Dorset Birds: Tuesday 17th October 2023

Curlew Sandpiper - 1 Lytchett Bay.
Green Sandpiper - 1 Muckleford (NW of Dorchester).
Great White Egret - 1 Longham Lakes.
Cattle Egret - 2 Stoborough.
Spoonbill - 3 Lytchett Bay.
Osprey - 1 Brands Bay, 1 Holes Bay.
White-tailed Eagle - 2 over Middlebere.
Red Kite - 1 Stanpit.
Hen Harrier - 1 Middlebere.
Merlin - 1 Ballard Down, 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Middlebere.
Richard's Pipit - a possible at West Bay.
Ring Ouzel - 17 Ballard Down.
Firecrest - 2 Ballard Down.
Brambling - 1 Ballard Down, 1 Poole Harbour mouth.

Migration: Birds moving in numbers included Woodpigeon, Redwing, Starling, Linnet, Goldfinch and Siskin.

Late news: Richard's Pipit at Portland Bill and Hawfinch at West Bay yesterday.

Pied Wagtail, Stanpit © 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.