Dorset Birds: 2023

Monday 20th March 2023

Whooper Swan - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery

Common Scoter - 11 of Hengisbury Head

Alpine Swift - 1 over Bournemouth Gardens nr the Town Hall

Little Ringed Plover - 1 Longham Lakes

Spoonbill - 6 Brownsea Island Lagoon DWT

Osprey - 1 Over Wareham Causeway

White Tailed Eagle - 1 Gad Cliff

Sand Martin - 11 Radipole RSPB

Black Redstart - 1 Durlston CP

Wheatear - 1 Peveril Point, 1 Kimmeridge

Water Pipit - Radipole RSPB North Screen

Common Snipe - Hengisbury Head - ©Clinton Whale

Sunday 19th March 2023

Whooper Swan - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery

Mandarin Duck - 1 Longham Lakes

Garganey - 2 drakes on River Avon at Burton

Alpine Swift - 2 Over Riversmeet Stanpit Marsh / Christchurch Priory and Oxford point Bournemouth, 1 Churchfield Court Poole

Black- necked Grebe - 1 off Knoll Beach Studland

ROSS'S GULL - 1 Briefly at Lodmoor RSPB this afternoon

Golden Plover - 8 Charlton Down allotments

Spoonbill - 6 Ower Quay, 4 Middlebere

Cattle Egret - 20+ Portesham, 4 nr Woodsford, 2 Swineham GP

Great White Egret - 1 Piddle Valley flood fields

Red Kite - 3 over Swanage flying North, 1 Steeple Down, Stanpit Marsh, 1 Winterbourne Stickland

White-tailed Eagle - 2 Wareham Channel, 1 Morden, 1 Steeple Down, 1 Winterbourrne

Merlin - 1 Middlebere

Hobby - 1 Longham Lakes

Sand Martin - c60 Swineham GP

Swallow - 1 over Wareham Common, 1 over Rempstone Heath

Garganey - River Avon Burton ©Garry Hayman

Great Crested Grebe - Hatch Pond ©Clinton Whale

Saturday 18th March 2023

Whooper Swan - 2 Abbotsbury Swannery

Mandarin Duck - 2 Swineham, 1 Longham Lakes

Grey Partridge - 7 St Aldhelms Head

Alpine Swift - 6 Christchurch / Stanpit , 1 Swanage, 1 Bournemouth

Black-necked Grebe - 1 Tidmoor Point, 1 from Birds of Poole Harbour Cruise

Purple Sandpiper - 17 The Cobb Lyme Regis

Spotted Redshank - 2 Rock Lea View Point Lytchett Bay RSPB

Caspian Gull - 1 Longham Lakes

Yellow - legged Gull - 1 Longham Lakes

Spoonbill - 6 from Birds of Poole Harbour Cruise

Bittern - 1 poss 2 leaving Radipole RSPB at Dusk, 1 Booming at Swinham GP

Great White Egret - 1 Hampreston Fields

Osprey - 1 Over Portland

Red Kite - 1 Wogret, 1 from Birds of Poole Harbour Cruise, 1 Herbury The Fleet

White Tailed Eagle - 2 from Birds of Poole Harbour Cruise

Willow Warbler - 1 Langton Matravers Lime kiln

Black Redstart - 1 Ladysmead Gardens Easton Portland

Dipper - 1 River Lim Lyme Regis

Water Pipit - 1 Longham Lakes & flew West

Snow Bunting - 1 heard calling St Aldhelms Pier Bottom

Alpine Swift - Christchurch ©Scott Usher

Friday 17th March 2023

Mandarin Duck - 2 Swineham, 1 Longham Lakes

Garganey - 5 Past Portland Bill, 1 Stanpit Marsh

Alpine Swift - 1 North side of Lodmoor RSPB over houses

Common Crane - 1 Swineham GP and then Middlebere flying East

Black-necked Grebe - 1 Middle beach Studland

Little Ringed Plover - 1 Approach Field Lytchetts Fields RSPB

Purple Sandpiper - 7 The Cobb Lyme Regis

Yellow-legged Gull - 1 Longham Lakes

Spoonbill - 1 Brownsea Island Lagoon DWT

Cattle Egret - 3 Lytchett Fields RSPB

White Tailed Eagle - 2 Arne RSPB

Willow Warbler - 1 Langton Matravers Lime Kiln

Black Redstart - 1 Easton Portland, 1 Tilly Whim Durlston CP, 1 West Bay, 1 Charlestown

Wheatear - 5 Greenland Farm, 5 Ferrybridge, 5 Sunnyside Farm Ridge, 4 Lyme Regis Cobb, 3 Lodmoor RSPB, 1 Scotland Farm Norden

White Wagtail - 2 Longham Lakes

Ringed Plover - Hegisbury Head © Clinton Whale

Garganey & Teal - Stanpit Marsh© Scott Usher

White Tailed Eagle - 1 Arne RSPB © Clive Hargrave

Pied & White Wagtails - Longham Lakes © Ron Poulter

Thursday 16th March 2023

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 2 Newton's Cove

Mandarin - 1 drake Longham Lakes

Eider - 4 off Pilot's Point

Red-throated Diver - 1 East Durlston CP.

Black-necked Grebe - 1sum/plum age Longham Lake

White-tailed Eagle - 1 over west Christchurch Hbr. (07:35hrs)

Merlin - 1 Durlston CP.

Ruff - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Sandwich Tern - 6 off Pilot's Point

Sand Martin - 28 Portland Bill, 3 Radipole Lake RSPB

Black Redstart - 1 male Durlston CP (Tilly Whim), 1 Portland Bill, 1 fem Easton

Wheatear - 3 Portland Bill, 1 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Down Farm

Wheatear - Hengistbury Head © Clinton Whale

Dunlin - Hengistbury Head © Clinton Whale

Wednesday 15th March 2023

Mandarin - 1 drake Longham Lake

Cattle Egret - 2 in field behind Worgret Manor viewed from Bog Lane, 2 flew up the Piddle Valley.

Spoonbill - 5 Wytch Channel

Red Kite - 2 Wareham Common, 2 Wimborne St. Giles, 1 Longham Lakes, 1 Knowlton Church, 1 Cranborne Chase, 1 Wyke Down (with yellow wing tags)

Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail Hartland Moor

White-tailed Eagle - 1 over Arne RSPB, Hartland Moor, Wareham Channel

Goshawk - 1 over Lytchett Bay

Golden Plover - c200 Charlton Down

Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Bay (from Rock Lea VP)

Iceland Gull - 1, 2CY west over Portland Bill

Sand Martin - 6 Longham Lakes, 3 Wareham Common, 1 Portland Bill

Swallow - 1 over Hog Hill

Black Redstart - 1 male QuinetQ Compound Portland Bill, 1 fem/type Ladymead Close Portland

Wheatear - c50 Portland Bill, 10 West Lexington, 5 Ferrybridge, 2 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Peveril Pt, 1 Longham Lakes.

Fieldfare - c80 Wyke Down

Brambling - 1 Portland Bill

Reed Bunting - Wareham © Clive Hargrave

Meadow Pipit - Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Linnet - Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Tuesday 14th March 2023

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1 with Db Brent Stanpit Marsh

Mandarin - 3 Alners Gorse, 2 Sherford Bridge, 1 drake Longham Lakes

Red-throated Diver - 1 past Hengistbury Hd.

Great Northern Diver - 2 off Bronze Castle

Slavonian Grebe - 3 NW of Wyke Regis Bridging Camp

Black-necked Grebe - 1 off Jerry's Point

Great White Egret - 1 Lodmoor RSPB

Spoonbill - 3 Brownsea Lagoon, 2 Swineham (on the Curlews Scrape)

White-tailed Eagle - 2 soaring over Arne RSPB, 1 over Christchurch Hbr.

Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail Wild Woodbury

Merlin - 1 Hengistbury Hd. 1 Swineham GP

Purple Sandpiper - 14 Hengistbury Hd (on Sandspit)

Green Sandpiper - 3 Bere Regis Cressbeds, 1 Maiden Newton

Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Bay (from Rock Lea VP)

Yellow-legged Gull - 1 Longham Lakes

Sand Martin - 2 Longhaam Lakes, 2 Silverlake, 2 Lodmoor RSPB, 1 Stanpit Marsh

White Wagtail - 1Stanpit Marsh (on Crouch Hill), 1 Longham Lakes

Wheatear - 1 Portland Bill

Monday 13th March 2023

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 2 over Portland Hbr, 1 west off Hengistbury Hd.

Black-necked Grebe - 3 Portland Hbr.

White-tailed Eagle - 1 over Lytchett Bay, 1 soaring over Swyer Head.

Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail Tarrant Kingston

Purple Sandpiper - 4 Hengistbury Hd (on the sandspit)

Whimbrel - 1 west past Hengistbury Hd.

Spotted Redshank - 2 Middlebere

Sand Martin - 4 over Swineham GP.

Peregrine - Christchurch Priory © Clinton Whale

Shelduck _ Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Sunday 12th March 2023

Black-necked Grebe - 2 Portland Harbour, 1 Studland Bay

Glaucous Gull - 1st winter Silverlake

Spoonbill - 10 Shipstal Point, Arne RSPB

Cattle Egret - 24 Portesham

Red Kite - 2 over St Ives

Woodlark - 1 over Portland Bird Observatory

Sand Martin - 2 Radipole Lake RSPB

Firecrest - First male of spring at Portland Bird Observatory

Redwing - 30 Badbury Rings

Fieldfare - 80 Badbury Rings

Wheatear - 1 at the Fleet

Wheatear, The Fleet © Freddy Alway

Mediterranean Gull, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Brent Geese, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Mediterranean Gull, Stanpit Marsh © Scott Usher

Saturday 11th March 2023

Mandarin Duck - 1 Pallington Lakes

Caspian Gull - 1 through Ferrybridge

Cattle Egret - 2 near Worget Farm Wareham

Sand Martin - 5 Swineham GPs

Black Redstart - 1 Portland Marina

Water Pipit - 1 Chesil Cove

Friday 10th March 2023

Whimbrel - 1 heard calling Brownsea Island NT

Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Spoonbill - 7 Brownsea Island NT

Little Egret - c.30 again on River Avon watermeadows, Christchurch

Hen Harrier - 1 adult male Arne Moors

Red Kite - 1 Organford, 1 Crossways

White-tailed Eagle - 2 over Wild Woodbury

Short-eared Owl - 1 Littlemoor

Black Redstart - 1 Easton Portland, 1 Charlton Down

Thursday 9th March 2023

Black-tailed Godwit - 312 Lytchett Bay, Stanpit 110

Spotted Redshank - 3 Pools Field Lytchett Fields RSPB

Sandwich Tern - 1 in summer plumage Baiter Poole Harbour

Glossy Ibis - 1 flew from Peveril Point Swanage towards Durlston

Little Egret - 30 on River Avon Royalty fishery water meadows at Christchurch

Turnstone, Mudeford Quay © Clinton Whale

Blackcap, Ferndown Garden © John Coates

Siskin, Ferndown Garden © John Coates

Wednesday 8th March 2023

Goldeneye - 1 Holme Lane GP
Great Crested Grebe - pair with 1 young on Hatch Pond
Sandwich Tern - 3 Poole Harbour (Whitley Lake)
Dipper - 2 Lyme Regis

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Hengistbury Head © Clinton Whale

Mandarin Duck - 1 male on North Lake, Longham Lakes
Black-necked Grebe - 3 Portland Harbour
Spotted Redshank - 1 Middlebere
Red-throated Diver - 1 past Hegistbury Head
Spoonbill - 3 Middlebere
Cattle Egret - 2 Worget
Water Pipit - 2 Lytchett Fields RSPB (1 Approach Field and 1 Pool Field)
Firecrest - 1 Hengistbury Wood

Monday 6th March 2023

Whooper Swan - 1 over Abbotsbury Swannery this afternoon
Mandarin Duck - 1 male Longham Lakes on South Lake
Goldeneye - 1 female Longham Lakes on South Lake
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Longham Lakes, 1 The Fleet (Littlesea), 1 off Jerry's Point
Slavonian Grebe - 4 The Fleet (Littlesea)
Common Sandpiper - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Bay
Spoonbill - 5 Lodmoor RSPB
Cattle Egret - 3 over Lytchett Bay this evening
White-tailed Eagle - 1 over Brand's Bay, 1 Bestwall
Red Kite - 2 over Lytchett Bay, 1 over Dorchester
Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB (Sherford Pool)

Song Thrush, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Black-tailed Godwits, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Sunday 5th March 2023

Goldeneye - 1 female at Longham Lakes
Grey Partridge - 6 Wyke Down
Black-necked Grebe - 5 Portland Harbour
Golden Plover - 152 at White Horse Hill near Osmington
Spotted Redshank - 1 Holes Bay
Spoonbill - 5 Lodmoor RSPB, 1 Brownsea Lagoon
White-tailed Eagle - 1 over Norden
Red Kite - 2 over Wareham Channel
Black Redstart - 1 still at Easton (Portland)
Firecrest - 2 Durlston CP

Saturday 4th March 2023.

Golden Plover - c200 over Charlton Down village.
Knot - 1 The Fleet (Cuttcleaves Cove).
Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Fields.
Red-throated Diver - 2 past Portland Bill.
Slavonian Grebe - 4 The Fleet (Littlesea).
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Poole Harbour (Jerry's Point), 1 The Fleet (Littlesea).
Cattle Egret - 1 Hurn (R. Stour), 2 Wareham (west roundabout).
Osprey - 1 north over Wick.
White-tailed Eagle - 4 Poole Harbour/Wareham Channel.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Wareham Channel.
Hen Harrier - 1 Wareham Channel.
Sand Martin - 1 Lodmoor.
Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Fields.
Black Redstart - 1 Portland (Easton), 1 West Bay.
Starling - murmuration, Wareham Forest (Birchwood Touring Park area).
Hooded Crow - a Hooded/Carrion hybrid at Portland Bill.

Cattle Egret, Wareham © Clive Hargrave

Hen Harrier, Slepe Heath (2nd March) © Elaine Geall

Linnets, Merley © Roger Peart

Redwing, Stanpit © Scott Usher

Friday 3rd March 2023.

Greylag - 2 Dorchester (Frome floodplain).
Eider - 4 Studland (Pilot's Point).
Pintail - 52 Christchurch Harbour.
Common Scoter - 30 Portland Bill.

Grey Partridge - 2 Wyke Down.
Grey Plover - 12 Stanpit.
Red-throated Diver - 4 past Portland Bill.
Black-necked Grebe - 2 Studland Bay (off Middle Beach).
Cattle Egret - 1 in the Frome Valley near Wareham.
White-tailed Eagle - 1 Ballard Down, 3 Lytchett Matravers, 1 Middlebere, 1 Wareham Channel.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Christchurch Harbour.
Hen Harrier - 1 Middlebere, 1 Wareham Channel, 1 Wyke Down..
Red Kite - 1 Parley common, 1+ Piddle Valley, 1+ Slepe Heath, 1+ Studland, 1 north Upton, 4 Wyke Down.

Merlin - 1 Wyke Down.
Black Redstart - 1 Charlton Down.
Firecrest - 3+ Arne, 2 Norden sewage works, 1 Portland (Suckthumb Quarry).
Hooded Crow - an apparent Hooded/Carrion hybrid at Portland Bill.

Thursday 2nd March 2023

Grrey Partridge - 2 Wyke Down
Whooper Swan - 1 Swineham GPs
Eider - 4 off Pilot's Point, Studland
Goldeneye - 1f Littlesea, The Fleet
Slavonian Grebe - 4 Littlesea, The Fleet
Avocet - 12 Holes Bay
Grey Plover - 4 Littlesea, The Fleet
Spotted Redshank - 1 still SW Holes Bay
Spoonbill - 6 still Lodmoor RSPB
Hen Harrier - 1m over Doles Ash, Cheselbourne
Red Kite - 3 Wyke Down, 2 over N & W Poole Harbour
White-tailed Eagle - 2 over Clayton Meadow, Studland, 1 over Wyke Down
Firecrest - 1 Upton CP
Water Pipit - 4 Sherford Pools, Lytchett Fields

Wednesday 1st March 2023.

Grey Plover - 6 Stanpit, 4 The Fleet (Lynch Cove).
Knot - 1 The Fleet (Lynch Cove).
Spotted Redshank - 1 Poole Harbour (Rock Lea viewpoint).
Red-throated Diver - 1 west past Chickerell over the sea.
Slavonian Grebe - 4 The Fleet (Littlesea).
Black-necked Grebe - 1 The Fleet (Littlesea).
Cattle Egret - 1 Lower Bockhampton (Duck Farm), 2 Wareham (west roundabout).
White-tailed Eagle - 1 southern Poole Harbour.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Stanpit.
Hen Harrier - 1 Winterborne Stickland.
Red Kite - 1 near Farnham, 1 Winterborne Stickland.
Merlin - 1 Milborne St Andrew.
Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Fields.
Black Redstart - 1 Portland (Easton).

Tuesday 28th February 2023.

Ruddy Shelduck - 3 Hengistbury Head.
Eider - 1 Hengistbury beach huts.
Golden Plover - c.300 Eggardon Hill.
Red-throated Diver - 2 Hengistbury beach huts.
Cattle Egret - 2 Wareham (Worgret Manor).
Spoonbill - 6 Lodmoor.
White-tailed Eagle - 2 southern Poole Harbour.
Marsh Harrier - 7 left Poole Harbour roosts this morning.
Hen Harrier - 1 Wyke Down.
Red Kite - 2 Chickerell, 1 Middlebere.
Black Kite - 1 Maiden Castle.
Firecrest - 2+ Brownsea Island.

Monday 27th February 2023

Eider - 1 off Beach Huts, Mudeford
Goldeneye - 1 still Radipole RSPB
Purple Sandpiper - 1 The Cobb, Lyme Regis
Spotted Redshank - 2 Lytchett Bay, 1 Middlebere
Spoonbill - 1 still Lodmoor RSPB
Cattle Egret - 3 Lytchett Bay, 2 near Worgret Roundabout, Wareham
Red Kite - 1 over Victoria Ave, Bournemouth
Black Kite - 1 possible Tarrant Rushton Airfield
White-tailed Eagle - 2 Poole Harbour, 1 Keysworth
Black Redstart - 1 still Easton, Portland
Dipper - 1 River Lym, Lyme Regis
Crossbill - 5 or 6 West of Culpepper's Dish, Briantspuddle


Greenfinch, Lodmoor RSPB ©Derek Fowler

Sunday 26th February 2023

Eider - 8 Poole Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 5 Portland Harbour, 4 Studland Bay off Middle Beach, 3 Bramble Bush Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Bramble Bush Bay
Golden Plover - c40 Maiden Castle
Spotted Redshank - 1 Swineham Point
Spoonbill - 1 Lodmoor RSPB
Great White Egret - 1 on R.Allen near Knowlton
White-tailed Eagle - 2 over Ballard Down, 1 over Rempstone
Hen Harrier - 1 male at Wyke Down, 1 ringtail near Witchampton
Red Kite - 6+ in Knowlton/Moor Crichel area, 1 Lytchett Bay
Black Kite - 1 over ploughed fields north of Winterborne Kingston
Barn Owl - 2 Knowlton
Black Redstart - 1 Easton (Portland)
Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB behind Road Pool, 1 Lodmoor RSPB
Redpoll - 2 Didlington near Moor Crichel
Linnet - 475 in arable field at Lytchett Fields RSPB

Yesterday : A White Tailed Eagle seen between King's Stag and Lydlinch

Saturday 25th February 2023

Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Spoonbill - 8 Arne RSPB at Shipstal Point
Cattle Egret - 1 Christchurch Harbour
White-tailed Eagle - 2 Wareham Channel
Hen Harrier - 1 over Wareham Channel
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Norden STW with 12+ Chiffchaffs
Black Redstart - 1 Charlton Down village
Dipper - 2 Lyme Regis on R.Lim
Water Pipit - 2 Lytchett Fields RSPB in approach field
Hawfinch - 1 South Perrott

Friday 24th February 2023

Mandarin Duck - 1 Longham Lakes

Common Scoter - 8 off Church Ope Cove Portland

Spotted Redshank - 3 Middlebere

Sandwich Tern - 1 Brownsea Island

Spoonbill - 2 Middlebere

White Tailed Eagle - 1 Wareham Channel IoW release G463

Sand Martin - 1 Lodmoor RSPB

Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Athelhampton, 1 Charminster

Firecrest - 3 Norden Sewage works, 1 PC World Drian, 1 Pennsylvania Castle Portland

Fieldfare - 60 Benecke Wood Nr Hardy Monument

Black Redstart - 1 Church Ope Portland, 1 West Bay, 1 in a private garden in Weymouth

Water Pipit - 4 Lytchett Fields RSPB approach field

Crossbill - 4 Culpeppers Dish

Reed Bunting - 90 Nr Bridport

Yesterday:

Great White Egret - 1 Poole Yacht Club Marina

Linnet - 2,400 Salway Ash nr Bridport

Thursday 23rd February 2023

Eider - 5 off Middle Beach Studland Bay

Velvet Scoter - 1 off South Beach Studland Bay

Common Scoter - 1 drake off Baiter Poole Harbour

Black-necked Grebe - 4 off South Beach Studland Bay, 2 off Sandsfoot Castle Portland Harbour

Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Cattle Egret - 2 on a private farm Coldharbour Chickerell

Red Kite - 1 Winterborne Zelston

Barn Owl - 1 nr Tarrant Monkton

White Tailed Eagle - 4 Arne RSPB flying towards Corfe Castle, 3 Over Abbotsbury flying NW (IoW Reintroduction)

Crossbill - 1 Oakers Wood / Culpeppers Dish

Wednesday 22nd February 2023

Eider - 6 Wareham Channel seen from BoPH Winter safari

Common Scoter - 8 Wareham Channel seen from BoPH Winter safari

Common Crane - 2 Over Lytchett Fields RSPB flew west

Grey Plover - 100 Brownsea Island Lagoon DWT

Bar - tailed Godwit - 100 Brownsea Island Lagoon DWT

Green Sandpiper - 2 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Spotted Redshank - 2 Holes Bay, 2 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Hen Harrier - 2 ringtails Morden Bog Wareham Forest

Red Kite - 1 South of Easton Portland, 1 Holywell, 1 Poole Harbour

White Tailed Eagle - 2 Goathorn Poole Harbour (IOW introduction)

Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill

Water Pipit - 1 1k Lytchett Fields RSPB

Tuesday 21st February 2023

Mandarin Duck - 1 male at Longham Lakes

Pochard - 118 Longham Lakes

Common Scoter - 8 off Patchins Point Arne RSPB

Grey Plover - 157 Brownsea Island Lagoon DWT

Knot - 6 Brownsea Island Lagoon DWT

Spotted Redshank - 2 Middlebere, 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Hen Harrier - 1 Ringtail Middlebere