Dorset Birds: Monday March 3rd 2025

Lesser Scaup - 1st winter drake still on south lake of Longham Lakes

Long-tailed Duck - 1 still from Jerry's Point, 2 Portland Harbour opposite Billy Winters

Slavonian Grebe - 1 from Jerry's Point, 1 still off Redhorn Quay Brands Bay

Black-necked Grebe - 1 off South Haven Studland Heath NNR, 3 Middle Beach Studland, 1 Portland Harbour

Curlew - 11 Stanpit

Ruff - 2 Swineham

Marsh Harrier - 1 just west of Hardy's monument

Hen Harrier - Ringtail Middlebere

Red Kite - 1 just west of Hardy's monument, 1 Swineham, 1 Swanage, 1 Kingston, 2 Wyke Down

Short-eared Owl - 2 Wyke Down

Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 still sewage works Abbotsbury

Hawfinch - 1 still St Mary's churchyard Lytchett Matravers

Sparrowhawk, Winterbourne Stickland © Will Bown

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.