Dorset Sighting
2008

 

May 14th 2008
At Hengistbury Head 1 Serin, 1 Turtle Dove, Great Northern Diver, at Stanpit 2 Little Stints and a Little Gull. In the Poole area an Osprey over Creekmoor, at Hartland Moor at least one Montagu's Harrier possibly two. On Portland 2 Tree Sparrow, 3 Turtle Doves, 2 Black Redstarts, 8 Whinchat, 2 Wood Warbler and 60 Spotted Flycatchers. Off shore 100+ Manx Shearwaters lingering and a Great Northern Diver. Cattle Egret at Lodmoor.

May 10th 2008
At Portland 2 Turtle Dove, Hobby, Short-eared Owl and Corn Bunting. Off Chesil 1 Black Tern, Little Gull, Arctic Skua and 2 Arctic Skuas at Ferrybridge. At Lytchett Bay, Poole Harbour Cattle Egret still. Christchurch Harbour Lesser Whitethroat, 37 Whimbrel, 2 Sanderling, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Black Tern, Little Gull and Arctic Skua.

May 8th 2008
Sorry that there has been no news for a week but we have been on holiday and all the birds visited here instead, but a few have remained and reported today was at Hengistbury Head and Christchurch Harbour 1 Velvet Scoter past, 1 Little Gull, 1 Roseate Tern. At Swineham Gravel Pits also a Little Gull. At Bere Cross a Bee-eater was heard flying over. At Weymouth on Lodmoor the Whiskered Tern was seen this morning but not since, 1 Black Tern there but 70 flew past Portland Bill today. Also at Portland a Short-toed Lark flew in off the sea, 3 Red-rumped Swallows flying along the East Cliff and 1 Roseate Tern past the Bill.

April 29th 2008
Serin and Iceland Gull at Portland Bill today plus 2 Hawfinch flew over and at Weston Hoopoe. Seawatching off the Bill produced 500+ Manx Shearwater, 2 Puffins, 3 Black Terns, 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Little Gull, 1 Black-throated Diver. At Lodmoor 1 Spoonbill, 8 Whimbrel, 80 Swifts, Marsh Harrier. Studland Bay had 1 Roseate and 1 Arctic Tern.

April 26th 2008
Hoopoe at Lodmoor today and a pair of Garganey on the Buddleia Loop at Radipole. Cattle Egret at Lytchett Bay behind the Old Quoins Cottage and 2 on Lodmoor. Sea watching was again on interest today with 3 Pomarine Skuas, 3 Arctic Skuas, 300 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Black-throated Diver and 2 Great Northern Divers past Portland Bill whilst from Chesil beach 2 Black and 3 Arctic Terns, 2 Little Gulls and 6 Little Terns. At Durlston they also had Black-throated Diver and 2 Red-throated Divers, 40 Bar-tailed Godwits past and a Puffin lingered on the sea. Other news 150 Wheatears, Hobby at Portland. An Osprey at Middlebere, Poole Harbour and Grasshopper Warbler at Studland on path up to Old Harry.

April 24th 2008
At Hengistbury Head offshore 2 Velvet Scoter, 1 Black Tern and Little Gull, also Little Gull at Longham Lakes and a flock of 5 Common Sandpipers. Over at Weymouth in the bay 2 Great Northern Divers and a Black Tern. Grasshopper Warbler at Lodmoor and alson on Portland at Barleycrates Lane and Reap Lane. At the Bill an Icterine Warbler this morning otherwise the sea passage was most notable with 250 "commic" terns, 150 Manx Shearwater, 32 Common Scoter, 30 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 18 Great Skuas and 5 Arctic Skuas, 3 Red-throated Divers and 1 Great Northern Diver.

April 20th 2008
A good day for land migrants and sea watching along the coast. Garganey at Stanpit on East Marsh. In the Poole Harbour area Cattle Egret still at Lytchett Bay, plus Lesser Whitethroat, Whinchat, Redstart, Yellow Wagtails, Reed Warblers, at Greenlands Farm, Studland 5 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Swift and in Poole Park Reed Warbler, Redstart and Hobby over Luscombe Valley. At Corfe Castle a Willow Tit singing south of railway station. Further along the coast at Dancing Ledge 4 Puffins and at Ringstead a Nightingale singing.

At Lodmoor a female Smew, 1 Hobby, Whinchat and Yellow Wagtails. From Chesil beach 1 Pomarine Skua, 10 Arctic Skua, 1 Great Skua, 55 "commic" terns, 52 Sandwich Terns, 5 Little Terns, 160 Whimbrel, 68 Bar-tailed Godwits, 13 Little Gulls, 69 Common Scoter and 4 Red-throated Divers past. Much the same at Portland but an Iceland Gull lingered and 2 Black Terns, land migrants here included 1 Swift, 1 Garden Warbler, 400 Willow Warblers, 40 Redstarts, 15 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Grasshopper Warblers, 3 Black Redstarts, Hobby and a Mealy Redpoll. At Ferrybridge 2 Knot, 3 Sanderling and 1 Little Stint.

Black Kite over The Fleet at Littlesea 16.55 and then seen over Portland Heights Hotel at 17.25 heading towards Lodmoor.

April 17th 2008
Good sea watching today from many points along the Dorset Coast with a few Great and Arctic Skuas, several Little Gulls, Sandwich and Common Terns, also Common Scoter and large numbers of Whimbrel. On land at Durlston 2 Quail flushed and Hobby there. Little Ringed Plover at Swineham.

April 15th 2008
It was a better day for migrants with fairly good numbers of commoner species. At Stanpit a pair of Garganey, also a Common Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank, nearby on Wick Fields a Grasshopper Warbler. At Portland a White Stork flew in off the sea at Southwell at midday and flew north, also at the Bill 4 Grasshopper Warblers and male Ring Ouzel, offshore 22 Manx Shearwater and 13 Whimbrel past. Cattle Egret still at Abbotsbury.

April 13th 2008
A Hoopoe at Lodmoor was an exciting find this morning, the Pallas's Warbler still at Two Mile Coppice in Weymouth. At Portland quiet again though a male Pied Flycatcher there, offshore 1 Great Skua and 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Common Terns, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Divers past. At Abbotsbury the Cattle Egret and Spoonbill still. Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Durlston Country Park. The summer plumage Slavonian Grebe still on Swineham Gravel Pits.

April 10th 2008
At Portland the Siberian Chiffchaff still, 2 Firecrest, 1 Yellow and White Wagtail, offshore 7 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Velvet Scoter past. Little Ringed Plover and Spoonbill at Lodmoor. The Pallas's Warbler still at Two Mile Coppice. Cattle Egret at Abbotsbury. Short-eared Owl at Pilsden Pen, Cuckoo heard at RSPB Grange Heath. Slavonian Grebe Swineham Gravel Pits. A Common and Black Redstart at Hengistbury Head.

April 8th 2008
On our first session of the Summer Tuesday course visited Hengistbury Head and walked round Wick Fields and looked over the Barn Field. Plenty of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers to be heard and seen and on the Barn Field we had 6 Wheatears, several Sand Martin around but Nick picked up the best bird of the morning with a 1st winter/summer Ring-billed Gull flying past towards Priory Marsh, then from the car park 3 Mediterranean Gulls.

Other news in Dorset of an adult male Little Bittern reported from Radipole this morning. A Common Sandpiper at Lodmoor and the Pallas's Warbler is still singing at Two Mile Coppice. A Ring Ouzel at Portland with 250 Swallows, 150 Wheatears, 20 House Martins and 200 Willow Warblers.

April 4th 2008
Spring migrants were much in evidence today with plenty of Willow Warblers coming through with a lesser number of Chiffchaffs, a few Redstarts, Sedge and Reed Warblers. Other news at Stanpit just 1 Egyptian Geese, a Whimbrel and on Hengistbury Head a male Ring Ouzel and a Tree Pipit. On Studland a Red Kite see flying towards Swanage and Black Redstart on roof by Churchyard and a Firecrest in the Churchyard, 5 Sandwich Terns in the bay. At Weymouth the Pallas's Warbler still at Two Mile Coppice and at Lodmoor the summer plumage Water Pipit still, 1 Little Ringed Plover. At Maiden Castle 120 Golden Plover many in summer plumage. At Portland 1 Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail also Marsh Harrier, 2 Short-eared Owls and Siberian Chiffchaff still.

April 3rd 2008
A few raptors reported today with Marsh Harrier over Wick, Christchurch Harbour and Portland, an Osprey and Merlin also over Portland. Other migrants at Portland today included 200 Sand Martins, 100 Swallows, 2 Yellow Wagtails and 1 Redstart, off shore 1 Arctic Skua, 2 Red-throated and 1 Great Northern Diver. 2 Sedge Warblers singing at Lodmoor and 1 at Stanpit, where there were 2 Egyptian Geese still and a Spotted Redshank, other migrants in Christchurch Harbour were 90 Willow Warblers, 75 Chiffchaffs and 30 Swallows.

April 1st 2008
A male Pied Flycatcher was a good report for Stanpit today, also 2 Egyptian Geese and a Yellow Wagtail, also at Hengistbury Head a Black Redstart, 12 Willow Warblers, 25 Chiffchaffs and 18 Sand Martins. At Lytchett Bay, Poole Harbour 3 Spotted Redshank. The Pallas's Warbler still at Two Mile Coppice, Weymouth and at Portland 60 Chiffchaff, 15 Willow Warbler, 20 Wheatears, White Wagtail and a Great Skua past.

March 30th 2008
Signs of spring with Osprey seen over Christchurch Harbour and Brownsea Island, also at Christchurch 26 Wheatears, 2 Swallows, 8 Firecrests, 20 Sand Martins, 35 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers singing. At Portland Bill 15 Firecrests, 50 Chiffchaffs, 6 Willow Warblers and past the Bill a Balearic Shearwater, 12 Manx Shearwaters, 10 Common Scoter, 2 Sandwich Terns and a Red-throated Diver, 6 Purple Sandpipers still there. The Pallas's Warbler still at Two Mile Coppice, Weymouth and Spoonbill on Lodmoor.

March 27th 2008
Not birding news but a Camberwell Beauty butterfly was on Brownsea Island today, elsewhere in Poole Harbour this afternoon off Swineham Point a Ring-billed Gull, also in area 2 female Marsh Harriers, 1 male Hen Harrier plus 7 Spoonbills and in Lytchett Bay from 6p.m. to 6.45p.m. Iceland Gull. The Pallas's Warbler is still at Two Mile Coppice, Weymouth, park in Greenway Road just north of the Morrisons roundabut and take bridleway under railway to view. On Lodmoor Water Pipit by hump end of Beachdown Way and Spoonbill. On Portland a juvenile Glaucous Gull flew north at West Cliff this morning also at Bill Black Redstart, Firecrest, Merlin and Willow Warbler.

March 24th 2008
Great Northern Diver seen off Portland Bill and Hengistbury Head today, also 3 Red-throated Divers past the Bill, the summer plumaged Red-necked Grebe still in Portland Harbour and the 1st Willow Warbler of the year was at Portland today. Nearby in Weymouth the Pallas's Warbler is singing and showing at Two Mile Coppice, Water Pipit at Lodmoor along main path to Southdown Avenue. 11 Spoonbills in Middlebere Channel.

March 19th 2008
An early Osprey seen this morning at Ferrybridge, on Portland 2 Firecrests, 2 White Wagtails, Marsh Harrier over, 1 Red-throated Diver and 1 Sandwich Tern past. In Poole Harbour on Swineham Gravel Pits 1 summer plumage Slavonian Grebe, 6 Sand Martins, 2 Spoonbills at Middlebere and on Brownsea Island a nice selection of waders including 5 Spotted Redshanks and 4 Knots, 6 Sandwich Terns.

March 16th 2008
Spring migration seems to have started with Chiffchaffs 60 at Portland Bill and 40 at Hengistbury Head, scattering of Wheatears along the coast and 150 at Portland Bill and 20 Hengistbury Head, also a movement of Stonechats with 25 at Portland, 30 yesterday. Iceland Gull at Lytchett Bay, Poole Harbour and Spoonbills 3 Wytch Channel, 2 Middlebere Channel and 7 at Arne. Cattle Egret still at East Holme, Pallas's Warbler still in Weymouth see March 13th for full details, Surf Scoter still off West Bexington.

March 13th 2008
Pallas's Warbler - 1 in Two Mile Coppice, Weymouth. Directions: from Greenway Road (off Dorchester Road, immediately north of the Morrison's roundabout), take the bridleway under the railway bridge. Walk through the gate on the left and take the path that leads to the right. Bird was 40 metres along this path - SY674821. Nearby at Lodmoor Wheatear and Spoonbill. Male Black Redstart at West Quarry Ledge, Winspit Valley. Surf Scoter still off Coastguard Cottages at West Bexington.

March 11th 2008
Cattle Egret 1 near River Stour nr. A31 north of Corfe Mullen, with 5 Little Egrets. Hen Harrier at Morden Bog, Crossbill at Lawsons Clump and Stroud Bridge, Wareham Forest. At Durlston Merlin, Firecres, 1 Great Northern Diver and Little Gull past. Spoonbill at Lodmoor, 1st winter Caspian Gull briefly at Radipole. At Portland 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Manx Shearwaters past,Black Redstart at Reap Lane. Surf Scoter between Abbotsbury and West Bexington. 150 Brambling along the beech avenue near Badbury Rings.

March 9th 2008
First Wheatears reported today with singles at Hamm Beach, Portland and Hengistbury Head, nearby at Wick Fields 2 Wood Lark over, 1 Bewick's Swan over. On Brownsea Island 32 Mediterranean Gulls counted mainly in pairs. Black Redstarts seen at Durlston and Portland Bill. At Winspit 1 Merlin, Siberian Chiffchaff at Radipole. Off Portland Bill 3 Balearic Shearwaters and 3 Red-throated Divers past, 3 Purple Sandpipers there. In Portland Harbour the Red-necked Grebe is showing good signs of it's summer plumage. The first winter female Surf Scoter off Abbotsbury with Common Scoters.

March 3rd 2008
At Sherborne Lake today 8 Sand Martins, 1 Swallow and 1 House Martin. Surf Scoter 1st winter female between West Bexington and Abbotsbury off Coastguard Cottages. 1 Cattle Egret viewed from minor road from Abbotsbury to Rodden.

February 28th 2008
Pallas's Warbler Oakers Wood - this is a private wood with no public access to the bird. Caspian Gull in Poole Harbour, 2 Long-tailed Duck Brans Bay. Surf Scoter 1 imm/female off Abbotsbury this morning and East Bexington in afternoon. Cattle Egret still East Holme.

February 27th 2008
Pallas's Warbler Oakers Wood. Caspian Gull at Radipole, Water Pipit at Lodmoor also 2 Spoonbill, 3 Great Northern Divers in Weymouth Bay. Cattle Egret still at East Holme. 9 Purple Sandpipers at Hengistbury Head. Late News from yesterday evening a Sand Martin at Radipole.

February 22nd 2008
Black Brant 1 at Ferrybridge, Red-throated Divers 2 past Portland Bill, Cattle Egret 3 just west of Watery Lane, Broadwey at SY663835, 1 on the water meadows at East Holme. Great White Egret - 1 reported over Portesham, flew south west towards the Fleet, Firecrest and Black Redstart at Durlston CP. 20+ Brambling at Badbury Rings. 3 Long-tailed Duck and 6 Black-necked Grebes in the Wytch area of Poole Harbour.

February 18th 2008
1 Mealy Redpoll at Hengistbury Head and Common Sandpiper at Stanpit. 2 White-fronted Geese at Swineham, Bittern at Hatch Pond. Great Grey Shrike at Morden Bog. 20+ Brambling at Badbury Rings.

February 13th 2008
Poole Harbour - 2 Long-tailed Duck Arne Bay, 97 Knot on Long Island. Lodmoor at Overcombe 3 Water Pipits. Radipole 3 Cattle Egret from North Hide. Portland Bill - Red-throated Diver 12 and Velvet Scoter 2 past, Purple Sandpipers 6.

February 6th 2008
Long-billed Dowitcher still on The Fleet at Rodden Hive also 2 Whooper Swans nearby at Butterstreet Cove.

February 3rd 2008
Long-billed Dowitcher still on The Fleet at Rodden Hive also 2 Whooper Swans nearby at Butterstreet Cove.

February 1st 2008
Long-billed Dowitcher on The Fleet at Rodden Hive also 2 Whooper Swans.

January 29th 2008
Whooper Swan at Rodden Hive, Bittern at Radipole Lake. Otherwise interest at sea with Red-throated Divers 12 past Portland Bill 2 pst Durlston, Black-throated Diver 1 past Portland Bill, Great Northern Diver 2 past Portland Bill and 3 past Durlston. 2 Balearic Shearwaters past both Portland and Durlston and 1 Pomarine Skua past Portland Bill.

January 22nd 2008
Christchurch area 1 Spotted Redshank East Marsh, Stanpit, 2 Goosander Cowards Marsh. In Poole Harbour 2 Spoonbill at Ower, and 6 at Arne opp Holten Lee, 3 Long-tailed Ducks roosted in channel between Brownsea and Round Island also Black-necked and Slavonian Grebe. Bittern at Hatch Pond. On Bere Regis Cress Beds 5 Green Sandpipers. Over at Portland in the harbour 3 Long-tailed Duck, 6 Great Northern Divers, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Red-necked Grebe. Iceland Gull at Ferrybridge and at Portland Bill 3 Balearic Shearwaters, 4 Velvet Scoters 13 Red-throated Divers past and Short-eared Owl at Bill. At Radipole 2 Cattle Egrets seen at North Hide.

January 20th 2008
Ring-billed Gulls, not one but two seen today in Weymouth. An oiled bird seen at Lodmoor and a clean bird at Radipole this morning. Also at Radipole6 Mediterranean Gulls and 13 Scaup at Lodmoor. In Portland Harbour 1 Red-necked Grebe, 2 Black-necked Grebes, 4+ Great Northern Divers, 2 Black-throated Divers and 80+ Red-breasted Merganser. 5 Balearic Shearwaters past Portland Bill.

January 18th 2008
Poole Harbour area Pink-footed Goose with Canada Geese at Swineham Gravel Pits and 1 Marsh Harrier. Spoonbill at Arne and nearby at East Holme the Bewick's Swan still with Mute Swans. At Portland Bill Iceland Gull and 4 Baleric Shearwaters past and 3 Purple Sandpipers.

January 14th 2008
In Poole Harbour area today 2 Pink-footed Goose on Swineham Gravel Pits and 11 Scaup, also Hen and Marsh Harriers seen at the point. The Bewick's Swan still at East Holme with Mutes, Cattle Egret still nrear Bere Heath Farm, Bere Regis ST855926. The 2 Greenland White-fronted Geese in meadows east of Puddletown SY769944. At Portland Bill 10,000 Razorbills passed per hour in a 2 hour seawatch, 1,000 counted from Durlston.

January 12th 2008
It was winter birdrace day in Dorset and 6 teams (which included Nick and Jackie from Two Owls Birding) took part, all but 2 teams covered Dorset as a county and 1 team just within Poole Harbour and 1 the Purbeck area. A new record was set with 129 in Dorset and 119 for Poole Harbour. Highlights included Cattle Egret near Bere Regis and 1 at Coombe Heath trail at Arne. A pair of Hen Harriers at Middlebere and a hunting Barn Owl there, though many were seen in the North Chalk and in the west of the county. Two Greenland White-fronted Geese near Athelthampton and 1 Bewick's Swan at East Holme. Two Short-eared Owls Portland Bill, 1 Wick Fields, Hengistbury and 1 on the Cranborne Chase. A Common Sandpiper in Holes Bay N/E section, also Spotted Redshank there. 2 Long-tailed Duck Portland Harbour 1 Brands Bay, Poole Harbour. 4 Velvet Scoter off Chesil Cove and 1 in Studland Bay.

January 5th 2008
At Hengistbury Head 2 Velvet Scoter past, 20 Red-throated Divers, 1 Great Northern Diver. In Poole Harbour- Wareham Channel 4 Goosander, 4 Spoonbill, Swineham Point 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Hen Harrier and 11 Scaup. At East Holme 1 Bewick's Swan, 1 Egyptian Goose, 2 Green Sandpiper. Over at Portland in the Harbour 4 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Velvet Scoter, 2 in Chesil Cove, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 4 Slavonian Grebe, 3 Black-necked Grebes, Firecrest at Castle Cove, 1 Black Redstart at Chesil Cove and at the Bill 1 Siberian Chiffchaff, 4 Purple Sandpipers.

January 2nd 2008
On our "Start the New Year Trip" today we were treated to views of 5 Purple Sandpipers by the Haven Hotel, Sandbanks right under our feet, no need for binoculars. Highlights also included on the harbour side of Studland Brands Bay were up to 17 Sanderling, 50 Knot, 2 Ringed Plover, a few Bar-tailed Godwits, Black-tailed Godwits, 3 Eider, 6 Black-necked Grebes, 1 female Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers, Pintail and the usual species you expect to see.