Dorset Birds: February 2024

Thursday 29th February 2024

Black-throated Diver - 1 off Portland Castle

Great Northern Diver - 1 off Portland Castle

Slavonian Grebe - 1 off Redhorn Quay

Merlin - 1 fem/type Wick

Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Bay

Black Redstart - 1 fem/type Portland Bill, 1 West Bay (opposite Windy Corner cafe)

Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Louds Mill (opposite the water works)

Snipe - Middlebere © Mike Hetherington

Black-headed Gull - Christchurch Quay © Clinton Whale

Wednesday 28th February 2024

Common Scoter - 21 on sea off Hengistbury Hd.

Red-throated Diver - 2 off Hengistbury Hd

Black-throated Diver - 1 off Shipstal Pt Arne RSPB, 1 Poole Bay off Branksome Chine

Great Northern Diver - 10 Poole Bay

Cattle Egret - 2 Longham Lakes

Great White Egret - 1 Stanpit Marsh

White-tailed Eagle - 1 over Christchurch Hbr.

Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail Coombe Arne RSPB,

Merlin - 1 female seen crossing Poole Bay, 1 fem/type Wick

Purple Sandpiper - 20 Hengistbury on the Sandspit

Spotted Redshank - 2 Middlebere

Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill

Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Louds Mill

Grey Heron - Iford Bridge © Clinton Whale

Tuesday 27th February 2024

Great Northern Diver - 4 from Billy Winters Beach Bar, 1 Tidmoor Pt.

Slavonian Grebe - 2 off Billy Winters Beach Bar, 5 off Tidmoor Pt.

Black-necked Grebe - 3 from Billy Winters, 1 Tidmoor Pt.

Great White Egret - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Spoonbill - 8 Shipstall Pt. Arne RSPB

Red Kite - 3 over Lytchett Bay

White-tailed Eagle - 2 Poole Hbr seen various location today - Lytchett and Brand's Bay and Wareham channel.

Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail - Wild Woodbury DWT, 1 Lytchett Bay (from RLVP)

Spotted Redshank - 1 Middlebere

Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Louds Mill St. Georges Road Dorchester.

Waxwing - 8 Cowley Rd. Nuffield Estate Poole

Yellow-browed Warbler - Loud's Mill © Alan Membury

Redwing - Loud's Mill © Alan Membury

Monday 26th February 2024

Pale-bellied Brent Goose 7 Ferrybridge

Scaup - 2 past Hengistbury Hd.

Long-tailed Duck - 2 Littlesea The Fleet

Red-throated Diver - 3 Portland Bill, 2 past Hengistbury Hd.

Slavonian Grebe - 4 Littlesea The Fleet

Black-necked Grebe - 3 Portland Hbr.

Cattle Egret - 13 Wareham Common

Green Sandpiper - 1 Upton CP.

Spotted Redshank - 2 Middlebere. 1 Lytchett Bay (RLVP)

Little Gull - 1 Portland Hbr.

Yellow-legged Gull - 1 2CY Portland Bill

Swallow - 1 still Radipo;e Lake RSPB

Black Redstart - 1 female type Church Ope Cove

Cormorant - IFord Bridge © Clinton Whale

Redwing - Upton CP © Robert Fielding

Sunday 25th February 2024

Mandarin Duck - 4 Holmebridge 2 pairs

Long tailed Duck - 2 The Fleet Tidmoor pt Chickerell, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery (closed for winter)

Slavonian Grebe - 5 The Fleet Tidmoor pt Chickerell

Black necked Grebe - 1 off Jerry's Pt Studland

Grey Plover - 212 Brownsea Lagoon DWT

Bar tailed Godwit - 48 Brownsea Lagoon DWT

Dunlin - c4300 Brownsea Lagoon DWT

Sandwich Tern - 1 Holes Bay North of Cobbs Quay

Cattle Egret - 4 Between Hod and Stourpaine

Red Kite - 2 Rock Lea VP Lytchett Bay RSPB

Marsh Tit - 1 Thorncombe Woods

Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Louds Mill Sewage works Dorchester

Lesser Redpoll - 1 Thorncombe Woods

2898 Black tailed Godwits - Avon Causeway © Kevin Sayer

Saturday 24th February 2024

Mandarin Duck - 2 Male & female still at Holmebridge

Goosander - 2 Male & female still at Holmebridge

Black necked Grebe - 1 off Jerry's Point Poole Harbour

Grey Plover - 66 Brand's Bay Studland

Knot - 12 Brand's Bay Studland

Spotted Redshank - 2 Middlebere Channel

Spoonbill - 7 Arne RSPB

Cattle Egret - 41 Swineham Poole Harbour record, 12 Holmebridge

Hen Harrier - 1 Ringtail nr Dewlish, 1 Ringtail Arne RSPB

Red Kite - 2 over Hartland Moor

White tailed Eagle - 2 over North Swanage and Later in the Middlebere Channel & Brand's Bay Salt Marsh

Merlin - 1 Greenlands Farm Studland

Waxwing - 8 This morning at South Rd Corfe Mullen

Yellow- browed Warbler - 1 Louds Mill Sewage Works Dorchester

Black Redstart - 1 Tarrant Rushton

Water Pipit - 1 Crouch Hill Stanpit Marsh

Yesterday

Long tailed Duck 2 The Fleet Littlesea

Slavonian Grebe - 4 The Fleet Littlesea

Yellow-browed Warbler - Dorchester © Alan Membury

Dark bellied Brent Gosse - Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Stonechat - Abbotsbury © Pauline Shave

Friday 23rd February 2024

Mandarin Duck - 2 Holmebridge

Goosander - 2 Holmebridge

Ringed Plover - 28 Hengisbury Head

Black tailed Godwit - 1849 Avon Causeway, 1015 Holes Bay

Knot - 27 Holes Bay

Purple Sandpiper - 24 Hengisbury Head

Spotted Redshank - 3 Lytchett Fields RSPB, 2 Middlebere, 1 Holes Bay

Greenshank - 5 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Sandwich Tern - 1 Holes Bay

Spoonbill - 7 Wareham Channel

Cattle Egret - 4 Althelhampton

Goshawk - 1 from Rock Lea VP Lytchett Bay RSPB

Hen Harrier - 1 Male Middlebere NT Hide

Red Kite - 1 over Christchurch Harbour

White tailed Eagle - 2 Arne RSPB, 1 Stanpit Marsh

Waxwing - 7 Corfe Mullen, 6 Lyme Regis Golf Club

Redwing - 30 Upton CP, 6 Christchurch Harbour

Black Redstart - Ope Cove Portland

Siskin - Winterbourne Stickland © Will Bown

Purple Sandpiper - Hengisbury Head © Mike Kirby

Waxwing - Lyme Regis Golf Club
©Patrick Riley

Dunlin & Ringed Plover - Hengisbury Head
© Mike Kirby

Little Egret - Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Thursday 22nd February 2024

Black - necked Grebe - 1 Birds of Poole Harbour low tide cruise

Grey Plover - 20 Birds of Poole Harbour low tide cruise

Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Great Northern Diver - 7 Birds of Poole Harbour low tide cruise

Cattle Egret - 29 Wareham Common, 4 Bardolf Farm

Short eared Owl - 3 Wyke Down

Swallow - 1 Radipole RSPB

Late News: Wheatear - 1 seen on 18th February at Batcombe Down

Brent Goose -246 Baiter Park, Poole
Oystercatcher - 223 Baiter Park, Poole
Purple Sandpiper - 17 Mudeford Quay
Little Gull - 1 Mudeford Quay
Waxwing - 6 still from Public Footpath through Lyme Regis Golf Club
Cirl Bunting - 8 at a West Dorset Farm

Yesterday: -

Waxwing - 7 Corfe Mullen

Dunnock, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Cirl Bunting, West of Bridging Camp, The Fleet © Steve Mansfield

Black-headed Gill, Hamworthy © Tina Dawkins

Tuesday 20th February 2024

Common Scoter - 3 from Castle Cove Sailing Club, Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 3 still Portland Harbour
Avocet - 120 Brownsea Lagoon DWT
Bar-tailed Godwit - 108 Brownsea Lagoon DWT
Purple Sandpiper - 4 still Portland Bill
Black-throated Diver - 5 off Portland Castle
Great Northern Diver - 3 Shell bay, 2 Poole Harbour Channel, 1 Portland Harbour
Waxwing - 6 still from Publice Footpath through Lyme Regis Golf Club
Marsh Tit - 3 Oakers Wood
Swallow - 1 still Radipole RSPB
Firecrest - 1 Thorncombe Wood
Black Redstart - 1 West Pier, West Bay, 1 by Cafe, Portland Bill
Lesser Redpoll - 1+ by Rushy Pond, Thorncombe Wood

Short-eared Owl, North Dorset © Jermey McClements

Wigeon, Hamworthy © Tina Dawkins

Redwing, Holes Bay © Tony Furnell

Monday 19th February 2024

Whooper Swan - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery (Note Swannery closed so please only view from public rights of way)
Egyptian Goose - 12 Avon Causeway (2 adults & 10 goslings)
Goldeneye - 1 Longham Lakes (South Lake)
Black-necked Grebe - 2 Portland Harbour from Billy Winters
Black-tailed Godwit - 3000 Avon Causeway
Greenshank - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Great Northern Diver - 2 Poole Harbour off Hamworthy Beach
Black-throated Diver - 1 Portland Harbour from Sandsfoot Castle
Cattle Egret - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB, 1 Hampreston Farm
Great White Egret - 3 Avon Causeway
White-tailed Eagle - 1 Middlebere, 1 Corfe Castle
Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail at Middlebere
Merlin - 1 Swineham
Red Kite - 3 Wyke Down, 1 Arne RSPB (Coombe Heath)
Short-eared Owl - 2 Wyke Down
Ring-necked Parakeet - 1 Studland Middle Beach
Waxwing - 8 behind 99 Phelipps Road in Corfe Mullen, 6 Lyme Regis Golf Club
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Swineham
Water Pipit - 2 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Crossbill - 4 Middlebere

Fulmar, Durlston CP © Clive Hargrave

Sunday 18th February 2024

Egyptian Goose - 4 Athelhampton
Pintail - 1004 Brand's Bay (this well exceeds previous site records)
Long-tailed Duck - 2 Littlesea (The Fleet)
Spotted Redshank - 2 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Greenshank - 4 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Brand's Bay
Great Northern Diver - 1 Littlesea (The Fleet)
White-tailed Eagle - 1 over Middlebere
Hen Harrier - 1 Swineham
Red Kite - 2 over Upton and Holes Bay
Short-eared Owl - 3 Wyke Down this afternoon
House Martin - 1 over West Morden is first for year
Firecrest - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB by feeders at Pool Field
Black Redstart - 1 Tarrant Rushton Airfield
Water Pipit - 1 Durlston CP, 1 Stanpit Marsh

Pied Wagtail, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Saturday 17th February 2024

Scaup - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-tailed Duck - 2 Littlesea (The Fleet), 1 Abbotsbury Swannery (Swannery closed so only view from public rights of way)
Goldeneye - 2 Longham Lakes (South Lake)
Slavonian Grebe - 6 Littlesea (The Fleet)
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour, 1 Poole Harbour entrance
Black-throated Diver - 1 Hengistbury Head
Red-throated Diver - 2 Hengistbury Head
Great Northern Diver - 8 Poole Harbour, 2 Littlesea (The Fleet)
Spoonbill - 4 Poole Harbour
Cattle Egret - 33 Wareham Common, 6 from roost on Hengistbury, 2 Hampreston Fields
Great White Egret - 1 over Longham Lakes
Red Kite - 2 over Lytchett Matravers
Short-eared Owl - 1 Abbotsbury STW, 1 over Hengistbury
Waxwing - 8 still at Dacombe Drive in Upton
Swallow - 1 over Radipole Lake RSPB
Firecrest - 1 Hengistbury Wood
Water Pipit - 4 Lytchett Fields RSPB on Sherford Pools
Brambling - 4 Hengistbury

Friday 16th February 2024

Slavonian Grebe - 3 still, close inshore, Brands Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Poole Harbour
Black-tailed Godwit - 1774 Holes Bay
Purple Sandpiper - 1 from Mudeford Quay
Spotted Redshank - 2 still from Rock Lea Viewpoint
Great Northern Diver - 5 Poole Harbour
Spoonbill - 11 still Shipstal Point, Arne RSPB
Waxwing - 8 still Dacombe Drive, Upton

Shelduck, Stanpit Marsh © Dave Hill

Great-crested Grebe, On Sea off Mudeford Quay © Clinton Whale

Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Stanpit Marsh © Dave Hill

Thursday 15th February 2024

Pintail - 600+ off Redhorn Quay
Scaup - 3 still Abbotsbury Swannery, view from New Barn Road
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery, view from New Barn Road
Slavonian Grebe - 3 off Redhorn Quay, 1 from Brands Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 2 off Redhorn Quay, 2 Central Poole Harbour
Avocet - c500 Poole Harbour inc. 216 Brownsea Lagoon
Grey Plover - 176 Brownsea Lagoon
Bar-tailed Godwit - 103 Brownsea Lagoon
Knot - 211 Brownsea Lagoon
Sanderling - c35 Studland Beach, 6 Brownsea Lagoon
Dunlin - 2800+ Brownsea Lagoon
Spotted Redshank - 2 still Lytchett Fields, 2 Middlebere
Black-throated Diver - 1 Central Poole Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 8 Poole Harbour, 1 from Mudeford Beach Huts
Spoonbill - 9 Wareham Channel
Cattle Egret - c36 Wareham Common, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery from New Barn Road, 1 in field near Old Harry
Red Kite - 1 over St. Leonards
Waxwing - 8 still Dacombe Drive or Asda Trees, Canford Heath
Firecrest - 2 Norden Sewage Works
Black Redstart - 1f in Private Garden, Broadwey
Crossbill - 12 in Birch Trees at Wytch Heath from Thrashers Lane

Blackbird, Lyme Regis © Pam Parsons

Curlew, Poole Harbour © Tony Furnell

Red-breasted Merganser © Phil Cheeseman

Wednesday 14th February 2024

Scaup - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery

Long-tailed Duck - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery

Slavonian Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour

Black-necked Grebe - 2 Portland Harbour

Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Black-throated Diver - 1 Portland Harbour

Siskin, Merley Garden © Roger Peart

Peregrine, Christchurch Priory © Clinton Whale

Pintail, Stanpit Marsh © Clinton Whale

Tuesday 13th February 2024

Goldeneye - 2 Jerry's Point Studland

Slavonian Grebe - 1 Jerry's Point Studland

Spotted Redshank - 4 Pools Field Lytchett Fields RSPB

Great Northern Diver - 5 Jerry's Point Studland

Waxwing - 8 Canford Heath by Asda roundabout

Yesterday

Bittern - 1 Swineham Gravel Pit at dusk

Waxwing - Upton © Mike Foote

Monday 12th February 2024

Long tailed Duck - 1 Abbottsbury Swannery Closed only view from public footpaths

Goldeneye - 2 Longham Lakes

Black necked Grebe - 1 off Knoll Beach Studland

Spotted Redshank - 2 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Mediterranean Gull - 18 Hatch Pond flying North

Cattle Egret - 19 Ferncroft Farm North of Wareham Common

Hen Harrier - 1 Ringtail Arne RSPB, 1 Sixpenny Hadley

White tailed|Eagle - 3 From Hydes Heath Arne RSPB

Short - eared Owl - 3 Wyke Down

Waxwing - 8 Dacombe Drive Upton

Marsh Tit - 2 Thorncombe Wood

Black Redstart - 1 Church Ope Cove Portland

Lesser Redpoll - Thorncombe Wood

Sunday 11th February 2024

Scaup - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery

Long-tailed Duck - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery

Goosander - female Athelhampton Water Meadows

Slavonian Grebe - 2 Poole Harbour

Black-necked Grebe - 2 from Sandsfoot Castle, Portland Harbour, 1 Poole Harbour

Black-tailed Godwit - 4200 in the Avon Valley

Dunlin - 200+ Stanpit Marsh

Spotted Redshank - 3 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Sandwich Tern - 2 Shipstal Point Arne RSPB

Black-throated Diver - 1 Portland Harbour

Great Northern Diver - 1 Portland Harbour, 1 Poole Harbour

Spoonbill - 13 Shipstal Point Arne RSPB

Great White Egret - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Goshawk - 1 Poole Harbour

Hen Harrier - Ringtail again at Middlebere

White-tailed Eagle - 1 (G801) Poole Harbour

Waxwing - 8 again at Asda Canford Heath, 8 still Dacombe Drive Upton`

Black Redstart - 1 Portland Castle, 2 Portland Marina

Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Saturday 10th February 2024

Common Crane - 4 Maiden Castle before 11:45 and over Culpeper's Dish about 13:00.
White-tailed Eagle - 1 Christchurch Harbour, 2 Wareham Channel.
Marsh Harrier - 2 Holmebridge.
Red Kite - 2+ Badbury Rings avenue, 2 Blandford bypass, 1 Bridport.
Goshawk - 1 Holmebridge.
Great Northern Diver - 1 off Hengistbury.
Red-throated diver - 7 off Hengistbury.
Waxwing - 8 Upton (Dacombe Drive)/Canford Heath (Asda car park).
Swallow - 1 Studland.
Cirl Bunting - 2+ The Fleet (near the Bridging Camp).

Friday 9th February 2024

Spotted Redshank - 3 Lytchett Fields.
Purple Sandpiper - 16 Hengistbury sandspit.
White-tailed Eagle - 1 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Poole Harbour, 2 north Dorset.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Wick.
Hen Harrier - 1 Middlebere.
Merlin - 1 Wareham common.
Little Gull - 1 Stanpit.
Great Northern Diver - 3 off Arne.
Black-throated Diver - 1 off Arne.
Great White Egret - 1 Sturminster Marshall (White Mill).
Cattle Egret - 17 Wareham Common.
Waxwing - 8 Upton (Dacombe Drive)/Canford Heath (Asda car park).
Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Fields.
Swallow - 1 Studland.
Firecrest - 1 Dewlish, 1 Hatch Pond, 1 Wick.

Thursday 8th February 2024

Long-tailed Duck - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery (note Swannery closed for winter so only view from public rights of way)
Spotted Redshank - 2 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Green Sandpiper - 2 Lytchett Fields RSPB
Caspian Gull - 1 sub-adult at Abbotsbury Swannery
Firecrest - 2 Lytchett Fields RSPB

Wednesday 7th February 2024

Goosander - 17 roosting at Silverlake.
Spotted Redshank - 1 Lytchett Fields
Jack Snipe - 1 Wick watermeadows.
White-tailed Eagle - 1 Middlebere.
Marsh Harrier - 2 Lytchett Fields.
Hen Harrier - 1 Swineham.
Merlin - 1 Middlebere, 1 Wareham common.
Great Northern Diver - 2 Brands Bay, 3 Poole Harbour mouth, 2 The Fleet.
Black-throated Diver - 1 Poole Harbour mouth.
Black-throated Grebe - 2 Brands Bay.
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Brands Bay
Spoonbill - 3 Middlebere.
Waxwing - 8 Upton (Dacombe Drive).
Water Pipit - 2 Lytchett Fields.

Tuesday 6th February 2024

Mandarin - 2 lower Piddle valley, 1 Winterborne Monkton.
Grey Partridge - 4 Wyke Down.
Purple Sandpiper - 14 Highcliffe, 15 from Mudeford Quay.
Green Sandpiper - 1 Wimborne St Giles, 1 Winterborne Monkton.
White-tailed Eagle - 2 Poole Harbour.
Marsh Harrier - 1+ Christchurch Harbour.
Hen Harrier - 1 Lytchett Bay, 1 Middlebere.
Red Kite - 1 Christchurch Harbour.
Merlin - 1 Wareham common.

Great Northern Diver - 1 Weymouth Harbour.
Cattle Egret - 5 Tolpuddle, 24 Wareham common.
Spoonbill - 5 Arne (Shipstal), 1 Holes Bay.
Waxwing - 8 Upton (Dacombe Drive).

Black Redstart - 1 Weymouth (Newton's Cove).