.
Hobby - 1 Lytchett Fields.
Little Ringed Plover - 1 Brownsea.
Whimbrel - 2 Christchurch Harbour, 2 Brownsea.
Knot - 2 Brownsea Lagoon.
Common Sandpiper - 3 Christchurch Harbour, 3 Lytchett Fields, 1 Ferrybridge.
Green Sandpiper - 5+ Lytchett Fields.
Greenshank - 12 Brownsea.
Wood Sandpiper - 1 briefly Stanpit Marsh, 1 Lytchett Fields.
Great Skua - 2 Portland Bill.
Arctic Skua - 2 Portland Bill.
Yellow-legged Gull - 1 Juvenile Christchurch Harbour, 1 Lytchett Fields.
Redstart - 1 Brownsea.
Wheatear - 7 Portland Bill.
Willow Warbler - c30 Brownsea, 25 Portland Bill.
Blackcap - 2 Portland Bill.
Garden Warbler - 1 Brownsea, 1 Portland Bill.
Whitethroat - 4 Brownsea.
Sedge Warbler - 20 Portland Bill.
Firecrest - 1 Brownsea.
Spotted Flycatcher - 2 Brownsea.
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Portland Bill.


Posted by at

Hen Harrier Day 2017

Without doubt Hen Harrier Day South was the biggest and best yet - of any of the events held nationally.

Provisional numbers suggest that at least 1,100 people engaged with the event over the day and conservative estimates are that the number listening to Chris Packham and Chris Corrigan were in excess of 500 and perhaps nearer 700.

There were a lot of new faces and it was most certainly not a case of preaching to the converted. Huge thanks must go to Gill Lewis and the two Chris' who gave such rousing talks as well as the representatives from the Dorset Police rural crime team.

However, the biggest thanks must go to the RSPB's Luke Phillips who organised and coordinated the day (along with many others I'm sure, including Jon Thurnell-Read, Ashley Watts and the BAWC team) - I don't think it could have gone any better than it did.

From a Dorset Bird Club perspective I would like to thank and welcome our new members who signed up on the day and hope to see some of you on one of our guided walks in the near future (dates to be announced shortly).

Hen Harrier Day south © Marcus Lawson

Hen Harrier Day south © Marcus Lawson

Hen Harrier Day south © Terry Bagley


Posted by at

Sightings - Monday 7th August 2017

Great White Egret - 1 Middlebere
Spoonbill - 7 Middlebere Channel
Osprey - 7 in Middlebere/Arne area
Knot - 1 Ferrybridge
Green Sandpiper - 23+ Lytchett Fields
Greenshank - 5 Lytchett Bay, 3 Stanpit
Arctic Skua - 1 Mudeford Quay
Roseate Tern - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Redstart - 1 Hengistbury Head
Posted by at

Sightings - Sunday 6th August 2017

Manx Shearwater - 3 Portland Bill
Balearic Shearwater - 24 Portland Bill
Great White Egret - 2 reported at Middlebere
Spoonbill - 6 Middlebere Channel
Hobby - 1 Ringstead
Osprey - 2 Middlebere
Green Sandpiper - 4 Christchurch Harbour
Spotted Redshank - 1 Middlebere
Greenshank - 4 Middlebere
Arctic Skua - 3 Portland Bill
Yellow-legged Gull - 3 Portland Bill
Garden Warbler - 2 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Bill
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Portland Bill
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Ringstead
Redstart - 1 Hengistbury Head
Wheatear - 16 Portland Bill, 2 Stanpit
Posted by at

2015 Annual Report and Hen Harrier Day

The weather is looking good for tomorrow's Hen Harrier Day at Arne RSPB and we look forward to seeing lots of you there.

We have just published the 2015 Annual Report and it will be available for purchase on our stall by the cafe. Cost is £10 but if you sign up to become a member of the Dorset Bird Club you will receive a free copy.

£15 Single membership
£18 Joint membership
£10 Junior membership

50% of any profit made on sales tomorrow will be donated the Birders Against Wildlife Crime http://birdersagainst.org


Posted by at

Sightings - Saturday 5th August 2017

Cattle Egret - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery
Spoonbill - 6 Arne
Marsh Harrier - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Hobby - 1 Arne
Osprey - 2 Arne
Wood Sandpiper - 1 flew over Cogden Beach, 1 Lytchett Bay
Spotted Redshank - 7 Brownsea
Redstart - 1 Hengistbury Head
Wheatear - 3 Ferrybridge
Garden Warbler - 2 Stanpit
Lesser Whitethroat - 5 Hengistbury Head
Sedge Warbler - 300 Hengistbury Head
Willow Warbler - 170 Hengistbury Head

Late news yesterday - 1 Sooty Shearwater Portland.
Posted by at

Sightings - Friday 4th August 2017

Knot - 2 Brownsea, 2 Stanpit
Sanderling - 21 Ferrybridge, 4 Stanpit
Common Sandpiper - 15 Brownsea, 2 Ferrybridge
Spotted Redshank - 1 Brownsea
Greenshank - 6 Brownsea, 2 Stanpit
Whimbrel - 14 Stanpit
Arctic Skua - 5 Christchurch Bay
Bonaparte's Gull - 1 Brownsea
Tree Pipit - 1 Hengistbury head
Yellow Wagtail - 1 Hengistbury Head
Redstart - 1 Hartland Moor
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Hengistbury Head
Willow Warbler - 20 Hengistbury Head




Posted by at

Sightings - Thursday 3rd August 2017

Common Scoter - 13 off Mudeford Quay
Fulmar - 2 from Mudeford Quay
Manx Shearwater - 71 Portland
Balearic Shearwater - 21 Portland
Sooty Shearwater - 2 Portland
Storm Petrel - 1 Chesil Cove
Spoonbill - 6 Middlebere
Osprey - 1 Middlebere
Sanderling - 20 Hengistbury Head
Arctic Skua - 1 Portland
Bonapartes Gull - 1 Brownsea
Common Tern - 40 Portland
Roseate Tern - 1 Portland
Lesser Whitethroat - 2 Stanpit

Large Sand Martin/Swift passage - Middlebere/Wytch

Late news yesterday - 10 Arctic Terns off Bournemouth.




Posted by at

Sightings - Wednesday 2nd August 2017

Common Scoter - 23 off Mudeford Quay
Manx Shearwater - 2 west off Mudeford Quay
Balearic Shearwater - 10+ Portland Bill
Sooty Shearwater - 1 Portland Bill
Gannet - 1 Abbotsbury
Arctic Skua (sub-adult) - 1 Portland Bill
Bonaparte's Gull - 1 Brownsea
Cattle Egret - 1 Lodmoor
Roseate Tern - 1 Portland
Posted by at

Hen Harrier Day - Arne - Sunday 6th August

This year we’re making Hen Harrier Day South bigger than before. The problems which Hen Harrier face are not going away hence the clear need for action. Attending your nearest HHD event is your opportunity to show your support for Hen Harriers and send a clear message that people really do care.

Our event hosted at RSPB Arne will run between 11am and 3pm on Sunday 6th August with stands and displays to check out betweens talks from our guest speakers. This year we’re hoping the event will not just appeal to the converted. There are people out there who haven’t heard of a Hen Harrier let alone the persecution they face. We want to spread the messages far and wide and we feel this is vital if we are to start making a difference for our Hen Harriers. There’ll be kids activities throughout the day and Dorset Police rural crime team are manning a display plus a book reading and talk from children’s author Gill Lewis. Please consider bringing along relatives, friends or anyone else you can think of. The more people who are aware the more people who might take action in the future. 

Timings for the day are as follows:
11:30 – Dorset Police rural crime team. A talk on wildlife crime and their work in Dorset.
1pm   – Gill Lewis – Talking about her inspiration for writing ‘Sky Dancer’ and also a sneak peak of the book due to be published this autumn.
2pm   – Key Speaker Chris Packham (Conservationist and TV presenter) and Chris Corrigan (RSPB England Director).


Chris Packham and Gill Lewis will be available for booking signings but times TBC.

Luke Phillips - RSPB



Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)