Sightings - Wednesday 31st October 2012

The weather across the county was a bit of a nightmare today, appropriate for Halloween. Few birds were reported.

Black Brant - 2 Ferrybridge
Spoonbill - 1 Stanpit
Purple Sandpiper - 1 Brownsea (2 or 3 The Cobb, Lyme Regis yesterday)
Grey Phalarope - 1 Charmouth briefly
Little Gull - 12 Hengistbury
Snow Bunting - 1 Hengistbury
Barred Warbler - 1 Stanpit briefly
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Durlston
Firecrest - 9 Durlston


  

Sightings - Tuesday 30th October 2012

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 6 Ferrybridge
Black Brant - 2 pos. 3 Ferrybridge
Black-necked Grebe - 33 Knowl Beach, 2 Brownsea Channel
Sponnbill - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Purple Sandpiper - 3 Portland Bill, 2-3 Lyme Cobb
Grey Phalarope - 1 off Portland Bill
Mediterranean Gull - 176 Ferrybridge
Bee-eater - 1 imm. Durlston CP.
Water Pipit - 1 Priory Marsh
Black Redstart - 8 Portland Bill
Ring Ouzel - 5 Durlston CP.
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Bridport garden since 26th.
Firecrest - 10 Abbotsbury Tropical Gardens, 3 Durlston CP.
Cont. Coal Tit - 1 Durlston CP.
Brambling - 53 Durlston CP, 5 Bryanston, 1 with Chaffinch Portland Castle
Bullfinch - 25 Durlston CP.
Hawfinch - 4 Durlston CP
Tree sparrow - 2 Durlston CP.

Redshank - Bramble Bush Bay © Will Bown

Sightings - Monday 29th October 2012

Pink-footed Goose - 1 with Brent Ferrybridge
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 6 Ferrybridge
Black Brant - 2 Ferrybridge
Scaup - 9 Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-tailed Duck - Weymouth Bay
Red-throated Diver - 4 Hengistbury Head, 1 Durlston
Manx Shearwater - 2 Portland Bill
Spoonbill - 1 Stanpit
Merlin - 1 West Bexington
Little Gull - 4 Hengistbury Head
Arctic Tern - 1 Hengistbury Head
Bee-eater - 1 Swanage near Belvedere Road
Black Redstart - 4 Blacknor, Weston, 2 Portland Bill, 1 Ferndown, 1 Hengistbury Head
Whitethroat - 1 Durlston
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Castle Wood, Durlston




Sightings - Sunday 28th October 2012

Egyptian Goose - 11 over Christchurch Hbr.
Scaup - 9 today at Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-tailed Duck - 1 past Hengistbury Hd.
Velvet Scoter - 14 past Hengistbury Hd, 3 Portland Bill, 1 Durlston CP.
Red-throated Diver - 3 Hengistbury Hd.
Great Northern Diver - 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Slavonian Grebe - 2 off Hengistbury Hd, 2 Shell Bay
Spoonbill - 2 Fitzworth, 1 Christchurch Hbr.
Golden Plover - 40+ Tarrant Rushton airfield.
Green Sandpiper - 1 Lodmoor
Merlin - 1 Durlston CP.
Bee-eater - 1 Belvedre Rd, Swanage at 15:50hrs and by the Pier at dusk.
Black Redstart - 3 Easton Portland, 2 Tarrant Rushton airfield, 2 Durlston CP.
Ring Ouzel - 1 Durlston CP. 
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Radipole Lake
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Easton Portland
Corn Bunting - 30+ Tarrant Rushton airfield

There was a little Vis mig as follows.
Woodpigeon - 11,500 Hengistbury Hd, 7400 Durlston CP, 250 South Haven
Stock Dove - 230 Hengistbury Hd, 90 Durlston CP.
Swallow - 9 Durlston CP.
House Martin 5 Durlston CP, 2 Hengistbury Hd
Yellow Wagtail - 1 late individual Hengistbury Hd.
Goldfinch - 750 Durlston CP.
Siskin - 250 Durlston CP.
Twite - 1 Durlston CP.
 Lesser Redpoll - 68 Durlston CP, 19 Hengistbury Hd.
Crossbill - 3 Durlston CP.

Brent Geese - Holton Lee © Rex Bale




Sightings - Saturday 27th October 2012

Mandarin - 28 Sutton Waldron, 1 past Durlston CP.
Scaup - 6 Abbotsbury Swannery
Egyptian Vulture - 1 probable over North Portland
Marsh Harrier - 1 Christchurch Hbr.
Common Crane - 3 seen in flight along the Ridgeway
Little Stint - 1 Christchurch Hbr.
Long-eared Owl - 1 Portland Bird Obs garden
Short-eared Owl - 3 Hengistbury Hd.  
Desert Wheatear - female reported West Lulworth Army Camp (No Access)
Barred Warbler - 1 reported south end of Top Field Portland.
Siberian Chiffchaff - pos. Ladymead Portland
Firecrest - 3 Durlston CP, 2 Abbotsbury Swannery
Daurian Shrike - still Portland Bill near Culverwell
Lapland Bunting - 1 Hengistbury Hd, 1 north Southdown Ridge.

Todays Vis mig
Sparrowhawk - 9 Hengistbury Hd
Common Buzzard - 8 Hengistbury Hd
Merlin - 2 Hengistbury Hd
Stock Dove - 155 Durlston CP, 130 Hengistbury Hd.
Woodpigeon - 20,000 Southdown Ridge, 19,600 Durlston CP, 15,100 East Bexington,12,000 Hengistbury Hd.
Swallow - 36 Hengistbury Hd, 17 Durlston CP, 12 East Bexington
House Martin - 12 East Bexington, 8 Hengistbury Hd, 8 Durlston CP.
Woodlark - 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Skylark - 112 Hengistbury Hd, 110 Durlston CP.
Meadow Pipit - 106 Hengistbury Hd, 65 Durlston CP.
Alba Wagtail - 110 Durlston CP, 59 Hengistbury Hd.
Ring Ouzel - 1 north Scrubs Stanpit Marsh, 1 St Georges Quarry Portland
Chaffinch - 1420 Durlston CP, 530 Hengistbury Hd, 350 East Bexington
Brambling - 45 Durlston CP, 35 Hengistbury Hd, 3 East Bexington
Goldfinch - 1860 Durlston CP, 650 Hengistbury Hd.
Siskin - 210 Durlston CP, 125 Hengistbury Hd.
Linnet - 720 Durlston CP, 230 Hengistbury Hd.
Lesser Redpoll - 87 Hengistbury Hd, 32 Durlston CP, 4 East Bexington

Daurian Shrike - Portland Bill © Aidan Brown
Daurian Shrike - Portland Bill © Mike Trew







Sightings - Friday 26th October 2012

Portland appears the place to be at the moment..

Short-eared Owl - 1, Durlston
Golden Plover - 3, Hengistbury
Great Skua - 3, Hengistbury
Pechora Pipit - 1, Portland (a tentative record late in the day, not re-found)
Olive-backed Pipit - 1 possible fly-over, Portland (Wakeham)
Subalpine Warbler - 1, Portland (Weston Road)
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1, Hengistbury
Wood Warbler - 1, Portland (Avalanche Road)
Ring Ouzel - 1, Durlston; 1 Hengistbury
Daurian Shrike - 1, Portland (Top Fields)
Siberian Stonechat - 1 Portland (Culverwell; trapped and ringed today)

Sightings - Thursday 25th October 2012


Velvet Scoter - 3, Hengistbury
Glossy Ibis - 1, Hengistbury
Spoonbill - 1, Stanpit
Stone Curlew - 1, Hengistbury Head
Jack Snipe - 5, Hengistbury
Little Gull - 1, Hengistbury
Arctic Skua - 1, Hengsitbury
Long-eared Owl - 2, Portland
Woodlark - 2 flyovers, Hengistbury; 1, Durlston
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1, Portland; 1 Abbotsbury
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1, Portland (Wakeham)
Firecrest - 3, Hengistbury
Ring Ouzel - 1, Durslton
Black Redstart - widely reported including Ferndown, Portland (8), Winspit, Durlston, Bridging Camp
Siberian Stonechat - 1, Portland
Daurian Shrike - 1, Portland
Hawfinch - 1, Durlston

Sightings - Wednesday 24th October 2012

Eider - 11, Hengistbury
Slavonian Grebe - 1, Studland
Black-necked Grebe - 14, Studland
Spoonbill - 1, Stanpit
Little Stint - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Ruff - 1, Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1, Stanpit
Woodcock - 1, Hengistbury Head
Merlin - 1, West Bexington; 1 Durlston; 1 Hengsitbury
Short-eared Owl - 1, Hengistbury; 8 Portland
Long-eared Owl - 1, Portland
Woodlark - 2 flyovers, Studland
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1, Hengistbury
Firecrest - 1, Winspit; 2 Arne; 2 Durlston
Black Redstart - 5, Winspit; 1 Middlebere; 2 West Bexington; 1 Lodmoor; 5+ Durlston; 25+ Portland; 1 Hengistbury
Daurian Shrike - 1, Portland for second day
Ring Ouzel - 3 Winspit; 4+ Durlston; 1 Portland Castle
Hawfinch - flyovers at Studland and Durlston (2)
Snow Bunting - 1, Hengistbury

Also belated news from a private garden on Portland where a Pale-legged or Sakhalin leaf warbler was present on Monday.  This will be a first for the Britain and Ireland.  Further details and a photograph can be found by following links on the Portland Observatory website

Sightings - Tuesday 23rd October 2012

Highlight of the day was a Daurian Shrike at Portland.  Migration watchers recorded very impressive thrush and starling movements, for example more than 1400 Song Thrushes and Redwing were counted moving over Lytchett this morning - a site record. 

Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1, Ferrybridge
Jack Snipe - 1, West Bexington
Wryneck - 1, Portland (Top Fields)
Bearded Tit - 2, West Bexington
Daurian Shrike - 1, Portland (Culverwell: images of this bird can be seen here)
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1, Portland
Yellow-browed Warbler - 2, Portland (Southwell)
Ring Ouzel - 10 at Durlston; singles at Hengistbury and Portland Castle
Black Redstart - 4, Hengistbury; 1 Durlston; 6 Winspit; 2 West Bexinton; 1 Kingston
Whinchat - 1, Winspit; 1 West Bexington

Sightings - Monday 22nd October 2012

Scaup - 1 Stanpit
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Hengistbury
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Hengistbury
Red-Throated Diver - 1 Durlston, 1 Hengistbury
Spoonbill - 1 Stanpit
Merlin - 1 Durlston, 1 Hengistbury Head
Hobby - 1 Hengistbury Head
Grey Plover  - 4 Christchurch Harbour
Golden Plover - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Sanderling - 1 Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Greenshank - 1 Christchurch Harbour
Little Gull - 2 Longham Lakes
Wheatear - 1 Durlston, 1 Hengistbury Head
Black Redstart - 2 Bowleaze Cove, 1 Durlston, 2 Hengistbury Head
Ring Ouzel - 6 Durlston
Yellow-Browed Warbler - 1 Bowleaze Cove
Firecrest - 2 Durlston 1 Easton, 2 Morden Bog

Late news:  There is a report of a Glossy Ibis over Middlebere yesterday.

Sightings - Sunday 21st October 2012

Scaup - 1 Stanpit
Great Northern Diver - 1 past Portland
Red-Throated Diver - 1 Portland Bill
Spoonbill - 1 Stanpit
Merlin - 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Bill
Hobby - 1 Longham Lakes
Ruff - 1 Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Common Sandpiper - 1 Lodmoor
Whinchat - 1 Reap Lane (Portland)
Redstart - 1 Easton (Portland)
Black Redstart - 1 Hengistbury Head, 3 Portland Bill
Ring Ouzel - 4+ Christchurch Harbour, 1 West Bexington
Lesser Whitethroat - 1 Verne Common (Portland)
Barred Warbler - 1 Culverwell (Portland)
Subalpine Warbler - 1 Avalanche Road (Portland) (also present yesterday - apologies for this omission)
Lapland Bunting - 1 Portland Bill

Sightings - Saturday 20th October 2012



Scaup - 1 Stanpit
Black-Throated Diver - 1 past Hengistbury
Red-Throated Diver - 1 Portland Bill, 2 Weymouth Bay
Purple Heron - the juvenile remains at Radipole.
Spoonbill - 2 Brownsea, 1 Stanpit
Merlin - 1 Brownsea Island
Grey Plover - 11 Brownsea, 4 Stanpit
Knot - 4 Brownsea
Spotted Redshank - 9 Brownsea, 1 Stanpit
Sanderling - 1 Stanpit
Common Sandpiper - 1 Lodmoor
Greenshank - 15 Brownsea
Wryneck - 1 Southwell (Portland)
Ring-Necked Parakeet - 11 Swanage
Ring Ouzel - 2 Portland (Southwell and Broadcroft Quarry)
Barred Warbler - 1 Culverwell (Portland)
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Poole Park

Firecrest - 12+ Abbotsbury, 1 Brownsea, 1 Hengistbury, 2+ Portland


Sightings - Friday 19th October 2012

Great Crested Grebe - 1 with recently-hatched juvenile at Hatch Pond
Balearic Shearwater - 1 Portland Bill
Purple Heron - the juvenile remains at Radipole.
Spoonbill - 12 Brownsea, 1 Stanpit
Marsh Harrier - 2 Bestwall
Merlin - 1 Hengistbury, 1 Portland Bill
Grey Plover - 8 Stanpit
Ruff - 1 Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Greenshank - 1 Stanpit, 1 heard Swineham
Little Auk - 1 Portland Bill
Short-Eared Owl - 1 Portland Bill
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - 1 Durlston
Pied Wagtail - 363 roosting at Hatch Pond
Meadow Pipit - 285 Hengistbury
Whinchat - 1 Portland Bill
Ring Ouzel - 5 Durlston, 1 West Weare (Portland)
Barred Warbler - 1 Portland Bill
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 reported Poole Park
Chiffchaff - many newly-arrived at Hengistbury
Goldcrest - many newly-arrived at Hengistbury
Firecrest - 2+ Durlston, 1 Hengistbury, 6 Portland Bill, 2 Easton (Portland)
Linnet - a large movement this morning, with at least 11000 east over Durlston and 2225 over Hengistbury
Goldfinch - also on the move; 3000+ Durlston, 405 Hengistbury

Sightings - Thursday 18th October 2012

Black Brant - 2 on the Fleet at Chickerell
Red-throated Diver - 1 past Mudeford Quay
Great Northern Diver - 1 past Chesil Cove, 1 off Mudeford Quay
Sooty Shearwater - 1 past Portland Bill
Balearic Shearwater - 4 past Portland Bill, 2 past Durlston
Bittern - 1 at Radipole RSPB
Purple Heron - a juvenile again at Radipole RSPB
Spoonbill - 1 on Brownsea lagoon, 8 at Shipstal (Arne), 1 Stanpit Marsh
Hen Harrier - 1 Keysworth
Merlin - 1 at Durlston, 1 Keysworth
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Pomarine Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Arctic Skua - 1 past Durlston
Great Skua - 2 past Durlston, 2 past Portland Bill
Little Gull - 1 past Chesil Cove, 1 past Durlston
Short-eared Owl - 1 at Portland Bill
Woodlark - 2 over Durlston
Ring Ouzel - 1 at Durlston
Firecrest - 2 at Portland Bill, 1 Pennsylvania Castle,  1 at Durlston
Coal Tit - 1 Continental race at Easton Portland
Brambling - 7 over Durlston
Goldfinch - 1981 over Durlston
Siskin - 1202 over Durlston
Linnet - 1921 over Durlston
Crossbill - 26 over Durlston
Hawfinch - 1 over Durlston

Late news from yesterday : 8 Spotted Redshank at Holes Bay

Sightings - Wednesday 17th October 2012

Red-throated Diver - 1 past Portland Bill
Black-throated Diver - 1 past Mudeford Quay
Black-necked Grebe - 11 from Middle Beach Studland, 1 off Mudeford Quay
Sooty Shearwater - 1 past Mudeford Quay
Manx Shearwater - 1 past Portland Bill
Balearic Shearwater - 2 past Mudeford Quay
Spoonbill - 1 on Stanpit Marsh
Merlin - 1 by A35 near Askerswell, 1 at Portland Bill
Arctic Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Great Skua - 3 past Portland Bill
Sabine's Gull - 1 in Chesil Cove, later seen passing Portland Bill
Brambling - a few over Durlston with other finches

Sightings - Tuesday 16th October 2012

Scaup - 2 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Balearic Shearwater - 1 past Durlston
Purple Heron - a juvenile at Radipole RSPB
Spoonbill -  18 on Brownsea Island lagoon,  1 on Stanpit Marsh
Merlin - 1 at Portland Bill, 1 at Durlston
Hobby - 1 at Durlston
Knot - 4 on Brownsea Island lagoon
Spotted Redshank - 13 on Brownsea Island lagoon
Great Skua - 2 past Portland Bill
Caspian Gull - a 1st winter reported in Holes Bay
Short-eared Owl - 2 at Portland Bill
Barred Warbler - 1 still at Culverwell Portland
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 at Durlston
Firecrest - 1 at Durlston, 1 Grove Point Portland
Brambling - 1 at Durlston

Sightings - Monday 15th October 2012


Balearic Shearwater - 1 past Durlston, 1 past Portland Bill
Spoonbill - 1 on Stanpit Marsh
Marsh Harrier - 1 over Christchurch Harbour
Merlin - 2 at Portland Bill, 1 at Durlston
Hobby - 1 at Durlston
Ruff - 2 Stanpit Marsh
Snipe - 165 flushed by rising tide off East Marsh Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1 still at Stanpit Marsh
Arctic Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Great Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Short-eared Owl - 1 Portland Bill
Woodlark - 1 over Avalanche Road Portland, 1 Durlston
Ring Ouzel - 2 trapped at Portland Bird Observatory
Barred Warbler - 1 still at Culverwell Portland
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Easton Portland
Firecrest - 2 at Durlston, 2 Portland Bill,  1 South Haven
Brambling - 16 at Durlston
Mealy Redpoll - 1 at Wick with 5 Lesser Redpoll
Crossbill - 6 at Durlston

Sightings - Sunday 14th October 2012

Egyptian Goose - 31 Avon Causeway
Pink-footed Goose - 1 over Avon Causeway
Marsh Harrier - 1 Wareham Channel area
Hen Harrier - 2 Wareham Channel area
Merlin - 2 Wareham Channel area
Spoonbill - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Water Pipit - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Wryneck - 1 Top Fields Portland
Ring Ouzel - 1 Ballard Down, 10 West Weare Portland
Subalpine Warbler - 1 Avalanche Road hump 
Barred Warbler - 1 Culverwell Portland
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Portland Heights, 1 Alalanche Road hump
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 private area Clouds Hill, the Fleet
Firecrest - 5 Abbotsbury, 1 Stoborough




Sightings - Saturday 13th October 2012

Spoonbill – 16 Middlebere, 17 Brownsea Island lagoon
White Stork – 4 over Lodmoor
Honey Buzzard – 1 over Durlston
Merlin - 1 Durlston, 1 Hengistbury Head

Hobby – 1 Stanpit Marsh
Redshank – 166 Brand’s Bay
Spotted Redshank – 9 Brownsea Island lagoon
Arctic Skua – 1 past Durlston
Woodlark - 1 over Durlston

Wryneck  - 1 East Bexington
Common Redstart - 1 Durlston
Black Redstart - 1 Durlston
Barred Warbler - 1 ringed at Durlston, seen later
Blyth’s Reed Warber – 1 reported near Chafey’s Roundabout, Radipole
Yellow-browed Warbler - 2 North Scrubs Stanpit Marsh, 1 Eight King’s Quarry Portland, 1 Southwell, 1 Portland Heights Hotel
Firecrest - 1 Durlston, 1 Eight Kings Quarry, 2 Portland Bill, 10 Abbotsbury Tropical Gardens, 1 South Haven, 2 Hengistbury Head
Greenfinch – 205 over East Bexington

Tree Sparrow – 3 over Durlston
Chaffinch - 1115 over Durlston
















Barred Warbler at Durlston copyright Simon Breeze

Sightings - Thursday 11th October 2012

Scaup - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Purple Heron - 1 Radipole Lake
Ring Ouzel - 1 East Weares Portland
Barred Warbler - 1 Culverwell Portland
Yellow-browed Warbler -  1 Easton, 1 Portland Obs, 1 Lulworth Cove, 2 North Scrubs Stanpit Marsh, 1 Hengistbury Head
Redwings - reports from a number of sites
Firecrest - 1 Durlston, 2 Avalanche Road Portland



Sightings - Wednesday 10th October 2012

Black Brant - 1 on the Fleet at Littlesea
Scaup - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Black-necked Grebe - 1 at Brands Bay
Purple Heron - 1 still at Radipole Lake
Spoonbill - 6 on Brownsea Lagoon, 1 flew over Christchurch bypass
Merlin - 1 at Worth Matravers, 1 at Portland Bill
Ruff - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Spotted Redshank - 7 on Brownsea Lagoon, 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Arctic Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Great Skua - 1 past Portland Bill
Whinchat - 1 at Stanpit Marsh, 1 at Ringstead
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 at Winspit
Yellow-browed Warbler - On Portland - 3 at Southwell, 1 at Wakeham, 1 at the Grove.  Elsewhere, 1 trapped and ringed at Longham Lakes (1st site record)
Lapland Bunting - 1 over Durlston

Yellow-browed Warbler at Longham Lakes © Roger Peart
Grasshopper Warbler at Winspit © Kevin Lane

Sightings - Tuesday 9th October 2012

White-fronted Goose - 3 flew over Durlston
Garganey - 1 at Avon Causeway
Scaup - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Purple Heron - still at Radipole Lake (seen at 08:30 only)
Bittern - 1 at Radipole Lake
Merlin - 1 at Ferrybridge
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Whinchat - 3 at Portland Bill
Ring Ouzel - 2 at Penn's Weare, Portland, 1 at Durlston
Yellow-browed Warbler - 7 on Portland (3 Southwell, 2 PBO, 1 Avalanche Road Hump, 1 Craft Centre), 1 at Radipole Lake (near McDonalds)
Pied Flycatcher - 1 at Portland Bill
Brambling - 10 at Portland Bill

Sightings - Monday 8th October 2012

Garganey - 1 at Avon Causeway
Scaup - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Purple Heron - 1 still at Radipole Lake, 1 flew over Morden Bog
Ruff - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Little Gull - 1 past Durlston
Wryneck - 1 still yesterday at Boyshill
Whinchat - 10 at Portland Bill
Yellow-browed Warbler - 3 at Portland Bill, 2 at Southwell, 1 at Durlston
Pied Flycatcher - 5 at Portland Bill

Sightings - Sunday 7th October 2012

Black-throated Diver - 1 off Hengistbury Head
Purple Heron - 1 at Radipole Lake, mainly in the vicinity of the concrete bridge at SY673799
Spoonbill - 19 at Middlebere, 1 flew over Portland Bill
Merlin - 1 at Lodmoor, 1 over Brownsea Lagoon
Ruff - 1 at Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit
Yellow-legged Gull - 2 at Middlebere
Wryneck - singles near Gad Cliff (by the danger sign at the start of the descent to Worbarrow Bay) and at West Bexington (east of the village along the footpath between the coastal path and Labour-in-Vain Farm)
Lapland Bunting - a possible, heard calling, over Portland Heights

Sightings - Saturday 6th October 2012

Goosander - 1 redhead Avon Causeway
Balearic Shearwater - 17 Portland Bill
Great White Egret - 2 Portland Bill (seen flying out to sea am)
Purple Heron - 1 Radipole (last seen flying into the northern part of the reserve)
Marsh Harrier - 1 Avon Causeway
Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail Durlston CP, 1 male West Compton
Merlin - 1 Durlston CP.
Ruff   - 1 Avon Causeway
Short-billed Dowitcher - 1 1st/w Lodmoor
Wryneck - 1 Gad Cliff
Swallow - 600+ Boyshill, 365 Hengistbbury Hd.
House Martin - 260 Hengistbury Hd, 100 Boyshill
Meadow Pipit - c2000 Portland, 950 Durlston CP, 155 Hengisbury Hd.
Ring Ouzel - 1 Durlston CP.
Grasshopper Warbler - 3 Portland Bill
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 Southwell, 1 Pensylvania Castle, 1 Portland Obs.
Firecrest - 12 Abbotsbury Gardens, 1 Sherford Bridge, 1 Durlston CP.
Red-backed Shrike - 1 Bill Hill Portland Bill
Jay - 20 Lodmoor, 17 Boyshill, 13 Abbotsbury, 12 Lytchett Bay, 9 Durlston CP.
Chaffinch  - 325 Durlston CP, 40 Hengistbury Hd.
Brambling - 2 Durlston CP.
Goldfinch - 524 Durlston CP, 200 Hengistbury Hd.
Linnet - 415 Durlston CP, 260 Hengistbury Hd.
Little Bunting - 1 Bill Hill Portland Bill (view from nr forty speed limit sign)

1st/winter Short-billed Dowitcher - Lodmoor © Richard Abrahams

Northern Wheatear - Coombe Heath © John Hammick

Sightings - Friday 5th October 2012

Great Northern Diver - 1 past Hengistbury Head
Balearic Shearwater - 19 past Portland Bill
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 at Ferrybridge
Little Stint - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER - juv still on west scrape at Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 1 at Stanpit Marsh
Grey Phalarope - 1 off Hengistbury Head
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 at Ringstead Bay
Yellow-browed Warbler - 1 in Littlesea Wood, Weymouth
Red-backed Shrike - 1 still at Southwell, Portland
Lapland Bunting - 1 over Portland Bill

Sightings - Thursday 4th October 2012

Brent Geese - 2 Btand's Bay
Great Northern Diver - 1 Hengistbbury Hd.
Balearic Shearwater- 7 Portland Bill
Osprey - 1 Morden Bog
Hobby 2 Morden Bog, 1 Middlebere
Golden Plover - 60 Maiden Castle
Short-billed Dowitcher - 1 1st/w Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 8 Brownsea Is.
Swallow - 1200 Durlston CP.
House Martin -700 Durlston CP.
Meadow Pipit - 110 Durlston Cp.
Pied Wagtail - 215 Durlston CP.
Ring Ouzel - 1 Durlston CP.
Firecrest - single at, Portland Bill, Wakeham Portland & Morden Bog
Jay - movement continued today with 76 over Southdown Way Lodmoor, 22 Swyre, 20 Mordon Bog, 12 East Bexington
Chaffinch - 520 Durlston CP.
Brambling - 1 Durlston CP.
Goldfinch - 600 Durlston CP.
Siskin - 165 Durlston CP.
Linnet - 450 Durlston CP.


Sightings - Wednesday 3rd October 2012

Garganey - 1 Brand's Bay
Red-throated Diver - 2 past Mudeford Quay
Sooty Shearwater - 1 past Durlston CP.
Balearic Shearwater - 39 Portland Bill, 8 Weymouth Bay, 7 West Bexington, 4 Durlston CP, 2 Mudeford Quay
Hobby - 1 Durlston CP.
Golden Plover - 12 over Eggarden Hill
Short-billed Dowitcher - 1 1st/w Lodmoor
Spotted Redshank - 8 Brownsea Is.
Greenshank - 3 Brand's Bay
Arctic Skua - 1 Portland Bill
Little Gull - 1 off Fisherman's Bank Christchurch.
Turtle Dove - 1 Wakeham Portland
Whinchat - 2 West Bexington
Swallow - 1600 Durlston CP.
House Martin - 350 Durlston CP.
Ring Ouzel - 1 Durlston CP.
Firecrest - 2 Durlston CP, 1 Weston Portland
Red-backed Shrike - 1 Southwell
Jay - 30 west Eggardon Hill, 12 Puncknowle, 2 over Charminster
Chaffinch - 85 Durlston CP.
Goldfinch - 800+ Durlston CP.
Siskin - 186 Durlston CP
Linnet - 650 Durlston CP.

Sightings - Tuesday 2nd October 2012

Goldeneye - 1 Radipole
Balearic Shearwater - 1 Chesil Cove, 11 Durlston, 4 The Nothe, 80 Portland Bill
Sooty Shearwater - 3 Mudeford Quay, 60 Portland Bill, 1 Weymouth Bay
Manx Shearwater - 1 Durlston, 1 Portland Bill
Spoonbill - 12+ Brownsea
Merlin - 1 Durlston, 2 Portland Bill
Grey Plover - 1 Stanpit
Knot - 5 Brownsea, 1 Stanpit
Sanderling - 1 Mudeford Quay
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 Ferrybridge, 1 Stanpit
Spotted Redshank - 13 Brownsea, 1 Stanpit
Greenshank - 1 Stanpit.
Arctic Skua - 1 Durlston
Great Skua - 1 Chesil Cove, 3 Portland
Mediterranean Gull - 246 past Durlston Head plus 40+ in Durlston Bay is the reserve's highest ever count
Little Gull - 1 Chesil Cove, 1 Durlston
Firecrest - 1 Corfe Mullen
Red-Backed Shrike - 1 Southwell (Portland)
Jay - reported in unusual numbers (more than ten birds together) from several locations

Late news:  Red Kite at Abbotsbury yesterday

Sightings - Monday 1st October 2012


Great Northern Diver - 1 Durlston
Balearic Shearwater - 10+ Durlston
Osprey - 1 Morden Bog
Hobby - 2 Morden Bog
Merlin - 1 Durlston
Knot - 1 Stanpit
Ruff - 2 Stanpit
Curlew Sandpiper - 1 Ferrybridge
Mediterranean Gull - 100+ at Durlston is easily a site record.
Little Gull - 2 Christchurch Harbour, 2 Durlston
Arctic Tern - 2 Mudeford Quay
Whinchat - 1 Durlston
Ring Ouzel - 1 Durlston
Grasshopper Warbler - 1 Morden Bog
Firecrest - 1 Hengistbury Head

Late news:  There is a report of a Rose-coloured Starling at Burton Bradstock yesterday.




Osprey at Morden Bog © Ian Ballam