Sightings - Saturday 14th May 2016

Mandarin - 2 Canford Bridge.

Black Kite - 1 over Durlston.

Marsh Harrier - 3 Arne Moors.

Honey Buzzard - 1 over Durlston.

Hobby - 7 Arne Moors.

Red-footed Falcon - 1 over Verwood.

Black-winged Stilt - 1 Lychett Fields.

Whimbrel - 5 Ferrybridge, 3 Christchurch Harbour.

Cuckoo - 1 Stanpit, 1 Swineham.

Great Spotted Cuckoo - 1 Portland.

Short-eared Owl - 2 Portland Bill.

Bee-eater - 1 Weymouth.

Red-rumped Swallow - 1 Lodmoor.

Serin - 1 Portland Observatory.

Red-rumped Swallow at Lodmoor © Peter Moore

Red-rumped Swallow at Lodmoor © Peter Moore

Mandarin – Canford Bridge  © Roger Peart.

Mandarin  – Canford Bridge © Roger Peart.

Mediterranean Gull – Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy.

Sightings - Friday 13th May 2016

Garganey - 1 at Lodmoor.

Glossy Ibis - 1 Lytchett Fields.

Black-winged Stilt - 1 Lytchett Fields (until mid-morning only).

Sanderling - 12 Stanpit.

Dunlin - 52 Stanpit.

Wood Sandpiper - 1 over Wick Hams.

Roseate Tern - 1 Hengistbury Head,

Cuckoo - 1 Sturminster Marshall.

GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO - 1 Reap Lane Portland (only the 3rd Dorset record).

White Wagtail - 2 Portland.

Yellow Wagtail - 7 Portland, 1 Christchurch Harbour,

Whinchat - 1 Portland.

Wood Warbler - 1 Sherborne sewage works.

Spotted Flycatcher - 10 Portland.

Pied Flycatcher - 1 Portland.

Serin - 1 over Portland.

Point of interest:-  Peregrine Falcon - 3 chicks ringed today at Lansdowne Tower.

Great Spotted Cuckoo at Portland - © Brett Spencer

Great Spotted Cuckoo at Portland - © Brett Spencer

Great Spotted Cuckoo at Portland © Brendan Sheils

Great Spotted Cuckoo at Portland © Chris Minvalla

Sandwich Tern at Stanpit © Joe Murphy.

Sightings - Thursday 12th May 2016

Black-necked Grebe - 1 Longham Lakes.

Bittern - 1 Lodmoor.

Glossy Ibis - 1 Lytchett Fields.

Hobby - 1 Slepe Moor, 1 Southwell.

Black-winged Stilt - 1 Lytchett Fields.

Grey Plover - 3 Lodmoor.

Knot - 1 Lodmoor.

Sanderling - 29 Ferrybridge.

Whimbrel - 11 Lytchett Fields, 8 Lodmoor, 1 Middlebere.

Greenshank - 3 Lytchett Fields,1 Middlebere.

Ruff - 1 Lychett Fields.

Cuckoo - 1 Southwell Gardens.

Short-toed Lark - 1 Near Pulpit Inn Portland.

Black-winged Stilt – Lychett Fields © Ian Ballam.

Knot & Dunlin – Lodmoor  © Derek Fowler.

Sightings - Wednesday 11th May 2016

Egyptian Goose - 2 Longham Lakes.
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Longham Lakes. In summer plumage.
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor.
Glossy Ibis - 1 Lychett Fields.
Black-winged Stilt - 1 Lychett Fields.
Ringed Plover - 50 over Stanpit, 31 Lychett Fields. Single flock record for the site.
Knot - 1 Lodmoor. In summer plumage.
Sanderling - 40 Lodmoor, 7 Stanpit.
Common Sandpiper - 5 Stanpit, 1 Longham Lakes.
Greenshank - 2 Lychett Fields, 1 Lodmoor.
Turtle Dove - 1 Lodmoor.
Nightjar - 1 Longham Lakes.
Wheatear - 2 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Portland Observatory.
Garden Warbler - 1 Longham Lakes, 1 Portland Observatory.
Wood Warbler - 1 Portland Observatory.

Western Bonelli's Warbler - 1 Portland Observatory.

Late news from yesterday Cuckoo - 1 Badbury Rings.

Glossy Ibis – Lychett Fields © Ian Ballam.

Nightjar – Longham Lakes ©Trevor Wilkinson.

Song Thrush – Longham Lakes ©Trevor Wilkinson.

Sightings - Tuesday 10th May 2016

Black-throated Diver - 1 in Portland Harbour
Black-winged Stilt - 1 at Lodmoor
Black Tern - 2 in Chesil Cove
Short-eared Owl - 1 at Portland Bill
Bee-eater - 2 over Weston

Black-winged Stilt at Lodmoor by Brett Spencer

Black-winged Stilt at Lodmoor by Brett Spencer

Fulmar at Durlston by David Wareham

Sightings - Monday 9th May 2016

Garganey - singles at Abbotsbury and Radipole.
Black-throated Diver - 1 past Portland Bill.
Red-necked Grebe - 1 off Chesil Cove.
Whimbrel - 8 past St Aldhelm's Head.
Grey Plover - 81 past St Aldhelm's Head.
Knot - 14 past St Aldhelm's Head.
Bar-tailed Godwit - 97 past St Aldhelm's Head.
Sanderling - 44 past St Aldhelm's Head.
Pomarine Skua - 9 past Portland Bill (7 of these also seen off St Aldhelm's Head).
Black Tern - 10 past Chesil Cove.

We are very grateful to all our contributors of bird sightings across Dorset but please note that sightings of rare breeding birds in suitable habitat will not appear here. This includes species such as Red Kite, Honey Buzzard, Nightjar etc - a full list of species and further guidelines will appear in due course. What are considered to be obvious migrants will continue to appear on the blog.

Sightings - Sunday 8th May 2016

Garganey - 2 at Abbotsbury Swannery.
Black-throated Diver - 1 in Portland Harbour.
Great Northern Diver - singles past Chesil and in Portland Harbour.
Red-necked Grebe - a breeding plumage bird off Chesil Cove.
Red-footed Flacon - female still at Morden Bog.
Kentish Plover - 1 at Stanpit Marsh.
Wood Sandpiper - 1 at Lytchett Bay.
Pomarine Skua - 3 past Chesil and 1 past Portland Bill.
Black Tern - 1 past Chesil Cove.
Turtle Dove - 1 at Verne Common.
Nightjar - 1 at West Bexington.

Grey Plover at Lodmoor by Brett Spencer

If you have been lucky enough to photograph something of interest in Dorset and enjoy reading this blog then please consider forwarding us a copy so we can include it, space permitting. Thank you to all our regular contributors, your photos are much appreciated.

Sightings - Saturday 7th May 2016

Black-throated Diver - 1 Portland Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 4 Portland Harbour
Osprey - 1 Morden Bog, 1 over Lytchett Bay
Red Kite - 2 over Bulbery GC, 3 Morden Bog
RED-FOOTED FALCON - 1 Morden Bog
BLACK-WINGED STILT - 1 over Morden Bog
Purple Sandpiper - 7 Lyme Regis
Black Tern - 1 past Chesil Cove
Common Tern - 114 past Hengistbury Head, 235 commic terns past Portland Bill
Roseate Tern - 1 past Chesil Cove
Little Gull - 1 Chesil Cove
Pomarine Skua - 1 over Ferrybridge, 2 past Portland Bill, 1 past Chesil Cove
Arctic Skua - 3 past Portland Bill
Swift - 55 over Christchurch Harbourj

Red-footed Falcon Wareham Forest © Brett Spencer

Woodlark Wareham Forest © Brett Spencer

Sightings - Friday 6th May 2016

Great Northern Diver - 1 summer-plumaged bird past Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Bill.
Red-Throated Diver -1 past Hengistbury Head.
Red-Necked Grebe - 1 summer-plumaged bird off West Bexington.
CATTLE EGRET - 1 Lodmoor.
BLACK-WINGED STILT - 2 Stanpit then flew NE.
Marsh Harrier - 1 Christchurch Harbour, 1 past Hengistbury Head, 1 West Bexington.
Hen Harrier - 1 Poole Harbour.
PALLID HARRIER - 1 probable over Hengistbury Head.
Honey Buzzard - 1 NE over Holton Lee.
Red Kite - 7 reports from across the county covering at least 13 birds today.
Osprey - 1 Hengistbury Head.
RED-FOOTED FALCON - 1 Morden Bog.
Hobby - 1 Arne, 3 off the sea at Hengistbury Head.
Grey Plover - 18 Chesil, 3 Christchurch Harbour, 13 off Grip Heath, 2 Hengistbury Head, 1 Lytchett Bay.
Kentish Plover - 1 briefly Hengistbury Head.
Whimbrel - 7 reports from the coast covering at least 40 birds today.
Ruff - 1 Lytchett Bay.
Common Sandpiper - 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Lytchett Bay.
Purple Sandpiper - 1 Hengistbury Head.
Greenshank - 5 Lytchett Bay.
Pomarine Skua - 8 Chesil, 4 Portland Bill.
Arctic Skua - 2 Chesil.
Iceland Gull - 1 past Hengistbury Head.
Black Tern - 7 Chesil, 9 Hengistbury Head, 3 Portland Bill.
Arctic Tern - 5 Mudeford Quay.
Roseate Tern - 2 Mudeford Quay, 1 Portland Bill.
Short-Eared Owl - 1 Hengistbury Head.
Whinchat - 1 Coombe Heath, 1 Lytchett Bay, 1 Reap Lane Portland, 1 Renscombe.
Redstart - 1 Christchurch Harbour.
Black Redstart - 1 Lytchett Bay.
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Ballard Down.

Cattle Egret Lodmoor © Jol Mitchell



Little Egret at Durlston Head © Geoff Norquoy



Black Redstart at Lytchett Bay © Clive Hargrave



Female Whinchat at Lytchett Bay © Clive Hargrave

Red-necked Grebe off West Bexington © M J Morse

Sightings - Thursday 5th May 2016

There was a movement of seabirds and larger migrants along the Channel today.

Fulmar - a dark-winged bird was at Durlston Head.
Manx Shearwater - 62 Chesil, flock of 17 past Hengistbury Head.
Gannet - 170 per hour past Chesil.
Hen Harrier - 1 West Bexington.
Red Kite - 1 Morden Bog, 1 West Bexington.
Red-Footed Falcon - 1 Morden Bog.
Hobby - 1 Portland Bill.
Grey Plover - 26 Chesil, 1 Hengistbury Head, 2 Lodmoor, 1 West Bexington.
Knot - 2 over Hengistbury Head.
Whimbrel -  3 Chesil, 20+ Lytchett Bay, 6 West Bexington.
Ruff - 1 Lytchett Bay.
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 over Hengistbury Head.
Temminck's Stint - 1 Ferrybridge.
Greenshank - 22 Lytchett Bay is the site's best count since 1997.
Pomarine Skua - 4 over Portland Harbour, 1 Portland Bill
Great Skua - 1 Chesil Cove.
Arctic Skua - 1+ Chesil, 1 past Hengistbury Head..
Black Tern - 7+ Chesil, flock of 13 Portland Bill.
Commic Tern - 113 Chesil before 7am.
Roseate Tern - 2 past Hengistbury Head.
Common Tern - 105 past Hengistbury Head in 2.5 hours.
Turtle Dove - 1 Beaminster.
Cuckoo - 1 Lytchett Bay, 1 heard Morden Bog.
Whinchat - 1 Reap Lane (Portland).
Redstart - 2 Reap Lane (Portland).
Black Redstart - 1 Suckthumb Quarry.

Dark-winged Fulmar at Durlston © David Wareham

Red-Footed Falcon at Morden Bog © Chris Minvalla

Turtle Dove at Beaminster © Roger Green

Sightings - Wednesday 4th May 2016

Great Northern Diver - 2+ past Portland Bill.
Hen Harrier - 1 west Poole Harbour.
Red-footed Falcon - a female over Morden Bog.

Whimbrel - 35 Christchurch Harbour, 1 West Bexington.
Common Sandpiper - 2 Christchurch Harbour, 3 Morden Bog, 1 West Bexington.
Pomarine Skua - 4 Chesil.
Great Skua - 1 Ferrybridge.
Roseate Tern - 2 Christchurch Harbour, 1 reported Portland Bill.
Turtle Dove - 1 Hengistbury Head.
Cuckoo - 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 heard Holt Heath.
Red-rumped Swallow - 1 Portland West Cliffs.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - 1 Wareham Forest.
White Wagtail - 1 West Bexington.
Whinchat - 1 DWT Stonehill Down, 1 West Bexington.
Redstart - 1 Wareham Forest.
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Portland Bill.

Common Sandpiper at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Whinchat at DWT Stonehill Down © Neil Gibson

Red-footed Falcon at Morden Bog © Brian Hill

Red-footed Falcon at Morden Bog © Brian Hill

Sightings - Tuesday 3rd May 2016

Mandarin Duck - 1 R. Stour (Canford School).
Brent Goose - 4 Brownsea Island.
Great Northern Diver - 7 past Portland Bill.
Kentish Plover - 2 probables over Weston (Portland).
Knot - 3 Brownsea Island.
Whimbrel - 8 Christchurch Harbour, 4 Ferrybridge, 35+ Lytchett Bay, 1 R. Frome (Wareham).
Common Sandpiper - 2 Hengistbury Head.
Purple Sandpiper - 2 Hengistbury Head.
Greenshank - 2-4 Brownsea lagoon, 1 Lytchett Bay.
Avocet - 2 Brownsea Island.
Roseate Tern - 1 Chesil, 1 Mudeford Quay.
Arctic Tern - 3 Mudeford Quay.
Cuckoo - 1 Wick.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - 1 Wareham Forest.
White Wagtail - 3 Lytchett Bay.
Whinchat - 2 Hengistbury Head, 1 Longham Lakes, 2 Lytchett Bay, 1 Rylands Farm.
Redstart - 2 Hengistbury Head.
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Hengistbury Head, 2 Reap Lane (Portland).
Nightingale - 1 Corfe Castle.

 

Purple Sandpiper at Hengistbury Head © Joe Murphy

Reed Bunting at Stanpit Marsh © Geoff Norquoy

Dartford Warbler at Talbot Heath © David Wareham

Buzzard near Wimborne © David Hill

 

Sightings - Monday 2nd May 2016

Pale-bellied Brent - 19 Portland Hbr p.m.
Great Northern Diver - 1 West Bexington, 1 Durlston CP.
Black-throated Diver - 1 sum/plum off shore from Lodmoor
Manx Shearwater - 100 Chesil Cove, 28 Durlston CP, 10 Christchurch Bay
Merlin - 1 in off Sea Mudeford Quay
Hobby - 1 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Salt Hurns, 1 Stanpit Village, 1 West Bexington
Whimbrel - 38 Lytchett Bay,  8 Timor Range, 3 Swineham Pt.
Great Skua - 11 Portland Bill, 6 Chesil Cove
Pomarine Skua - 2 Chesil Cove, 1 Portland Bill
Arctic Skua - 7 Portland Bill, 5 Chesil Cove,  2 Christchurch Bay
Little Gull - 1 Swineham GP.
Little Tern - 17 Christchurch Bay
Common Tern - 20 Christchurch Bay, 7 Lytchett Bay
Cuckoo - 1 Martinstown, 1 Badbury Rings, 1 Portesham
Swift - 100+ Lodmoor, 50+ West Bexington, 20+ Radipole, 20 Swineham GP.
Swallow - 500+ West Bexington
Black Redstart - 1 Blacknor
Ring Ouzel - 2 Durlston CP.
Wood Warbler - 3 Hengistbury Hd.
Spotted Flycatcher - 8 Durlston CP, 5 Durlston CP, 2 Hengistbury Hd.
Pied Flycatcher - 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Woodchat Shrike - 1 possibly this species on telegraph pole Winterborne Abbas 10:30hrs

Northern Wheatear - Hengistbury Head © Clinton Whale

Sightings - Sunday 1st May 2016

Red-breasted Merganser - 4 Hengistbury Hd.
Great Northern Diver - 4 Castle Cove Portland, 1 Brand's bay.
Manx Shearwater - 3 east Portland Bill
Kentish Plover - 1 Ferrybridge
Whimbrel - 19 Stanpit Marsh, 13 West Lexington, 7 Brand's Bay, 1 Ferrybridge
Common Sandpiper - 2 Portland Bill
Pomarine Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Little Tern - 15 Ferrybridge
Common Tern - 2 Brand's Bay
Arctic Tern - 10 Hengistbury Hd.
Cuckoo - 2 Hengistbury Hd.
Short-eared Owl - 1 Durlston CP.
Wryneck - 1 Durlston CP.
Redstart - 4 Hengistbury Hd.
Whinchat - 2 Hengistbury Hd.
Ring Ouzel - 1 Durlston CP.
Serin - 1 Blacknor, 1 Portland Bill

Kentish Plover - Ferrybridge © Brett Spencer

Greenfinch - Stour Valley © Geoff Norquoy

Sightings - Saturday 30th April 2016

Black-throated Diver - 1 past Portland Bill
Osprey - 1 Middlebere
Hobby - 1 Longham Lakes
Whimbrel - 9 Hengistbury Hd, 5 Portland Bill, 1 Ferrybridge, 1 Durlston CP.
Common Sandpiper - 2 Hengistbury Hd, 2 Lodmoor, 1 Langham Lakes
Kittiwake - 1 Radipole Lake
Roseate Tern - 1 off Medford Quay
Swift - 30 Longham Lakes, 17 Durston CP.
Bee-eater - 1 Eight Kings Quarry then over Portland Obs and then out to sea.
Yellow Wagtails - 1 Durlston CP, 1 Ferrybridge
Black Redstart - 2 Portland Bill
Redstart - 3 Reap Lane Portland, 2 Portland Castle, 2 Durlston CP, 1 Ferrybridge
Whinchat - 2 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Ferrybridge, 1 Hartland Moor
Wheatear - 19 Ferrybridge, 2 Hengistbury Hd.
Ring Ouzel - 1 still Stanpit north scrubs.
Sedge Warbler - 1 Southwell, 1 Reap Lane Portland
Lesser Whitethroat - 15 Durlston CP.
Whitethroat - 35 Durlston CP, 2 Portland Bill, 1 Reap Lane
Spotted Flycatcher - 2 Durlston CP, 1 Reap Lane

Kittiwake - Radipole Lake © Brett Spencer

Sightings - Friday 29th April 2016

Black-throated Diver - 1 Castle Cove
Manx Shearwater - 20 past Portland Bill
Balearic Shearwater - 1 past Chesil Cove
Whimbrel - 61 Lytchett Bay
Common Sandpiper - 4 Stanpit Marsh
Pomarine Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Little Tern - 4 Stanpit Marsh
Whinchat - 1 Durlston CP, 1 Stanpit Marsh
Redstart - 2 Stanpit Marsh, 1 Durlston CP, 1Avalanche Rd, 1 The Hump Portland.
Wheatear - 15 Durlston CP.
Ring Ouzel - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 PC World Poole, 1 Durlston CP, 1 Avalanche Rd, 1 The Hump Portland
Wood Warbler - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Grey Partridge - Martinstown © Nigel Tooth

Sightings - Thursday 28th April 2016

Eider - 1 Hengistbury Head

Black-throated Diver -1 Portland Harbour

Great Northern Diver - 4 Portland Harbour

Manx Shearwater - 100's past Portland Bill, 130+ Weymouth Bay
Marsh Harrier - 1 Hengistbury Head

Osprey - 1 Middlebere

Sanderling - 3 Chesil

Whimbrel - 14 Chesil, 10 over Lodmoor, 9 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Lytchett Fields

Cuckoo - 1 The Nothe Weymouth, 1 Suckthumb Quarry Portland, 1 near Portesham

Wryneck - 1 Portesham

Redstart - 4 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Castle, 1 Durlston CP

Whinchat - 2 Stanpit, 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Coombe Valley

Ring Ouzel - 1 Stanpit

Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Stanpit

Pallas's Warbler - 1 still present at Portesham

Wood Warbler - 1 Verne Common Portland
Spotted Flycatcher - 1 Verne Common Portland

Pied Flycatcher  - 2 Avalanche Road Hump Portland

Yesterday: a Cuckoo was at Corfe Mullen in the evening

 

Linnet at Hengistbury Head © Geoff Norquoy

 

 

Sightings - Wednesday 27th April 2016

Mandarin Duck - 8 Merley Park

Scaup - 1 Abbotsbury

Black-throated Diver -1 Portland Harbour

Great Northern Diver -1 Portland Harbour

Spoonbill - 1 Abbotsbury, 1 Brownsea Island

Hen Harrier - 1 male at Swineham

Osprey - 1 over Brand's Bay

Sanderling - 2 Ferrybridge

Bar-tailed Godwit - 6 Christchurch Harbour

Whimbrel - 50 Christchurch Harbour, 17 Portland Bill

Arctic Skua - 1 Portland Bill

Cuckoo - 1 Southwell

Short-eared Owl - 1 in-off Portland Bill

Yellow Wagtail - 6 Portland West Cliffs, 2 Christchurch Harbour

Black Redstart - 1 Portland Bill

Redstart - 4 Portland Bill,  2 Hengistbury Head

Whinchat - 1 Portland Bill

Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Bill

Pallas's Warbler - 1 still at Portesham

Firecrest - 1 Portland Bill

Pied Flycatcher 2  Hengistbury Head

 

Nightingale on Purbeck © Jol Mitchell

 

 

Dunlin at Hengistbury Head © Clinton Whale

 

Blackcap at Stour Valley © Geoff Norquoy

 

 

Mandarin Duck at Merley Park © John Hammick

 

Sightings - Tuesday 26th April 2016

Hen Harrier - 1 Hartland Moor

Hobby - 1 Hartland Moor, 1 Ferrybridge

Sanderling - 2 Ferrybridge

Whimbrel -  45 West Bexington, 30+ Portland Bill, 6 Ferrybridge, 4 Stanpit
Arctic Skua - 1 Portland Bill

Great Skua - 5 Chesil Cove, 3 Portland Bill
Caspian Gull -  a potential at Mudeford Quay
Yellow Wagtail - 1 West Bexington, 1 Stanpit, 1 Lytchett Fields

Redstart - 5 Portland Bill
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Durlston CP, 1 Portland Bill

Wood Warbler - 1 Portland Bill

Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 probable trapped at Portland Bird Obs

Firecrest - 1 Portland Bill

Pied Flycatcher - 1 Weymouth (Old Castle Road)

 

Garden Warbler at Lodmoor © Daragh Croxson

 

Sightings - Monday 25th April 2016

Scaup - 1 female Abbotsbury
Great Northern Diver - 2 Portland Bill
Glossy Ibis - 1 Charmouth
Spoonbill - 1 Abbotsbury

Osprey - 1 West Cliffs Portland & Portland Harbour

Spotted Redshank - 3 Lytchett Fields

Arctic Skua - 2 Portland Bill
Great Skua - 11 Portland Bill
Arctic Tern - 1 Portland Harbour

Swift - 90 Longham Lakes, 2 Swineham

Nightingale - 1 Challow Hill (nr Corfe Castle)
Ring Ouzel - 2 Eggardon Hill
Redstart - 1 Cogden Beach
 

Cetti's Warbler at Swineham © Clive Hargrave

Sightings - Sunday 24th April 2016

Scaup - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Great Northern Diver - 2 Portland Harbour, 1 off Sandbanks
Hobby - 3 Powerstock Common
Red Kite -1 Lytchett Bay, 2 Buckland Newton
Osprey - 1 Pisden Pen
Iceland Gull - 1 over Southwell, 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Short-eared Owl - 1 Portland
Wryneck - 1 Radipole Lake
Pied Flycatcher - 2 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland

Nightingale Cheselbourne © Vaughan Ashby

Sparrowhawk Iwerne Minster © Stuart Jones