Sightings - Thursday 28th February 2013

Bewick's Swan - 2 flew south down R. Avon
Scaup - 10 still on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - 3 still on the Fleet at Abbotsbury, 1 around Brownsea Island
Great Northern Diver - 1 in Poole Harbour
Slavonian Grebe - 8 in Portland Harbour, 7 in Lyme Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 29 in Portland Harbour, 18 Brand's Bay
Spoonbill - 13 at Arne
Marsh Harrier - 1 West Bexington
Merlin - 1 at Stanpit Marsh, 1 Lytchett Bay, 1 Brownsea Island
Purple Sandpiper - 1 at Portland Bill
Spotted Redshank - 1 on Brownsea Island lagoon, 1 Stanpit Marsh
Greenshank - 1 on Brownsea Island lagoon
Black Redstart - 2 Portland Bill, 1 Swanage
Firecrest - 1 Durlston, 1 Holes Bay
Snow Bunting - 1 at West Bexington for the 120th day

Sightings - Wednesday 27th February 2013

Eider -1 Portland Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 1 in Weymouth Bay
Spoonbill - 8 at Holmebridge
Bittern - 2 at Lodmoor
Golden Plover - 15+ at Winterborne Stickland
Purple Sandpiper - 7 at Portland Bill
Spotted Redshank - 1 Holes Bay
Greenshank -1 Holes Bay
Iceland Gull - 1 at Radipole
Black Redstart - 2 at Portland Bill
Firecrest - 2 Hengistbury Head, 1 Durlston, 1 at the PC World Drain, Poole

Late news from yesterday: a Yellow-legged Gull was at Lodmoor and 18 Ruff were seen at the Avon Causeway.

Barn Owl at Winterborne Stickland © Will Bown
  

Sightings - Tuesday 26th February 2013

Scaup - 10 still on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - 3 still on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Great Northern Diver - 1 off Brownsea Island
Black-necked Grebe - 4 in Poole Harbour
Spoonbill - 2 in Holes Bay
Marsh Harrier - 1 Middlebere, 1 Lytchett Bay
Merlin - 1 Brownsea Island
Golden Plover - 30 at Critchel Down
Purple Sandpiper - 11 at Portland Bill
Greenshank - 2 Lytchett Bay
Barn Owl - 1 Upton CP, 1 Wool, 1 Wyke Down, 1 Wimborne St. Giles
Short-eared Owl - 1 at Wyke Down
Water Pipit - 1 Lytchett Bay
Black Redstart - 2 Portland Bill

Long-tailed Duck at Abbotsbury © Steve Groves

Scaup at Abbotsbury © Steve Groves

Sightings - Monday 25th February 2013

Scaup - 10 Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury
Black-necked Grebe - 21 Portland Harbour
Purple Sandpiper - 8 Hengistbury Head
Meadow Pipit - 50 in off at Portland Bill
Black Redstart - 2 Portland Bill, 1 Durlston, 1 Hengistbury Head, 1 Portland Harbour
Firecrest - 1 Hengistbury Head
Snow Bunting - 1 West Bexington















Knot ringed at the weekend at Shore Road © Roger Peart

Sightings - Sunday 24th February 2013

Bewick's Swans -2 Hampreston
Scaup - 9 Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury
Goosander -  6 Longham Lakes
Smew - 1 Longham Lakes
Red Kite - 1 Hod Hill
Merlin - 1 hartland Moor
Hen Harrier - 1 Middlebere
Red-throated Diver -  5 past Portland Bill
Ruff - 9 Avon Causeway
Iceland Gull - 2nd winter Radipole Lake
Black Redstart - 3 Portland Bill
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down
Snow Bunting - 1 Ferrybridge

Sightings - Saturday 23rd February 2013

Bewick's Swans -2 Hampreston
Velvet Scoter - 2 Portland Harbour
Scaup - 9 Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury
Goosander - 2 Abbotsbury, 2 Coward's Gate, 1 Longham Lakes
Smew - 1 Longham Lakes
Marsh Harrier - 1 Abbotsbury, 1 Lytchett Bay, 1 Swineham
Merlin - Lytchett , 1 Portesham
Red-throated Diver - 7 past Hengistbury Head, 4 past Portland Bill
Slavonian  Grebe - 3 Portland Harbour
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour
Bar-tailed Godwit - 238 Shore Road
Sanderling - 28 Shore Road
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down
Firecrest - 3 Abbotsbury, 1 PC World Drain

Mediterranean Gull Middle Beach © Phyl England

Sightings - Friday 22nd February 2013

Bewick's Swans  -2 Hampreston
Hen Harrier - 1 Wyke Down
Merlin - 1 Maiden Castle
Spoonbill - 5 Holes Bay
Golden Plover - 650 Maiden Castle
Ruff - 10 Avon Causeway
Mediterranean Gull - 53 Dorchester water meadows
Short-eared Owl - 1 Wyke Down
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down
Firecrest - 3 Abbotsbury

Sightings - Thursday 21st February 2013

A rather waterfowl day very few report received as follow:-

Bewick's Swan - 2 Longham Lakes
Scaup - 8 Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury Swannery
Velvet Scoter - 2 portland Hbr.
Smew - 1 redhead Longham Lakes
Goosander - 2 Longham Lakes
Red-throated Diver - 1 past Portland Bill
Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail Middlebere
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Hbr.
Golden Plover - 70+ west of Sherborne
Jack Snipe - 1 Abbotsbury Swannery
Yellowhammer - 80 West Compton

Ringtail Hen harrier - Middlebere © Bernie Champ

Golden Plover nr. Sherborne © Paul Dibben

Sightings - Wednesday 20th February 2013

Velvet Scoter - 2 Portland Hbr
Goosander - 1 Avon Valley
Spoonbill - 8 Middlebere
Hen Harrier - 1m & 1fem Wyke Down
Black-tailed Godwit - 1700 Avon Valley
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit Marsh
Short-eared Owl - 1 Wyke Down
Black Redstart - 1 at The Nothe Weymouth
Great Grey Shrike - 1 still Wyke Down

Sightings - Tuesday 19th February 2013

Red-crested Pochard - 1 River Stour Wimborne Minster
Velvet Scoter - 2 remain Portland Hbr.
Smew - 1 redhead Longham Lakes
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Hbr.
Bittern - 1 Lodmoor
Spoonbill - 6 Middlebere
Hen Harrier - 1 fem Lodmoor, 1 Ringtail Middlebere
Merlin - 1 Middlebere
Woodcock - 2 early a.m. Soldiers Rd.
Jack Snipe - 1 on South Marsh Stanpit
Green Sandpiper - 1 Lodmoor
Short-eared Owl - 1 Wyke Down
Water Pipit - 1 'The Hump' Lodmoor
Black Redstart - 1 Hengistbury Hd, 1 Durlston CP.
Dartford Warbler - 1 Lodmoor
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down

There was also a report of a combined count of 150 Great Crested, Black-necked & Slavonian Grebes for Portland Hbr per PBO twitter feed.

Sightings - Monday 18th February 2013

Red-crested Pochard - 2 drakes Sturminster Marshall GP.
Long-tailed Duck - 3 remain at Abbotsbury Swannery
Goosander - pair West Bexington
Red-throated Diver - 1 West Bexington, 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Bittern - 1 seen flying out of Lytchett Bay
Great White Egret - 1 reported East Stoke flying west am.
Red Kite - 3 Wyke Down
Hen Harrier - 1 Winterborne Whitechurch
Green Sandpiper - 1 Sturminster Marshall GP.
Sandwich Tern - 1 Baiter Park Poole.
Short-eared Owl - 1 Wyke Down
Black Redstart - 1 Hengistbury Hd.
Firecrest - 2 Hengistbury Hd.
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down
Snow Bunting - 1 still West Bexington

Sightings - Friday 15th February 2013

Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland harbour
Scaup - 10 Abbotsbury
Black-necked Grebe - 1 Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury
Smew - 2 Longham Lakes
Merlin - 1 Portland
Great Grey Shrike - Sixpenny Handley
Water Pipit - 2 Stanpit
Snow Bunting - 1 Ferrybridge

Sightings - Thursday 14th February 2013

Long-tailed Duck - 3, Abbotsbury
Velvet Scoter - 2, Portland Harbour
Red-necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe -  16 Middle Beach
Sooty Shearwater - 1 Portland Bill
Merlin - 1 Stanpit, 1 West Compton
Peregrine - Bournemouth town centre
Waxwing - Stanpit
Snow Bunting - Ferrybridge

Sightings - Wednesday 13th February 2013

Whooper Swan - 2, Lodmoor
Scaup - 10, Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - 3, Abbotsbury; 1-2 Poole Harbour
Velvet Scoter - 2, Portland Harbour
Smew - 1, Longham Lakes
Red-necked Grebe - 2, Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 1, Abbotsbury
Spoonbill - 16, Arne
Ruff - 4, Cowards Marsh
Marsh Harrier - 1, Abbotsbury
Firecrest - 1, Durlston


Purple Sandpiper, Sandbanks.  Copyright Ian Ballam.

 

Sightings - Tuesday 12th February 2013

Whooper Swan - 3 flew east over Upwey at 3pm
Green-winged Teal - drake still in Holes Bay off Upton CP
Red-crested Pochard - 2 drakes at Sturminster Marshall GPs, a pair at Abbotsbury Swannery
Scaup - 10 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Long-tailed Duck - 3 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Goosander - 2 at West Bexington
Black-necked Grebe - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Slavonian Grebe - 1 at Abbotsbury Swannery
Spoonbill - 16 at Arne
Spotted Redshank - 2+ in Holes Bay off Upton CP
Green Sandpiper - 4 at Sturminster Marshall GPs
Long-eared Owl - 1 trapped and ringed at PBO
Snow Bunting - 1 at West Bexington (on beach by the west end of the Mere)

Black Redstart along the PC World drain, Poole © Ian Ballam

Sightings - Monday 11th February 2013

Scaup - 10, Abbotsbury; 1 Poole Harbour
Long-tailed Duck - 3, Abbotsbury
Goosander - 2, West Bexington;
Great Northern Diver - 3, Poole Harbour, 2 Portland; 4 Hengistbury Head
Red-throated Diver - 9, Portland; 11 Hengistbury Head; 1 West Bexington
Spoonbill - 13 Poole Harbour
Red-breasted Merganser - impressive count of 120+, Poole Harbour
Bearded Tit - 3+ West Bexington; 9, Portland
Black Redstart - 1, Portland; 1, Hengistbury
Firecrest - 2, Hengistbury
Snow Bunting - 1, West Bexington

Late news from yesterday, there was a Red Kite at Sixpenny Handley

Sightings - Sunday 10th February 2013

Not much to report on a day with lots of rain...
Pale-bellied Brent Goose - 1, Ferrybridge
Goosander - 1, Avon Causeway
Long-tailed Duck - 3, Abbotsbury
Black-necked Grebe - 52, Studland
Slavonian Grebe - 1, Studland
Greenshank - 1, Studland
Ruff - 5, Avon Causeway
Little Gull - 1, Portland Harbour
Snow Bunting - 1, Ferrybridge

Sightings - Saturday 9th February 2013

Egyptian Goose - 2 Avon Causeway, 2 Cowards Marsh
Scaup - 8+ still at Abbotsbury Swannery
Goldeneye - 2 Christchurch Harbour, 1 Longham Lakes
Green-Winged Teal - drake reported at Holes Bay/Upton CP
Long-Tailed Duck - 3 still at Abbotsbury Swannery, 1 Hengistbury Head
Smew - 1 Longham Lakes
Marsh Harrier - 2 Swineham area
Hen Harrier - 1 Hartland Heath
Merlin - 1 Stanpit
Green Sandpiper -     2-3 Cowards Marsh
Greenshank - 1 Lytchett Bay
Spotted Redshank - 1 Holes Bay
Short-Eared Owl - 1 Hartland Heath
Waxwing - 2 Blandford (Tesco's car park)
Siberian Chiffchaff - 1 Holes Bay (PC World drain)
Firecrest - 1 Lytchett Bay

Late news:  Ruff - 4 at Avon Causeway yesterday

Sightings - Friday 8th February 2013

Whooper Swan - 1 East Stoke
Egyptian Goose - 1 Avon Causeway, 2 Cowards Marsh
Scaup - 10 still at Abbotsbury Swannery
Green-Winged Teal - drake still at Holes Bay/Upton CP
Velvet Scoter - 2 Portland Harbour
Long-tailed Duck - 3 still at Abbotsbury Swannery
Goosander - 2 Avon Causeway, 1 Burton
Red-Necked Grebe - 1 Portland Harbour
Great White Egret - 1 Hengistbury, left northward.
Bittern - 1 Arne Moors/Wareham Channel
Marsh Harrier - 2 Wareham Channel
Hen Harrier - 3 Wareham Channel
Jack Snipe - 1 Stanpit
Black-Tailed Godwit - the Avon Valley flock is estimated at 1900 birds.
Common Sandpiper - 1 PC World drain, Holes Bay
Green Sandpiper - 1 Avon Causeway, 1 East Holme
Greenshank - 1 Brands Bay
Spotted Redshank - 1 Stanpit
Short-Eared Owl - 1 Soldiers Road
Waxwing - 2 Hengistbury Head, 22 Merley (Sopwith Crescent area)
Siberian Chiffchaff - 3 seen at the PC World drain, Holes Bay
Common Rosefinch - 1 in a private garden in Broadstone

Late news:  Short-Eared Owl - 3 at Wyke Down yesterday

Sightings - Thursday 7th February 2013

Green-winged Teal - 1 drake in Holes Bay
Scaup - 10 still on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - 3 still on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Eider - 1 Portland Harbour
Smew - 2 on Longham Lakes
Velvet Scoter - 2 Portland Harbour
Goosander - 4 Longham Lakes, 2 West Bexington
Red-throated Diver - 2 off West Bexington, 1 Durlston, 1 off Swineham, 1 Portland Bill
Black-throated Diver - 1 Portland Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 1 Portland Harbour
Slavonian Grebe - 1 off West Bexington
Black-necked Grebe - 2 Portland Harbour
Great White Egret - 1 flew down river past Wick, Christchurch Harbour
Spoonbill - 5 Arne
Marsh Harrier - 1 Swineham, 1 Abbotsbury
Hen Harrier - 1 Wyke Down
Merlin - 1 near West Compton
Jack Snipe - 1 at Stanpit
Woodcock - 1 Durlston
Purple Sandpiper - at least 9 on The Cobb, Lyme Regis, 3 Portland Bill
Short-eared Owl - 1 at Wyke Down
Waxwing - 26 in Sopwith Crescent, Merley, 11 on island in R.Stour near Wimborne Bridge, 2 Christchurch Harbour
Firecrest - 2 at West Bexington, 1 Durlston, 1 Puddletown
Great Grey Shrike - 1 still at Wyke Down
Black Redstart - 4 Portland Bill
Snow Bunting - 1 at Ferrybridge, 1 West Bexington

Gree-winged Teal in Holes Bay © Ian Ballam


Goosander at West Bexington © Brett Spencer

Waxwing at Merley © Rose Kempshall
Black Redstart at Newton's Cove © Brett Spencer
Long-tailed Duck at Abbotsbury © Brett Spence





Sightings - Wednesday 6th February 2013

Goldeneye - 2 Christchurch Harbour
Goosander - 4 Longham Lakes, 2 West Bexington
Smew - 2 Longham Lakes
Grey Plover - 11 Stanpit
Common Sandpiper - 1 PC World ditch, Holes Bay
Spotted Redshank - 2 Holes Bay, 1 Stanpit
Short-Eared Owl - 1 Wyke Down
Waxwing - 3 at Two Riversmeet car park, Christchurch
Black Redstart - 1 Hengistbury
Great Grey Shrike - 1 Wyke Down
Snow Bunting - 1 West Bexington

Sightings - Tuesday 5th February 2013

Egyptian Goose - 2 Cowards Marsh
Goldeneye - 1 Cowards Marsh
Goosander - 2 Cowards Marsh
Velvet Scoter - 2 Portland Harbour
Great Northern Diver - 3 around Studland peninsula
Grey Plover - 8 Stanpit
Greenshank - 2 Lytchett Bay
Little Gull - 1 Lytchett Bay
Hoopoe - 1 Hamworthy (Freshwater Drive)
Black Redstart - 1 Blacknor, 1 Durlston, 1 Hengistbury, 1 Portland Castle
Firecrest - 1 Durlston
Hawfinch - 1 Powerstock
Snow Bunting - 1 Ferrybridge.

Late news:  Woodcock - 4 Lytchett Bay yesterday after dark. 

Sightings - Monday 4th February 2013

Scaup - at least 9 still on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Long-tailed Duck - at least 2 on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Smew -2 redheads on Longham Lakes
Goosander - 2 on R. Stour at Longham, 2 at Avon Causeway
Red-throated Diver - 8 past Portland Bill, 1 past Durlston
Black-throated Diver - 1 past Durlston
Slavonian Grebe - 1 on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Black-necked Grebe - 1 on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Marsh Harrier - 1 at Swineham
Hen Harrier - 2 at Wyke Down
Purple Sandpiper - 12 on The Cobb at Lyme Regis
Ruff - 2 at Avon Causeway
Short-eared Owl - 1 at Wyke Down
Hoopoe - 1 at Freshwater Drive, Hamworthy
Black Redstart - 1 at Portland Bill, 1 on Hengistbury Head
Great Grey Shrike - 1 at Wyke Down

Hoopoe at Hamworthy © Ian Ballam

Hoopoe at Hamworthy © Ian Ballam

Sightings - Sunday 3rd February 2013

Scaup - 10 still on the Fleet at Abbotsbury, 2 off Fitzworth,  1 female off Shipstal Point
Long-tailed Duck - 3 still on the Fleet at Abbotsbury, 1 off Fitzworth in Poole Harbour
Smew -1 on Longham Lakes
Goosander - 2 at Coward's Marsh
Red-throated Diver - 6 past Portland Bill, 1 in Arne Bay
Great Northern Diver - 1 in Brand's Bay
Slavonian Grebe - 3 in Portland Harbour, 1 in Brand's Bay
Black-necked Grebe - 36 in Studland Bay, 3 off Shipstal Point
Red-necked Grebe - 1 off Knoll Beach, Studland
Spoonbill -  4 in Lytchett Bay, 1 at Shipstal Point, 1 Wytch Channel
Red Kite - 1 over Durweston (NW of Blandford)
Marsh Harrier - 2 at Radipole, 1 at Swineham
Hen Harrier - 1 at Swineham, 1 Hartland Moor, 1 Wytch Channel
Merlin - 1 on Hartland Moor
Ruff - 3 over Stanpit, 3 at Coward's Marsh
Jack Snipe - 1 at Holmebridge
Green Sandpiper - 1 at Coward's Marsh
Greenshank - 3 in Lytchett Bay, 2 on Brownsea Island, 1 at Holmebridge
Short-eared Owl - 1 at Wyke Down
Hoopoe - 1 still in Dawkins Road area of Hamworthy
Waxwing - at least 14 at Alderholt
Firecrest - 1 Hengistbury Head
Great Grey Shrike - 1 at Wyke Down
Brambling - at least 110 at Hilfield
Hawfinch - 2 in Powerstock churchyard

Sanderling at Shore Road, Sandbanks © Phyl England

Turnstone at Shore Road, Sandbanks © Phyl England


Slavonian Grebe in Portland Harbour © Chris Rowland

Sightings - Saturday 2nd February 2013

Scaup - 10 on the Fleet at Abbotsbury, 1 off Shipstal Point
Long-tailed Duck - 3 still on the Fleet at Abbotsbury
Velvet Scoter - 2 in Portland Harbour
Smew - 2 on Longham Lakes
Goosander - 6 at Avon Causeway
Grey Partridge - 1 on Burton Fields
Red-throated Diver - 13 past Portland Bill, 1 from Langton Herring, 1 off West Bexington
Great Northern Diver - 2 in Portland Harbour
Slavonian Grebe - 1 at Abbotsbury, 1 in Portland Harbour
Black-necked Grebe - 10 in Portland Harbour, 7 in Studland Bay, 2 off Shipstal Point
Spoonbill - 16 at Shipstal Point
Marsh Harrier - 1 Abbotsbury, 1 Swineham
Hen Harrier - 1 Wyke Down
Merlin - 1 near West Compton, 1 at Wyke Down
Purple Sandpiper - 4 at Portland Bill
Ruff - 4 at Avon Causeway
Greenshank - 1 at Holmebridge
Short-eared Owl - 1 at Wyke Down
Hoopoe - 1 in Dawkins Road, Hamworthy again
Water Pipit - 1 at Swineham Point
Black Redstart - 2 at Portland Bill, 1 at The Nothe
Great Grey Shrike - 1 at Wyke Down
Firecrest - 4 in Abbotsbury Gardens, 1 Hengistbury Head
Hawfinch - 1 in Powerstock churchyard
Snow Bunting - 1 still at Ferrybridge, 1 still at West Bexington

Hoopoe at Hamworthy © Mike Gibbons

Hoopoe at Hamworthy © Mike Gibbons

Sightings - Friday 1st February 2013

Long-tailed Duck - 3 Abbotsbury
Scaup - 9 Abbotsbury
Slavonian Grebe - 1 Abbotsbury
Red-throated Diver - 4 past Mudeford Quay
Short-eared Owl -  1 Wyke Down
Snow Bunting - 1 Ferrybridge, 1 West Bexington