Dorset Birds: 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

RARE BREEDING BIRDS

Dorset Bird Club and the Rare Breeding Birds Panel advocate special caution when reporting rare breeding birds as they are vulnerable to persecution and disturbance.

Please consider the birds welfare and do not share details of any rare breeding species on X/Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp groups, personal websites, blogs, or local birdwatching message boards.

We urge all finders of rare birds to consider whether they may be breeding before sharing the news.

Sightings should always be submitted, in confidence, to the county recorder to contribute to long-term national monitoring.