Sightings - Wednesday 30th November 2011

Pale-bellied Brent - 6 Parkstone Bay

Black Brant - 1 ad Ferrybridge

Common Scoter - 9 Studland Bay

Velvet Scoter - 1 Brand\'s Bay

Red-throated Diver - 2 Durlston

Great Northern Diver - 3 Weymouth Bay, 1 Studland Bay

Slavonian Grebe - 1 Studland Bay

Black-necked Grebe - 29 Studland Bay, 7 Bramble Bush Bay

Bittern - 1 in flight Lodmoor

Great White Egret - 1 reported over Holt Heath

Glossy Ibis - 1 imm Stanpit Marsh

Marsh Harrier - singles at Cowards Marsh, Christchurch Hbr, Lodmoor, Radipole

Purple Sandpiper - 12 Hengistbury Hd.

Grey Phalarope - 1 Hengistbury Hd off Long groyne.

Pomarine Skua - 1 Hengistbury Hd.

Arctic Skua - 1 past Hengistbury Hd.

Common Gull - 1500 past Hengistbury Hd.

Ring-billed Gull - 1 2nd/winter Radipole Lake

Mediterranean Gull - 200 past Hengistbury Hd. 
Water Pipit - 3 Stanpit Marsh, 1 Lodmoor.

Hume's Leaf Warbler - 1 Littlesea, Fleet

Firecrest - 5 Durlston CP, 3 Hengistbury Hd.

Rosy Starling - 1imm Lodmoor

Second Winter Ring-billed Gull Radipole Lake car Park © Dave Chown

Sightings - Tuesday 29th November 2011

Black Brant - 1 Butterstreet Cove
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - at least 6 at Butterstreet Cove
Red-throated Diver - 1 past Durlston, 1 Studland Bay, 1 Mudeford
Great Northern Diver - 4 Studland Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Brand's Bay off Redhorn
Black-necked Grebe - 41 Studland Bay from Middle Beach, 4 Shell Bay, 4 Brand's Bay off Redhorn
Sooty Shearwater - 1 past Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter - 2 Brand's Bay off Redhorn, 2 past Mudeford Quay
Hen Harrier - 2 Middlebere
Purple Sandpiper - at least 20 at Mudeford
Grey Phalarope - 1 Shell Bay, 1 past Mudeford Quay
Arctic Skua - 2 Mudeford Quay, 1 Studland Bay
Little Gull - 1 Chesil Cove, 4 Shell Bay
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 juvenile still at Lodmoor

Grey Phalarope at Shell Bay © Kevin Lane

Little Gulls at Shell Bay © Kevin Lane

Red-throated Diver in Studland Bay © Kevin Lane

Sightings - Monday 28th November 2011

Black Brant - 1 Ferrybridge
Velvet Scoter - 1 Brand's Bay
Marsh Harrier - 2 Stanpit, 1 Middlebere
Hen Harrier - 2 over Stanpit, 1 at Wyke Down
Merlin - 1 Stanpit
Purple Sandpiper - at least 4 on Mudeford sandspit
Jack Snipe - 1 Boys Hill (near Sherborne)
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Short-eared Owl - 4 Wyke Down, 1 Boys Hill (near Sherborne), 1 Durlston
Water Pipit - 2 Stanpit
Black Redstart - 1 Weston (Portland), 1 Newton's Cove
Hume's Leaf Warbler -1 still at Littlesea, The Fleet
Firecrest - 2 Durlston
Crossbill - 21 Durlston

Sightings - Sunday 27th November 2011

Black Brant - 2 at Littlesea, The Fleet
Goosander  - 1 Longham Lakes
Long-tailed Duck - 1 Poole Harbour
Velvet Scoter - 1 Brands Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Studland Bay
Cattle Egret - 1 Stanpit
Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit
Bittern - 2 Hatch Pond, 1 Lodmoor
Hen Harrier - 2 Keysworth (Poole Harbour), 1 Wyke Down (Sixpenny Handley)
Marsh Harrier - 1 Christchurch Harbour, 5 Middlebere
Red Kite - 1 Swineham
Merlin - 1 Hatch Pond, 1 Middlebere, 1 Wyke Down (Sixpenny Handley)
Grey Plover  - 8 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Middlebere
Woodcock - 1 Hardy's Monument
Sanderling - 1 Hengistbury Head
Spotted Sandpiper - still present at Lyme Regis
Green Sandpiper - 2 Radipole Lake
Kittiwake - 250 west past Hengistbury Head in an hour
Sandwich Tern - 1+ Poole Harbour
Short-Eared Owl - 1 East Stoke, 1 Grimstone, 4 Wyke Down (Sixpenny Handley)
Rosy Starling - 1 Lodmoor
Hume's Leaf Warbler - 1 Littlesea, The Fleet
Dartford Warbler - 1 Middlebere
Firecrest - 1+ Durlston CP
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down (Sixpenny Handley)

 Bittern ©Phyl England

Sightings - Saturday 26th November 2011

Goosander  - 1 Arne Bay
Grey Partridge - 1 heard Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley
Cattle Egret - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Bittern - 2 Hatch Pond
Hen Harrier - 1 Middlebere, 2 Wareham Channel
Marsh Harrier - 2 Middlebere, 1 Stanpit, 2 Swineham, 4+ Wareham Channel
Merlin - 1 Sherford Bridge
Woodcock - 2 Middlebere
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 Lyme Regis
Little Gull - 3 Mudeford Quay
Black-headed Gull - the Christchurch Bay roost was estimated at 6000 birds.
Short-eared Owl - 1 Middlebere, 4 Wyke Down (Sixpenny Handley)
Hume's Leaf Warbler - 1 Littlesea, The Fleet
Firecrest - 2 Arne reserve car park
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down, Sixpenny Handley

Sightings - Friday 25th November 2011

White-fronted Goose - 5 Abbotsbury
Eider - 1 female Poole Harbour
Long-tailed Duck - 1 female off Shipstal Point
Velvet Scoter - 3 Poole Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 1 Mudeford Quay, 1 past Hengistbury Head
Slavonian Grebe - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Bittern - at least 3 at Hatch Pond this evening
Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit
Spoonbill - 11 on Brownsea Island lagoon
Marsh Harrier - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Golden Plover - about 200 at Beaminster Down
Purple Sandpiper - 12 Christchurch Harbour, 18 Lyme Regis
Jack Snipe - 1 Stanpit
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 juvenile at end of the Cobb, Lyme Regis
Black Redstart - 1 Lyme Regis, 1 Durlston, 1 Bridging Camp, The Fleet
Water Pipit - 1 Stanpit
Hume's Leaf Warbler -1 still at Littlesea, The Fleet
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 juvenile still at Lodmoor

Sightings - Thursday 24th November 2011

Black Brant - 1 Ferrybridge
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 5 in Parkstone Bay, 6 at Ferrybridge
Red-throated Diver - 1 off Mudeford Quay
Bittern - 2 at Hatch Pond this evening
Cattle Egret - 1 Hengistbury Head
Merlin - 1 Durlston
Hume's Leaf Warbler -1 Littlesea, The Fleet
Rose-coloured Starling - 1 juvenile still at Lodmoor
Firecrest - 1 Durlston

Sightings - Wednesday 23rd November 2011

Black Brant - 1 Ferrybridge
Pale-bellied Brent Geese - 12 Ferrybridge
Black-necked Grebe - 5 Portland Harbour
Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit
Hen Harrier - 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Middlebere, 1 Portland Bill, 1 Wyke Down (Sixpenny Handley)
Merlin - 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Bill
Grey Plover - 4 Christchurch Harbour
Ruff - 2 Hengistbury Head
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 The Cobb at Lyme Regis
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Crane - 1 over Wareham toward Middlebere
Sandwich Tern - 3 Christchurch Harbour
Shorelark - 1 Stanpit
Wood Pigeon - about 750 seen to the west of Hengistbury Head; about 3000 south over Weymouth by 9am.
Rosy Starling - 1 still at Lodmoor
Swallow - 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Bill
Hume's Warbler - 1 Littlesea, The Fleet
Dartford Warbler - 2 Middlebere
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down (Sixpenny Handley)
Snow Bunting - 1 Hengistbury Head

Sightings - Tuesday 22nd November 2011

Velvet Scoter - 2 Goathorn, 1 Poole Harbour
Eider - 1 very small female, Goathorn
Black-necked Grebe - 6 Poole Harbour, 25 Studland Bay
Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit
Hen Harrier - 1 Portland Bill
Grey Plover - 4 Stanpit
Golden Plover - 1 Portland Bill
Avocet - 600+ Midddlebere
Knot - 1 Stanpit
Sanderling - 1 Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Great Bustard - 1 female Spyway Farm, Langton Matravers, has a radio tag.
Sandwich Tern - 3+ Christchurch Harbour
Short-Eared Owl - 1 Bulbarrow, 1 Portland Bill
Shorelark - 1 Mudeford Quay and Stanpit
Wheatear - 1 Holes Bay is extremely late.
Black Redstart - 4 Portland Bill, 1 West Bexington
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Down Farm, Sixpenny Handley

Late news - 3 Bittern at Hatch Pond yesterday

Bustard ©Simon Breeze

Sightings - Monday 21st November 2011

Glossy ibis - Stanpit
Surf scoter - probable juvenile again flew through harbour entrance towards Brand's Bay/Bramble Bush Bay at 7:25am
Great Bustard - 1 near Spyway farm, Langton matravers
Spotted sandpiper - 1 Lyme Regis
Rose-coloured starling - Juvenile at Lodmoor
Black redstart - 2 Portland, 2 Lyme Regis
Bearded tit - 2 Hatch Pond
Snow bunting - 1 flew over Abbotsbury



1w male black redstart, Lyme Regis © Roger Boswell



Male black redstart, Lyme Regis © Roger Boswell

Sightings, Sunday, November 20, 2011

Velvet Scoter - 3 Brands Bay
Black brant - 1 Butterstreet Cove,
Pale-bellied brents - 14 Butterstreet Cove
Bittern - 1 Hatch Pond
Spotted Sandpiper - 1w again at Lyme Regis
Purple Sandpiper - Lyme Regis
Great grey shrike - Sixpenny Handley
Bearded tit - 5 Hengistbury Head centre
Rose-coloured Starling - Juvenile still at Lodmoor
Black redstart - 1 Durlston, 2+ Lyme Regis
Siberian chiffchaff - 1 Easton 

Black redstart, Portland © Chris Dresh

Buzzards, Portland © Chris Dresh

Spotted sandpiper, Lyme Regis © Dave Helliar

Black redstart, Lyne Regis © Chris Parnell

Sightings - Saturday 19th November 2011

Velvet Scoter - 3 Arne Bay
Goosander - 1 redhead Longham Lakes
Bittern - 3 Hatch Pond
Glossy ibis -  Stanpit
Hen Harrier - Middlebere
Spotted Sandpiper - 1w again at Lyme Regis
Purple Sandpiper - Lyme Regis
Bearded tit - 5 Hengistbury Head centre
Rose-coloured Starling - Juvenile still at Lodmoor
Black redstart - 1 Middlebere, 1 West Bexington coastguard cottages
Firecrest - 12 Abbotsbury Gardens
Nutcracker - one reported in a private garden with no public access near Shaftesbury today.
UPDATE - the photographs show the bird to be an adult winter starling.
Little bunting - 1 flew over Durlston



Bittern, Hatch Pond © Shaun Robson

Sightings - Friday 18th November 2011

Slavonian Grebe - 2 Mudeford Quay
Velvet Scoter - 3 Arne Bay
Spotted Sandpiper - 1w on rock armour on foreshore below Lyme Regis museum, just east of where the River Lim enters the sea (possibly present since 8th November)
Purple Sandpiper - 9 Hengistbury Head, 5 Portland
Spotted Redshank - 2 Stanpit
Spoonbill-  14 Middlebere
Hen Harrier - 2 Middlebere
Red Kite - over Bussey's Down, south of Ashmore, 3.30pm
Merlin - Portland
Bearded tit - 5 Hengistbury Head centre
Black Redstart - 1 Portland at Heylands, Weston
Rose-coloured Starling - Juvenile still at Lodmoor
Wheatear - Holes Bay

Spotted Sandpiper at Lyme Regis © Kevin Lane

Spotted Sandpiper at Lyme Regis © Kevin Lane

Spoonbills at Middlebere © Dominic Greves

Sightings - Thursday 17th November 2011

Velvet Scoter – 3 Redhorn Quay Poole Harbour
Merlin – 1 Portland Bill
Goshawk - 1 Wick Fields Christchurch Harbour
Marsh Harrier – 1 Lodmoor
Bittern – 1 Lodmoor
Woodpigeon – 4500 over Lodmoor, 54000 over Durlston
Short-eared Owl - 2 Portland Bill, 2 Penn’s Weare Portland, 1 over Durlston
Northern Wheatear – 2 Portland Bill, 2 Shell Bay, 1 Christchurch Harbour
Black Redstart – 1 Portland Bill, 1 Peveril Point, 1 Middlebere
Rose-coloured Starling – 1 Lodmoor
Chiffchaff – 1 tristis type Winspit Valley
Firecrest – 2 Portland Bill, 1 Winspit Valley

Rose-coloured Starling at Lodmoor © Kevin Lane

Part of today's massive Woodpigeon movement over Durlston © Nick Hopper

More views of Woodpigeons over Durlston © Nick Hopper

Sightings - Wednesday 16th November 2011

Velvet Scoter – 2 past Portland Bill
Merlin –1 Durlston
Hen Harrier – 1 Durlston
Purple Sandpiper – 3 Portland Bill
Woodpigeon – 1540 over Durlston
Short-eared Owl - 3 Portland Bill
Northern Wheatear – 2 late birds Portland Bill
Black Redstart – 1 Portland Bill
Firecrest – 1 Portland Bill

























Yesterday's Great Grey Shrike at Arne © Tim Downton

Sightings -Tuesday 15th November 2011

Black Brant - 1 Ferrybridge

Bittern - 2 hatch Pond Poole

Glossy Ibis - 1juv. Stanpit Marsh

Hen Harrier - 1 Portland Bill

Water Rail - 1 Portland Bill

Golden Plover - 16 over Stanpit Marsh

Purple Sandpiper - 2 Hengistbury Hd.

Jack Snipe - 1 Stanpit Marsh

Woodpigeon - 13,000 over Littlesea (Fleet), 8,500 Lodmoor, 3900 Portland, 1150 Durlston CP, 400 Canford Heath.

Black Redstart - 2 Portland Bill, 1 top of the PruHealth Building Bournemouth

Wheatear - 2 Portland Bill

Firecrest - 1 Portland Bill

Bearded Tit - 5 HHC reeds Hengistbury Hd, 2 Hatch Pond Poole

Great Grey Shrike - 1 Coombe Heath Arne

Snow Bunting - 1 Abbotsbury.

Mediterranean Gull - Lyme Regis © Roger Boswell

Sightings- Monday 14th November 2011

Greylag Geese - 5 in off the sea Stanpit Marsh, 4 past Portland Bill

Great Northern Diver - 1 pos past Hengistbury Hd, 1 Portland Bill

Red-throated Dive - 8 past Hengistbury Hd.
Slavonian Grebe - 1 past Hengistbury Hd.

Glossy Ibis - 1 juv. Stanpit Marsh

Marsh Harrier - 1 Lytchett Bay

Hen Harrier - 2 males Wareham Channel
Merlin - 1 Stanpit Marsh, 1 Durlston CP.
Common Crane - 1 Rodden Hive

Avocet - 39 Dirlston CP, 40 past Portland Bill, 2 Stanpit Marsh

Purple Sandpiper - 11 Lyme Cobb, 2 Hengistbury Hd.

Whimbrel - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Little Gull - 1 Radipole Lake
Short-eared Owl - 2 Portland Bill
Swallow - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Black Redstart - 1 Durlston CP.
Wheatear - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Pallas's Warbler - 1 by Double Bend Hengistbury Hd.
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 still behind the Nat West Bank Christchurch.
Firecrest - 6 Durlston CP, 1 Portland Bill
Twite - 2 over Durlston CP
Snow Bunting - 1 Hengistbury Hd, 1 over Durlston CP, 1 East Bexington.

Little Gull - Radipole Lake © Bob Ford

Bittern - Hatch Pond © Chris Rowland

Sightings - Sunday 13th November 2011

Great Northern Diver - 1 Durlston CP, 1 Portland Bill
Bittern - 1 Radipole Lake, 1 Hatch Pond Poole
Glossy Ibis - 1juv Stanpit Marsh
Marsh Harrier - 2 Wareham Channel, 1 over Hengistbury Hd.
Hen Harrier - 1 Durlston CP.
Merlin - 1 male Stanpit Marsh
Common Crane - 1 Herbury Gore/Rodden Hive
Little Stint - 1 over Barn Field Hengistbury Hd.
Purple Sandpiper - 2 Long Groyne Hengistbury Hd.
Great Skua -  1 Portland Bill
Pomarine Skua - 1juv. Hengistbury Hd.
Arctic Skua -  2 Portland Bill
Little Gull - 1 Radipole Lake
Black Tern - 1 Radipole Lake
Sandwich Tern - 3 Christchurch Hbr.
Short- eared Owl - 1 West Bexington
Black Redstart - 1 Durlston CP.
Ring Ouzel - 1 Durlston CP.
Swallow - 1 Ulwell, 1 Durlston CP.
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Winspit Valley
Firecrest - 14 Abbotsbury Gardens, 7 Durlston CP, 1 Durlston CP.
Bearded Tit - 3 Hengistbury Hd
Rose-coloured Starling - 1juv. Lodmoor
Snow Bunting - 1 Hengistbury Hd.

Short-eared Owls, West Bexington © Mike Morse

Sightings - Saturday 12th November 2011

Red-throated Diver - 3 past Durston CP.
Black-necked Grebe - 31 off Knoll Beach
Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Spoonbill - 2 over Stanpit Marsh
Merlin - 1 Durlston CP
Common Crane - 1 Rodden/Langton Herring Fleet
Purple Sandpiper - 3 Lyme Cobb
Short-eared Owl - 1 over Radipole, 1 HHC reed bed Hengistbury, 1 West Bexington
PALLID SWIFT - 1 picked up at Langton Herring recovered to Portland Bill ringed and released but taken by Sparrowhawk
Swallow - 2 Ballard Down
Whitethroat - 1 West Bexington, 1 Bridport Fire Station
Firecrest - 6 Durlston CP
Bearded Tit - 1 HHC reed bed Hengistbury
Brambling - 17 over Durlston CP
Snow Bunting - 1 Hengistbury Hd

Pallid Swift at Portland Bill © Nick Hopper

Glossy Ibis, Stanpit Marsh © Durwyn Liley

Sightings - Friday 11th November 2011

Glossy Ibis - juvenile still at Stanpit
Marsh Harrier - 1 at West Bexington
Hen Harrier - male at Avon Causeway
Merlin - 2 at Portland Bill
Pomarine Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Short-eared Owl - 1 at Stanpit, 1 at West Bexington
Swift sp - intriguing reports of a couple of Swifts seen around the Portland area - see the PBO website for more details
Black Redstart - 2 at Portland Bill
Ring Ouzel - 1 at Merley, 1 at Hengistbury Head
Firecrest - 3+ in woods at Parkstone Heights, Poole, 2 at Portland Bill
Snow Bunting - 2 on the beach at Hengistbury Head

Sightings - Thursday 10th November 2011

Goosander - 1 at Holes Bay
Glossy Ibis - juvenile still at Stanpit
Spoonbill - 14 on Brownsea Lagoon
Marsh Harrier - 2 over Christchurch Harbour
Merlin - 2 at Portland Bill, 1 at Hengistbury Head, 1 between Eggardon Hill and West Compton
Crane - still at Herbury Gore
Jack Snipe - 3 at Stanpit
Common Sandpiper - 1 at Holes Bay
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit
Great Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Short-eared Owl - 5 at Portland Bill
Black Redstart - 3 at Hengistbury Head
Ring Ouzel - 1 over Hengistbury Head
Firecrest - 2 at Portland Bill
Snow Bunting - 2 settled on the beach at Hengistbury Head; a further single flew over Hengistbury and another flyover was recorded at Durlston

Sightings - Wednesday 9th November 2011

Red-throated Diver – 10 past Hengistbury Head
Great Northern Diver – 1 past Hengistbury Head
Merlin – 1 Durlston
Marsh Harrier – up to 4 Christchurch Harbour
Hen Harrier – 5 through Christchurch Harbour
Glossy Ibis - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Bittern – 2 Hatch Pond
Woodcock – 1 Durlston
Balearic Shearwater – 1 past Mudeford Quay
Little Auk – 1 past Hengistbury Head
Northern Wheatear – 1 Hengistbury Head
Black Redstart – 1 Durlston, 1 The George Inn Christchurch
Ring Ouzel – 1 over Lodmoor
Snow Bunting – 2 Hengistbury Head


















Snow Bunting © Chris Dresh

Sightings - Tuesday 8th November 2011

Merlin – 1 Portland Bill
Marsh Harrier – 4 Christchurch Harbour
Common Crane – 1 Langton Herring area
Curlew Sandpiper – 1 Stanpit
Woodcock – 3 Portland Bill
Great Skua – 1 past Portland Bill
Northern Wheatear – 2 Portland Bill
Black Redstart – 1 Portland Bill
Firecrest - 1 Portland Bill
Snow Bunting – 3 Hengistbury Head, 1 Abbotsbury Beach

Snow Bunting Abbotsbury Beach © Mike Spicer

Sightings - Monday 7th November 2011

Velvet Scoter - 1, Hengistbury
Mandarin - 3, Moreton
Glossy Ibis - 1, Stanpit
Hen Harrier - singles over Radipole, Sutton Hill and Portland Bill
Common Crane - 1, Langton Herring
Short-eared Owl - 3, Portland
Dipper - 1, Lyme Regis
Dusky Warbler - 1, Portland Bill see: http://www.portlandbirdobs.org.uk/aa_latestnews.htm
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1, Christchurch (town centre, behind Natwest!)
Black Redstart - 2, Chesil Cove
Snow Bunting - 2-3, Hengistbury; 1 Durlston; 1 at Abbotsbury Beach before flying towards the tank traps

Lapland Bunting - 1, Hengistbury

Crane at Herbury Gore (Langton Herring) © Kevin Lane

Dipper at Lyme Regis © Paul Baker (The Bagsy Blog)

Sightings - Sunday 6th November 2011

An impressive day for 'vis mig' totals and few good birds recorded. A selection of some of the vis mig totals from different sites are totalled separately below for comparison.

Whooper Swan - 1, Christchurch Harbour
Pale bellied Brent Goose - 2, Baiter
Common Crane - 1 over Radipole at dusk
Bittern - 1, Hatch Pond
Glossy Ibis - 1, Stanpit
Curlew Sandpiper - 1, Stanpit
Woodcock - 1, Langton Matravers; 1 Arne
Black Kite - 1, Verne Portland late am
Short-eared Owl - 1, Stanpit; 1 Bestwall; 1 Lodmoor
Black Redstart - 2, Sterte

'Vis mig' totals of note:
Woodlark - 2, Durlston
Ring Ouzel - 1, Durlston
Redpoll - 93 Hengistbury; 181 South Haven; 140 Durlston
Chaffinch - 760, Hengistbury; 1892 South Haven; 184 E. Bexington; 2014 Durlston
Brambling - 66, Hengistbury; 9 South Haven; 162 Durlston
Goldfinch - 1110, Hengistbury; 532 South Haven; 180 East Bexington; 1230 Durlston
Crossbill - 1, South Haven; 2 Durlston
Reed Bunting - 58, Hengistbury; 4 South Haven; 4 Durlston
Snow Bunting - 1, Hengistbury
Lapland Bunting - 1, Durlston

Sightings - Saturday 5th November 2011

Mandarin - 1 at Longham Lakes
Eider - 6 past Hengistbury
Red-throated Diver - 1 inside Poole Harbour at Lytchett Bay is notable
Black-throated Diver - 1 past Hengistbury
Glossy Ibis - 1 still at Stanpit
Black Guillemot - 1 off Portland Bill
Woodcock - 1 at Durlston
Short-eared Owl - 1 at Hengistbury
Woodlark - 1 over Durlston
Water Pipit - singles at Stanpit and Lodmoor
Whinchat - 1 at Winspit
Ring Ouzel - 1 at Hengistbury
Pallas's Warbler - 1 at Bryanston Wood, Blandford is thought to be only the 3rd inland record for Dorset
Yellow-browed Warbler - 2 at Hengistbury, 1 at Studland
Firecrest - widely reported, a count of 11 at Abbotsbury Garden was impressive
Crossbill - 1 over Lodmoor

Wheatear at Poole Harbour © Chris Dresh

Yellow-browed Warbler at Hengistbury Head © Chris Dresh

Sightings - Friday 4th November 2011

Black-necked Grebe - 7 at Brands Bay, 7 at Studland Bay
Glossy Ibis - 1 still at Stanpit
Woodcock - 1 at Winspit
Arctic Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Pallid Swift - 1 briefly over Durlston
Woodlark - 5 over Durlston
Yellow-browed Warbler - 2-3 at Hengistbury
Firecrest - 2 at Hengistbury, 1 at Pennsylvania Castle, Portland
Black Redstart - 2 at Sterte, Poole
Goldfinch - impressive 'vis-mig' total of 2746 over Durlston
Brambling - 31 over Durlston, 2 around the car park at Arne all day
Hawfinch - 2 over Durlston

Pallid Swift over Durlston © Nick Hopper

Pallid Swift over Durlston © Nick Hopper

Glossy Ibis at Stanpit © Simon Kidner

Sightings - Thursday 3rd November 2011

Manx Shearwater - 1, Portland
Glossy Ibis - 1, Stanpit
Bittern - 1, Hatch Pond
Spotted Redshank - 2, Stanpit
Little Gull - 1, Durlston
Great Skua - 1, Portland
Short-eared Owl - 6, Portland
Pallas's Warbler - 1, Hengistbury
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1+ Durlston; 1 Hengistbury
Firecrest - 1 Coneygar Hill, Bridport; 1 Portland; 1 Hengistbury
Bearded Tit - 2, Hatch Pond
Whinchat - 1, Winspit
Black Redstart - 3, Sterte (Poole Harbour shore); 1 Portland
Crossbill - 4, Durlston
Snow Bunting - late news of one in Beaminster yesterday

Sightings - Wednesday 2nd November 2011

Egyptian Goose - 3, Lytchett Bay
Balearic Shearwater - 1, Portland
Black-necked Grebe - 2 Shell Bay/Studland
Glossy Ibis - 1, Stanpit
Little Stint - 1, Stanpit
Curlew Sandpiper - 1, Stanpit
Kittiwake - 1 Lytchett Bay
Sandwich Tern - 3, Studland
Arctic Skua - 1, Hengsitbury
Short-eared Owl - 1, Arne; 1, Durlston, 2, Portland
Turtle Dove - 1, Portland
Firecrest - 2, Arne (around the car-park); 1, Portland; 1 Hengistbury
Yellow-browed Warbler - 2, Hengistbury Head
Pallas' Warbler - 1, Hengistbury Head
Black Redstart - 2, Dorchester (W. Dorset District Council Offices); 2 Portland Bill
Brambling - 1, Arne (around the feeders in the car-park)
Lapland Bunting - 1, Hengistbury

Sightings - Tuesday 1st November 2011

Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit
Bittern - 1 Hatch pond

Med gull - 318 Radipole

Black tern - 1 Longham lake

Short eared owl - 6 Portland

Black Redstart – 2 WDDC offices, Dorchester

Bearded tit - 2 Hatch pond

Richard's pipit - 1 Durlston

Pallas's Warbler - 1 Pennsylvania Castle (Portland), 1 Winspit
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Hengistbury, 1 Portland

Firecrest - 3 Portland

Ortolan - 1 Portland

Black tern, Longham lake (c) Paul Wilkins

Sightings - Monday 31st October 2011

Red-breasted Goose - 1 flew over Abbotsbury Swannery in the morning
Glossy Ibis - 1 Stanpit
Hen Harrier – 1 Middlebere
Pomarine Skua - 1 past Mudeford Quay
Great Skua - 2 past Mudeford Quay

Caspian Gull - 1 Radipole

Yellow-legged Gull  - 4 Radipole

Little Gull – 1 at Shipstal Point, Arne, 1 past Mudeford Quay

Swallow - 1 Ferrybridge, 15 Durlston
House Martin - 3 Arne
Black Redstart – 1 Blacknor

Pallas's Warbler - 1 Pennsylvania Castle (Portland)
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Durlston
Firecrest - 1 Pennsylvania Castle (Portland), 1 Suckthumb Quarry, 1 Arne, 11+ Durlston
Coal Tit - 1 of the continental race ater at Long Meadow, Durlston
Snow Bunting - 1 still at the Bridging Camp on the Fleet

Caspian Gull at Radipole Lake © Kevin Lane

Away from birds, it may be of interest to some readers to know that Otters are still being seen regularly on the Stour in Blandford Forum.  The best spots to look currently appear to be around the weir just downstream of Blandford Bridge.

Otter at Blandford Forum © Kevin Lane