Dorset Birds: Sunday 17th May 2026

Quail - 1 singing East of Winterborne Clenston
Cuckoo - 3 Blackheath Wareham Forest, 3 Lower Allen Valley
Spoonbill - 2 Lodmoor, 1 flew up the Piddle Valley early morning
Red Kite - 9 Lower Allen Valley

Spoonbill, Lodmoor © Steve Carey

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.