Dorset Birds: Friday 17th April 2026

Cuckoo - 1 heard calling in Corfe Valley, 1 heard on Slepe Heath, 1 heard Christchurch Harbour (Ashtree Meadows)
Whimbrel - 11 over Christchurch Harbour, 6 Abbotsbury Swannery, 2 Brownsea Lagoon
Knot - 3 Middlebere
Common Sandpiper - 1 Longham Lakes (South Lake)
Arctic Skua - 2 off Camp Road at Wyke Regis, 1 dark phase at Peveril Point this evening
Great Skua - 2 off Camp Road at Wyke Regis, 1 Hengistbury
Pomarine Skua -1 Portland Bill, the first of the year
FORSTER'S TERN - 1 again on Brownsea Lagoon around midday
Little Gull - 1 adult at Stanpit Marsh
Manx Shearwater - 1 past Peveril Point this evening
Spoonbill - 3 Brownsea Lagoon
Osprey - 2nd egg laid by 022 and CJ7 at Poole Harbour
Ring Ouzel - 1 at Hartland Moor along road between Slepe House and Middlebere farm track (only seen early morning)
Red-spotted Bluethroat - 1 male still along path at eastern end of Swineham GPs

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 social media, 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.