Dorset Birds: 2020

Thursday 31st December 2020

A Happy New Year to one and all!

Here's to a time in the not too distant future with non social distancing birding!

White-fronted Goose - 16 still at Silverlake

Egyptian Goose - 9 Holme Lane GP, 3 Holme Bridge

Scaup - 4 Brand's Bay

Velvet Scoter - 1 passed West Bay

Long-tailed Duck - 1 Silverlake

Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour

Black-necked Grebe - 12 Portland harbour

Spotted Redshank - 1 Wytch Lake

Red-throated Diver - c.23 between West Bexington and Cogden

Black-throated Diver - 2 Portland Harbour

Great Northern Diver - 3 Brand's Bay, 1 Baiter Park Poole

Glossy Ibis - 1 Christchurch Harbour

Spoonbill - 24 Arne RSPB

Cattle Egret - 12 Lytchett Bay NR, 5 Buckland Ripers

Siberian Chiffchaff -1 Langton Herring, 1 Stour Valley LNR

Black Redstart - 1 Portland cemetery

Fieldfare Stour Row © John Bishop

Wednesday 30th December 2020

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 2 behind Moonfleet Manor

White-fronted Goose - 16 flew towards Silverlake from stubble field (50.7052 - 2.3456 )

Velvet Scoter - 1 drake, Tidmoor Point Fleet

Long-tailed Duck - 3 Tidmoor Point Fleet, 1 Silverlake

Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour

Slavonian Grebe - 3 Tidmoor Point Fleet, 1 Portland Harbour

Black-necked Grebe - 8 Portland Harbour, 7 Studland Bay

Iceland Gull - 1 Weymouth Harbour

Great Northern Diver - 3 Portland Harbour, 3 Tidmoor Point Fleet

Black-throated Diver - 2 Portland Harbour

Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Spoonbill - 24 Arne RSPB

Cattle Egret - 5 Moreton, 1 Preston seafront

Great White Egret - 7 Longham Lakes, 2 over Sixpenny Handley

Black Redstart - 1 Peveril Point Swanage, 1 Blacknor Portland

Brambling - 6 south of Frogmore Farm, West Morden

Purple Sandpiper, Turnstone, Lyme Regis © Roger Boswell

Russian White-fronted Goose - 16 Puddletown Forest area (please keep to footpaths; view from footpath which runs parallel to/north of the railway, NE of Silverlake) and Silverlake
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Silverlake, 3 off Hive Point Chickerell
Scaup - 2 Postbox Pool Lodmoor RSPB
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Bincleaves Corner Portland Harbour

Purple Sandpiper - 9 Portland Bill
Golden Plover - 150 Monkeys Jump area
Iceland Gull - 1st winter Town Bridge area Weymouth Harbour
Great White Egret - 1 Moors Valley CP
Cattle Egret - 2 flew to roost past Lytchett Bay, 2 north-west of Baker's Arms roundabout

Bittern - 1 Radipole Lake RSPB

Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Crossbill - 25 Affpuddle Woods

Monday 28th January 2020

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1 Langton Herring

BLACK BRANT - 1 Langton Herring

Russian White-fronted Goose - 16 Puddletown Forest area (please keep to footpaths)
Long-tailed Duck - 1 off south side of Brownsea Island, 1 Silverlake, 4 Tidmoor Point

Velvet Scoter - 1 Tidmoor Point
Scaup - 4 Jerry's Point
Red-throated Diver - 1 Studland Bay

Slavonian Grebe - 3zTidmoor Point, 1 off Furzey Island

Purple Sandpiper - 15 Lyme Regis

Razorbill - 250 off St Aldhelm's Head

Iceland Gull - 1st winter Town Bridge area Weymouth Harbour

Spoonbill - 22 Shipstal Point RSPB Arne

Great White Egret - 7 Longham Lakes, 1 Dorchester water meadows
Cattle Egret - 10 south of Waddock Cross, 16 Abbotsbury area along disused railway

Sunday 27th December 2020

Russian White-fronted Goose - 16 Silverlake (please keep to footpaths)

Long-tailed Duck - 1 Poole Harbour entrance, 1 Silverlake

Scaup - 3 Jerry's Point, 2 Lodmoor RSPB

Black-necked Grebe - 27 roosted at Studland this evening (17 in Studland Bay plus 10 Brands Bay)

Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour near Bincleaves

Golden Plover - c300 by A35 near Monkeys Jump (Dorchester)
Green Sandpiper - 3 by R. Piddle at Athelhampton, 1 Bride Valley Fish Farm

Purple Sandpiper - 2 Sandbanks
Ring-billed Gull - adult in Lytchett Bay this afternoon then flew towards Wareham Channel
Iceland Gull - 1st winter west past Ringstead Bay and at Weymouth Harbour
Red-throated Diver - 1 past Branksome Chine
Black-throated Diver - 1 or 2 past Branksome Chine
Great Northern Diver - 8 past Branksome Chine, 7 Poole Harbour, 1 Studland Bay
Great Skua - 1 Hengistbury
Glossy Ibis - 1 still at Stanpit

Spoonbill - 4 Lytchett Bay

Great White Egret - 1 Moors Valley CP, 1 on R. Frome at Woodsford Bridge then flew up river
Cattle Egret - 2 flew over Lytchett Bay towards roost in Holes Bay

Merlin - 1 Wimborne bypass
Black Redstart - 1 Peveril Point, 1 Weymouth in Cassiobury Rd/Charles St area

Saturday 26th December 2020

Pale-bellied Brent - Ferrybridge

Long-tailed Duck - imm drake still Silverlake on middle lake (please keep to footpaths)

Black-necked Grebe - 3 Studland Bay

Golden Plover - c75 West Compton

Ring-billed Gull - Adult in pre-roost at Lytchett Bay then flew towards Wareham Channel

Iceland Gull - juv still Weymouth Harbour by Town Bridge early pm

Spoonbill - 10 Lytchett Bay

Cattle Egret - 9 Winkton

Great White Egret - 5 Longham Lakes, 1 Waddock Cross

Hen Harrier - male nr Bere Regis

Short-eared Owl - Gussage Down

Black Redstart - 2 Peveril Point, Swanage, 1 Maiden Newton

Crossbill - c70 Affpuddle Forest nr Culpepper's Dish

Kestrel, Abbotsbury © Janice Grove

Friday 25th December 2020

Pale-bellied Brent - 3 The Fleet at Moonfleet

Russian White-fronted Goose - 16 briefly Silverlake, 1 Puddletown

Long-tailed Duck - 4 Weymouth Bay, 1 still Silverlake

Goosander - 1 Lodmoor
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour

Black-necked Grebe - 3 Portland Harbour, 7 Studland Bay

Slavonian Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour
Iceland Gull - 1 still Weymouth Bay
Great Northern Diver - 6 Portland Harbour
Glossy Ibis - 1 still Stanpit Marsh
Cattle Egret - 7 Nottington

Great White Egret - Lower Bockhampton

Cattle Egrets, Nottington © Paul Harris

Thursday 24th December 2020

The Dorset Bird Club would like to wish all members and visitors to our daily blog, a safe and enjoyable Christmas

Whooper Swan - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Russian White-fronted Goose - 7 Silverlake at midday then flew north
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Silverlake
Scaup - 4 Jerry's Point
Black-necked Grebe - 3 Jerry's Point, 2 Portland Harbour, 1 Studland Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour from Sandsfoot Castle
Sanderling - 30 Bramble Bush Bay
Purple Sandpiper -10 on the Cobb at Lyme Regis
Iceland Gull - 1 juvenile Portland Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 5 Jerry's Point
Glossy Ibis - 1 still at Christchurch Harbour
Spoonbill - 6+ Holes Bay
Great White Egret - 7 Longham Lakes
Cattle Egret - 7 NW of Winkton, 6+ at Holwell Farm near Buckland Ripers (later 5 in Nottington), 1 left roost in Lytchett Bay
Hen Harrier - 2 over Trigon Heath (Wareham Forset)

Purple Sandpiper, Lyme Regis © Paul Harris

Treecreeper, Woodville © John Bishop

Wednesday 23rd December 2020

Long-tailed Duck - 2 off Brownsea Island
Scaup - 2 Jerry's Point
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Jerry's Point
Woodcock - 1 Lower Waterston (near Puddletown), 1 near Netherbury
Iceland Gull - 1 juvenile east past West Bexington
Red-throated Diver - 1 past West Bexington
Great Northern Diver - 5 Jerry's Point
Glossy Ibis - 1 Wick Hams/Stanpit
Bittern - 1 Radipole Lake RSPB
Cattle Egret - 9 at Holwell Farm near Buckland Ripers

Tuesday 22nd December 2020

Scaup - 4 Lodmoor RSPB, 2 from Jerry's Pt.

Long-tailed Duck - 4 Chickrell Hive Pt.

Common Scoter - 6 off Knoll Beach Studland

Velvet Scoter - 1 Tidmoor Pt.

Great Northern Diver - 5 Jerry's Pt, 1 Littlesea & 1 Tidmoor Pt. on The Fleet

Spoonbill - 27 west over Swineham GP.

Red-necked Grebe - 1 off The Underbarn Portland

Slavonian Grebe - 3 Tidmoor Pt.

Black-necked Grebe - 2 off Knoll Beach Studland

Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail Middlebere

Woodcock - 2 near Tarrant Rushton old airfield

Kittiwake - 400 off Durlston CP.

Iceland Gull - 1 Portland Hbr, 1 Durlston CP, 1 Radipole Lake (opposite tennis courts)

Robin Hengistbury Head © Clinton Whale

Redwing Bournemouth © David Wareham

Monday 21st December 2020

Eygptian Goose - 4 in field near Bog Lane

Green-winged Teal - 1 Longham Lakes

Scaup - 3 off Jerry's Point

Red-throated Diver - 6 west Hengistbury Hd.

Black-throated Diver - 1 west past Ferrybridge

Great Northern Diver - 3 off Jerr's Pt, 2 Studland Bay, 1 Hengistbury Hd.

Cattle Egret - 4 in field near Waddock Cross, 2 over east Lytchett Bay late p.m.

Great White Egret - 4 Longham Lakes, 1 Moor Crichel, 1 from Jerry's Pt.

Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Red-necked Grebe - 1 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Studland Bay

Black-necked Grebe - 1 Jerry's Pt.

Green Sandpiper - 3 Silverlake, 1 Waddock Cross

Jack Snipe - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Yellow-legged Gull - 1 with 257 Lesser Black-backed Gull Wyke/Bottlebush Down

Iceland Gull - 1 Weymouth Hbr.

Lesser Redpoll - 14 Silverlake

Iceland Gull - Weymouth Hbr. © Richard Saunders

Dark-bellied Brent Goose - Baiter Park © Richard Saunders

Sunday 20th December 2020

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 13 Rodden Hive
Black Brant - 2 Rodden Hive, 1 Brand's Bay
Ruddy Shelduck - 1 between Burton & Sopley
Eider - 3 past Durlston CP
Long-tailed Duck - 3 off Brownsea Island, 1 Silverlake
Scaup - 4 Jerry's Point, 4 Lodmoor RSPB
Black-necked Grebe - 8 Jerry's Point, 3 Studland Bay
Purple Sandpiper - 3 Hengistbury Head, 1 Sandbanks
Green Sandpiper - 3 Silverlake, 2 Bere Regis CBs
Iceland Gull - 1 juvenile Weymouth Bay
Mediterranean Gull - 1600+ roosting Weymouth Bay
Red-throated Diver - 2 Durlston CP, 2 Hengistbury Head
Great Northern Diver - 2 Brand's Bay, 2 Jerry's Point, 1 from Baiter Sluice, 1 Portland Harbour
Bittern - 1 Turlin Moor NR this afternoon
Spoonbill - 20 Shipstal Point at Arne RSPB
Cattle Egret - 2 Lytchett Bay, 1 between Burton & Sopley
Merlin - 1 west of Dorchester by A35
Woodlark - 18 opposite Norris Mill Farm (near Lower Bockhampton)
Firecrest - 2 Durlston CP, 1 Stour Valley LNR, 1 Bere Regis CBs, 1 Corfe Castle garden
Black Redstart - 1 Ferrybridge at Smallmouth

Blackcap, Bournemouth © David Wareham

Kestrel, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Saturday, 19th December 2020.

Long-tailed Duck - 1 still at Silverlake - view only from public rights of way.
Goosander - 2 Lower Bockhampton.
Red-necked Grebe - 1 probable west of Branksome Chine, 1 Shell Bay (Studland).
Black-necked Grebe - 9 off Middle Beach (Studland).
Grey Phalarope - 1 over Ferrybridge toward Chesil Cove.
Green Sandpiper - 1 Woodsford in a field.
Great Northern Diver - 2 Bramble Bush Bay, 5 off Studland.
Glossy Ibis - 1 still Christchurch Harbour.
Marsh Harrier - 6+ western Poole Harbour.
Hen Harrier - 1 Briantspuddle Heath, 1 Hartland Moor.
Merlin - 1 Dorchester, 1 East Almer, 1 Hartland Moor.
Firecrest - 1 Redhill Common (Bournemouth), 3 South Beach (Studland).

Late news: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker near Moreton on Thursday.

Dartford Warbler, Boscombe Overcliff © Paul Godier.

Redwing, Bournemouth © David Wareham

Friday, 18th December 2020.

Barnacle Goose - 11 in Christchurch Harbour were thought to be wild birds.

Long-tailed Duck - 1 Silverlake - view from public rights of way only.

Goosander - 2 Silverlake - view from public rights of way only.

Red-necked Grebe - 4 on the sea off Branksome Chine.
Black-necked Grebe - 1 off Jerry's Point (Brands Bay), 1 Portland Harbour.
Purple Sandpiper - 2 Pilot's Point (Studland).
Great Northern Diver - 1 off Hengistbury Beach Huts, 4 Brands Bay, 3 Studland Bay.
Black-throated Diver - 1 west off Branksome Chine.
Great Skua - 1 past Durlston CP.
Iceland Gull - 1 off Portland Bill was probably not the recent Weymouth bird.
Little Gull - 1 past Durlston CP.
Cattle Egret - 2 near the A35 Bakers Arms roundabout.
Merlin - 1 Durlston CP, 1 Hartland Moor.

Thursday 17th December 2020

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 7 Rodden Hive
Black Brant - 1 Rodden Hive
Russian White-fronted Goose - 16 on eastern lake at Silverlake (only seen in the morning)
Ruddy Shelduck - 5 near Winkton
Long-tailed Duck - 2 Rodden Hive, 1 Silverlake
Scaup - 4 Jerry's Point, 4 Lodmoor RSPB
Velvet Scoter - 1 on the Fleet at Littlesea
Goosander - 7 Silverlake
Slavonian Grebe - 1 on the Fleet at Littlesea
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Shell Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Shell Bay
Sanderling - 5 Brownsea Island lagoon, 15 Sandbanks
Dunlin - 3900+ on Brownsea Island lagoon
Purple Sandpiper - 1 Sandbanks
Spotted Redshank - 2 Brownsea Island lagoon
Iceland Gull - 1 juvenile still in Weymouth Harbour/Radipole RSPB area, 1 West Bexington Mere
Red-throated Diver - 5 Hengistbury Head, 1 Weymouth Bay
Great Northern Diver - 6 Poole Harbour, 3 Weymouth Bay, 3 on the Fleet at Littlesea
Glossy Ibis - 1 still at Stanpit
Great White Egret - 1 Moors Valley CP, 1 over Studland
Hen Harrier - 1 East Bexington
Short-eared Owl - 1 Middlebere
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Lodmoor RSPB
Rose-coloured Starling -1 Easton (Portland)
Black Redstart - 1 Blacknor (Portland)

Iceland Gull, Radipole RSPB © Edmund Mackrill

Wednesday 16th December 2020

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 2 Ferrybridge
Ruddy Shelduck - 5 South Bockhampton
Scaup - 3 Jerry's Point
Black-necked Grebe - 2 Jerry's Point
Little Gull - 1 Portland Harbour from Ferrybridge
Black-throated Diver - 2 past Branksome Chine, 1 north of Brownsea Island
Red-throated Diver - 6 from Branksome Chine
Great Northern Diver - 2 Jerry's Point
Cattle Egret - 8 in field NW of Winkton
Rose-coloured Starling -1 still at Easton (Portland)

Tuesday 15th December 2020

Barnacle Goose - 11 Langton Herring

Ruddy Shelduck - 5 South Brockhampton

Scaup - 4 Lodmoor, 3 Jerry's Point

Long-tailed Duck - 1 Jerry's Point, 1 Silverlake

Velvet Scoter - 1 Tidmoor Point Fleet

Black-throated Diver - 2 Portland Harbour

Great Northern Diver - 4 Portland Harbour, 4 Jerry's Point, 4 Brownsea Island NT

Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour

Slavonian Grebe - 1 Jerry's Point, 1 Portland Harbour

Black-necked Grebe - 2 Jerry's Point, 4 Studland Bay, 5 Portland Harbour

Western Cattle Egret - 3 Buckland Ripers, 8 West Elworth Portesham, 25 Old railway Portesham,

2 Lytchett Bay

Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Hen Harrier - 1 Ringtail Arne Moors

Purple Sandpiper - 1 Sandbanks

Spotted Redshank - 2 Brownsea Island NT

Iceland Gull - 1 Weymouth Harbour

Water Pipit - 1 Lodmoor, 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Rosy Starling - 1 Channel View Road Easton Portland

Monday 14th December 2020

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1 Ferrybridge

Ruddy Shelduck - 5 Winkton

Green-winged Teal - 1 Longham Lakes

Scaup - 3 Lodmoor, 4 Jerry's Point

Velvet Scoter - 1 drake on Fleet at Hive Point, 1 passed Hengitsbury Head

Great Northern Diver - 3 Portland Harbour, 3 Jerry's Point, 2 Studland Bay

Slavonian Grebe - 1 Jerry's Point

Black-necked Grebe - 6 Portland Harbour, 2 Studland Bay

Bittern - 1 Radipole Lake

Western Cattle Egret - 8 Winkton

Great Egret - 7 Longham Lakes

Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Purple Sandpiper - 19 Highcliffe

Iceland Gull - 1 Weymouth Harbour

Black Redstart - 1 Portland Castle

Rose-coloured Starling - 1 Channel View Road Easton Portland

Purple Sandpipers, Highcliffe © Clinton Whale

Sunday 13th December 2020

Ruddy Shelduck - 6 Winkton

Great Northern Diver - 3 Portland Harbour

Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour

Black-necked Grebe - 4 Portland harbour

Sooty Shearwater - 1 passed Portland Bill

Golden Plover - 300+ Monkeys Jump

Iceland Gull - 1 Radipole Lake

Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Pennsylvania Castle wood Portland

Iceland Gull RSPB Lodmoor © Geoff Barlow

Pintail Holes Bay © Brian Smith

Saturday 12th December 2020

Bean Goose - 3 Winkton, Christchurch

Black Brant - 1 Tidmoor Point Fleet

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 3 Tidmoor Point Fleet

Green-winged Teal - 1 Longham Lakes

Greater Scaup - 4 Jerry's Point

Eider - 1 Lyme Regis Harbour

Velvet Scoter - 1 Tidmoor Point Fleet

Goosander - 3 Silverlake

Great Northern Diver - 3 Jerry's Point, 3 Tidmoor Point Fleet, 1 Weymouth Harbour

Red-necked Grebe 1 Portland Harbour

Slavonian Grebe - 2 Tidmoor Point, Fleet

Black-necked Grebe - 2 Middle Beach Studland

Western Cattle Egret - 2 Lytchett Bay

Great White Egret - 6 Longham Lakes

Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Spotted Redshank - 6 Middlebere

Iceland Gull - 1 Portland Harbour

Water Pipit - 2 Bere Regis

Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Pennsylvania Castle Wood Portland

Dusky Warbler - probable heard cress beds Bere Regis

Rosy Starling - 1 Church View Road Easton Portland

Velvet Scoter Tidmoor Point© Steven Carey

Blackcap Bournemouth garden © David Wareham

Friday 11th December 2020

Long-tailed Duck - 2 Tidmoor Point The Fleet, 3 off Jerry's Point, 1 central Poole Harbour

Velvet Scoter - 1 Tidmoor Point The Fleet

Eider - 1 Lyme Regis

Pintail - 140 Brand's Bay

Scaup - 4 off Jerry's Point, 4 Lodmoor RSPB

Great Northern Diver - 8 Poole Harbour, 1 River Frome Wareham

Slavonian Grebe - 3 Tidmoor Point The Fleet

Black-throated Diver - 1 Whitley Bay Poole Harbour
Great Egret - 1 Moors Valley CP

Cattle Egret - 4 Hengistbury Head with the Glossy Ibis
Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Sanderling - 23 Bramble Bush Bay

Swallow - 1 Blacknor Portland
Black Redstart - 1 Church Ope Cove
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Pennsylvania Castle Wood

Eider Lyme Regis (C) Roger Boswell

Thursday 10th December 2020

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 5 Ferrybridge, 8 Chickerell Hive

Green-winged Teal - 1 Longham Lakes

Goosander - 4 Silverlake

Long-tailed Duck - 1 Chickerell Hide

Velvet Scoter - 1 Chickerell Hide

Spoonbill - 29 Shipstal Point RSPB Arne
Great Egret - 4 Longham Lakes

Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Black Redstart - 1 West Bexington

Marsh Tit - 3 Athelhampton Water Meadows

Rosy Starling - 1 Channel View Road Easton Portland
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Pennsylvania Castle Wood

Corn Bunting - 50 Cheselbourne

Wednesday 9th December 2020

Green-winged Teal - 1 Longham Lakes

Velvet Scoter - 1 The Fleet at Chickerell

Greater Scaup - 4 off Jerry's Point Poole Harbour
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Silverlake

Goosander - 9 Silverlake

Slavonian Grebe - 3 Tidmoor, Littlesea

Black-throated Diver - 2 Portland Harbour

Cattle Egret - 2 flew towards Holes Bay from Lytchett Bay

Little Egret - 29 flew towards Holes Bay from Lytchett Bay

Great Egret - 6 Longham Lakes
Iceland Gull - 1 Weymouth Harbour

Black Redstart - 1 Blacknor Portland
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Pennsylvania Castle Wood

Tuesday 8th December 2020

Barnacle Goose - 10 Rodden Hive

Eider - 1 Lyme Regis Harbour

Ferruginous Duck - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery yesterday in area with no access but not today

Velvet Scoter - 2 Tidmoor, Littlesea

Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Rodden Hive

Slavonian Grebe - 2 Tidmoor, Littlesea

Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour

Black-throated Diver - 3 Portland Harbour

Hen Harrier - 2 females, West Poole Harbour

Golden Plover - 700 Mainden Castle
Black Redstart - 1 Blacknor Portland, 1 Chickerell at Moonfleet Manor Hotel, 1 Peveril Point
Rosy Starling - 1 Easton Portland at Channel View
Siberian Chiffchaff - Kinson STW, Stour Valley LNR

Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Pennsylvania Castle Wood

Firecrest - 1 Studland near the Stables

Kingfisher Poole Park (C) Clinton Whale

Monday 7th December 2020

Green-winged Teal - 1 Longham Lakes on South Lake
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour from Sandsfoot Castle
Black-necked Grebe - 3 Portland Harbour
Dunlin - good counts of 607 at Lytchett Fields RSPB, 223 at Stanpit
Purple Sandpiper - 2 Peveril Point
Green Sandpiper - 2 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Jack Snipe - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB, 1 West Bexington
Iceland Gull - 1 still in Portland Harbour area
Black-throated Diver - 2 Portland Harbour off Billy Winters
Great Northern Diver - 1 Portland Harbour
Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh near car park
Spoonbill - 25 Shipstal Point, Arne RSPB
Cattle Egret - 2 north of Bockhampton Dairy Farm near Winkton
Great White Egret - 6 Longham Lakes
Merlin - 1 Stanpit
Firecrest - 1 Upton Park CP
Black Redstart - 2 Blacknor (Portland), 1 Peveril Point

Yesterday : 2 Firecrest at PCW drain, 2 Black Redstarts at West Bexington and 1 at Lyme Regis churchyard.

Sunday 6th December 2020

Black Brant - 1 Rodden Hive
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 2 Rodden Hive
Eider - drake in Lyme Regis harbour
Green-winged Teal - 1 Longham Lakes on South Lake
Scaup - 4 Brand's Bay
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Rodden Hive, 1 Silverlake
Goosander - 4 Silverlake
Black-necked Grebe - 4 Portland Harbour, 4 Jerry's Point, 4 Studland Bay
Purple Sandpiper - 11 Lyme Regis
Green Sandpiper - 1 Northbourne STW
Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Iceland Gull - 1 commuting between Portland Harbour and Radipole Lake RSPB
Black-throated Diver - 2 Portland Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 4 Jerry's Point, 1 Studland Bay, 1 Holes Bay opposite Mercedes Garage, 1 Portland Harbour
Glossy Ibis - 1 still at Stanpit Marsh
Spoonbill - 3 Lytchett Bay, 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Cattle Egret - 19 near Portesham, 3 near Holwell Farm at Buckland Ripers
Great White Egret - 5 Longham Lakes, 1 Moors Valley CP, 1 Littlesea (Studland)
Hen Harrier - 2 (ringtail and male) Wareham Channel, 1 ringtail Stanpit area
Merlin - 1 Wareham Channel
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Langton Herring (north of The Works at Herbury)
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Northbourne STW
Black Redstart -1 Broadwey

Eider, Lyme Regis © Geoff Barlow

Moorhen, Martinstown © Nick Priddle

Cattle Egret, between Portesham & Abbotsbury © Janice Beck

Saturday 5th December 2020

Black Brant - 1 still on The Fleet at Rodden Hive
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 6 Rodden Hive

Green-winged Teal - drake still Longham Lakes on South Lake by large island.

Long-tailed Duck - drake Rodden Hive
Glossy Ibis - 1 still Stanpit Marsh on North Marsh

Great White Egret - 4 Longham Lakes
Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail still Christchurch Harbour

Long-tailed Duck, Rodden Hive © Paul Harris

Sparrowhawk, Wareham © Richard Saunders

Friday 4th December 2020

Black Brant - 2 on The Fleet (Chickerell Hive Point & Rodden Hive)
Pale-bellied Brent - 15 on The Fleet (inc 9 Butterstreet Cove)

Velvet Scoter - drake still The Fleet (Tidmoor Point / Chickerell Hive Point)
Glossy Ibis - 1 still Stanpit Marsh
Great Northern Diver - 7 Weymouth Bay, 1 Holes Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 3 Littlesea
Hen Harrier - 1 Christchurch Harbour (radio tagged, hatched in Cumbria this year)
Merlin - 1 Hartland Moor, 1 Langton Herring, 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Avocet - 320 Middlebere
Iceland Gull - 1 Newton's Cove (viewed from Bowleaze Cove)
Rose-coloured Starling - still Easton, Portland
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Langton Herring in clump by The Works

Hen Harrier, Hengistbury Head © Clinton Whale

Thursday 3rd December 2020

Scaup - 3 from Jerry's Point

Common Scoter - 3 from Jerry's Point

Great Northern Diver - 3 off Jerry's Point

Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Black-necked Grebe - 1 Jerry's Point

Hen Harrier - 1 Priory Marsh

Iceland Gull - 1 Weymouth Hbr & Radipole Lake RSPB

Merlin - 1 Hartland Moor

Black Redstart - 1 Peveril Point

Wednesday 2nd December 2020

Whooper Swan - 4 Abbotsbury Swannery, 2 west past Easton Portland

Pale-bellied Brent - 1 Ferrybridge

Black Brant - 2 Butterstreet Cove, 1 Tidmoor Pt The Fleet. 1 Portland Hbr.

Scaup - 4 Jerry's Point

Long-tailed Duck - 2 Jerry's Pt, 1 1st/w drake Silver Lake

Common Scoter - 6 off Middle Beach, 3 off Jerry's Pt.

Velvet Scoter - 1 drake Tidmoor Point The Fleet

Red-throated Diver - 1 Portland Hbr.

Black-throated Diver - 2 Portland Hbr.

Great Northern Diver - 6 Portland Hbr, 5 Jerry's Pt, 2 Middle Beach, 1 Tidmoor Pt,

Cattle Egret - 22 Abbotsbury Swannery, 10 Hengistbury Hd.

Great White Egret - 1 Moors Valley CP, 1 Furzey Island

Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Hbr.

Slavonian Grebe - 3 Tidmoor Point The Fleet

Black-necked Grebe - 10 off Knoll & Middle Beach, 9 Portland Hbr.

Hen Harrier - 1 male Rodden Hive, 1 Stanpit Marsh

Spotted Redshank - 4 Middlebere

Mediterranean Gull - 400 Ferrybridge

Iceland Gull - 1 Radipole Lake / Weymouth Hbr area.

Swallow - 1 Corfe Castle

Black Redstart - 2 eastern shore Portland Bill

Tuesday 1st December 2020

Whooper Swan - 4 Abbotsbury Swannery

Black Brant - 2 Butterstreet Cove The Fleet.

Scaup - 4 Abbotsbury Swannery, 3 Bramble Bush Bay

Long-tailed Duck - 1 Butterstreet Cove The Fleet

Velvet Scoter - 1 drake Tidmoor Point The Fleet

Black-throated Diver - 2 Portland Hbr.

Bittern - 1 Radipole Lake RSPB

Red-throated Diver - 4 past Portland Bill, 1 Portland Hbr, 1 past Mudeford Quay

Black-throated Diver - 2 Portland Hbr.

Great Northern Diver - 7 Portland Hbr, 1 Littlesea the Fleet, 1 Cogden, 1 off Mudeford Quay

Cattle Egret - 9 Hengistbury Hd.

Great White Egret - 1 Bramble Bush Bay

Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh, 1 over Middlebere

Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Hbr.

Slavonian Grebe - 2 Tidmoor Point The Fleet

Black-necked Grebe - 11 Portland Hbr, 4 off Middle Beach & 2 South Beach Studland, 5 Cogden

Red Kite - 9 Wyke Down, 1 Holton Lee

Hen Harrier - Milborne St Andrew

Green Sandpiper - 1 Holton Lee, 1 Wimborne St. Giles

Spotted Redshank - 3 Middlebere

Greenshank - 4 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Iceland Gull - 1 Radipole Lake / Weymouth Hbr area.

Short-eared Owl - 1 in off sea Portland Bill

Merlin - 1 Hartland Moor, 1 Tidmoor Point, 1 Portland Bill

Swallow - 2 Ferrybridge, 1 Tilly Whim Durlston CP, 1 Langton Matravers, 1 Portland Bill

Pallas's Warbler - 2 Private garden Weston Portland

Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Langton Herring

Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Langton Herring

Marsh Warbler - 1 probable Durlston CP SW of Castle.

Black Redstart - 1 St. Mary's Churchyard Wareham, 1 Tilly Whim DCP, 2, Peveril Point, 2 Littlesea The Fleet, 1 Portland Bill

Water Pipit - 1 Holton Lee, 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Crossbill - 20+ Morton Forest

Monday 30th November 2020

Black Brant - 1 Cuttcleaves Cove The Fleet

Scaup - 1 fem off Jerry's Point

Long-tailed Duck - 3 from Jerry's Point, 1 off Hive Point The Fleet

Velvet Scoter - 1 drake Tidmoor Point The Fleet

Great Northern Diver - 5 from Jerry's Point, 1 Holes Bay, 1 Weymouth Hbr.

Cattle Egret - 9 Bockington Dairy Fm nr. Winkton (SZ175968)

Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Spoonbill - 31 Arne RSPB

Slavonian Grebe - 2 Tidmoor Point The Fleet

Black-necked Grebe - 4 off Middle Beach Studland, 2 from Jerry's Point

Red Kite - 3 Wyke Down, 1 Cashmoor

Purple Sandpiper - 9 Highcliffe

Spotted Redshank - 5 Middlebere, 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Jack Snipe - 1 Stanpit Marsh on new scrape.

Iceland Gull - 1 imm Radipole Lake & Weymouth Hbr.

Merlin - 1 Holton Lee, 1 Arne RSPB

Rose-Coloured Starling - 1 Easton Portland

Black Redstart - 1 Peveril Point, 1 St. Mary's Church Wareham

Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Sunday 29th November 2020

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 5 Ferrybridge
Green-winged Teal - 1 Longham Lakes
Scaup - 4 Jerry's Point
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Jerry's Point
Goosander - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour, 1 Lodmoor RSPB
Black-necked Grebe - 2 Portland Harbour, 1 Poole Harbour
Iceland Gull - 1 Portland Harbour
Black-throated Diver - 5 Poole Harbour, 1 Portland Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 5 Studland Bay, 1 Portland Harbour
Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Cattle Egret - 9 Stanpit Marsh
Great White Egret - 5 Longham Lakes
Hen Harrier - 1 Cranborne
Red Kite - 2 Witchampton
Merlin - 1 West Bexington, 1 Riversmeet Meadow (Stanpit)
Short-eared Owl - 1 West Bexington
Pallas's Warbler - 2 again in private garden Weston (Portland)
Barred Warbler - 1 in private garden Langton Maltravers
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 juvenile still at Easton
Firecrest - 2 Hengistbury, 1 Stour Valley LNR
Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Black Redstart - 2 Peveril Point, 1 Durlston NNR, 1 Bridport

Saturday, 28th November 2020.

Grey Partridge - 10 St Aldhelm's Head.
Whooper Swan - 4 Abbotsbury Swannery.
Black Brant - 1 Ferrybridge.
Black-necked Grebe - 6 Portland Harbour.
Golden Plover - 130 over Bride Valley Fish Farm, 2 over Durlston CP.
Knot - 2 Ferrybridge.
Green Sandpiper - 2 Bride Valley Fish Farm.
Great Northern Diver - 1 past Hengistbury Head.
Red-throated Diver - 2 past Hengistbury Head.
Iceland Gull - 1 Portland Harbour outer breakwaters.
Glossy Ibis - 1 left the Hengistbury roost this morning.
Cattle Egret - 9 left the Hengistbury roost this morning.
Hen Harrier - 1 Horse Down, Manswood.
Merlin - 1 St Aldhelm's Head.
Swallow - 1 Durlston CP
Firecrest - 1 Bride Valley Fish Farm, 1 Durlston CP, 3+ Hengistbury Head.
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 juv still on Portland (Channel View Road area in private gardens).
Black Redstart - 1 Peveril Point, 2 Tilly Whim.

Friday, 27th November 2020.

Black-necked Grebe - 1 Poole Harbour (Jerry's Point).
Grey Plover - 4 Hengistbury Head, 4 Middlebere, 2 Poole Harbour (Jerry's Point).
Woodcock - 2 Farrington.
Spotted Redshank - 3 Middlebere.
Green Sandpiper - 1 Farrington.
Great Northern Diver - 4 Poole Harbour (Jerry's Point).
Iceland Gull - 1 Portland Harbour.
Spoonbill - 1 Poole Harbour (Round Island).
Marsh Harrier - 1 Lytchett Bay, 1 Wick.
Siberian-type Chiffchaff - 1 Hengistbury Head.
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 juv still on Portland (Channel View Road area in private gardens).
Black Redstart - 2 Durlston CP.

Sparrowhawk, Canford Cliffs, Wednesday © Dave Mobbs

Oystercatcher, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale.

Thursday 26th November 2020

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 8 Ferrybridge
Scaup - 4 Jerry's Point
Garganey - 1 drake at south end of Sutton Bingham Reservoir
Long-tailed Duck - 2 Jerry's Point, 1 Silverlake
Red-necked Grebe - 1 from shelter at Lodmoor RSPB
Black-necked Grebe - 6 Jerry's Point, 3 Portland Harbour
Sanderling - 9 Jerry's Point
Glaucous/Iceland Gull - 1 seen distantly at entrance to Portland Harbour
Black-throated Diver - 2 Portland Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 4 Jerry's Point
Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Cattle Egret - 9 at Hengistbury roost
Great White Egret - 1 Jerry's Point
Hen Harrier - 1 female west end of Poole Harbour
Red Kite - 6 near Compton Abbas airfield
Marsh Tit - 1 Sherford Bridge
Swallow - late records of 4 over Durlston NNR this morning, 1 at Ferrybridge
Pallas's Warbler - 2 in a Weston (Portland) garden this afternoon
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 juvenile still at Easton
Firecrest - 4 Durlston NNR
Black Redstart - 2 Durlston NNR

Wednesday, 25th November 2020.

Long-tailed Duck - 1 still at Silverlake. Access via public rights of way only.
Black-necked Grebe - c.6 Portland Harbour.
Great Northern Diver - 2 Weymouth Bay (Bowleaze).
Black-throated Diver - 2 Weymouth Bay (Bowleaze).
Red-throated Diver - 1 Portland Harbour.
Glaucous Gull - a large white-winged gull possibly of this species in Portland Harbour.
Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit, roosting on Hengistbury.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Christchurch Harbour.
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 juv still on Portland (Channel View Road area in private gardens).
Snow Bunting - 1 Hengistbury sandspit on fenceposts.

Please be aware that Silverlake is a private site with minimal access and large areas of the site are unsafe.

Tuesday, 24th November 2020.

Whooper Swan - 1 Abbotsbury.

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 6 Rodden Hive.
Egyptian Goose - 22 Silverlake.
Emperor Goose - 1 Stanpit, presumably an escape.
Goosander - 2 Silverlake.
Long-tailed Duck - 1 still at Silverlake.
Golden Plover - 69 Maiden Castle.
Green Sandpiper - 2 Silverlake.
Greenshank - 2 Brands Bay.
Great Northern Diver - 2 Mudeford Quay.
Red-throated Diver - 1 Ferrybridge, 1 Hengistbury Head.
Yellow-legged Gull - 1 Stanpit.
Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit, roosting on Hengistbury.
Cattle Egret - 9 roosting on Hengistbury.
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Abbotsbury, 1 Hengistbury Head.
Red Kite - 1 Bulbarrow.
Merlin - 1 Maiden Castle.
Wheatear - 1 Ferrybridge is very late in the year.
Pallas's Warbler - 1 Portland Bill.
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Portland (Foundry Close).
Firecrest - 2 Hengistbury Head.
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 juv still on Portland (Channel View Road area in private gardens).
Black Redstart - 2 Portland (Blacknor), 1 Swanage Sailing Club.
Serin - 1 over Portland Bill.

Black-tailed Godwit, Upton Country Park © Clinton Whale.