The first Studland Black-necked Grebe of this winter is off Knoll Beach this PM per @southwestnature.bsky.social

This must be new in as I checked nearby Middle Beach yesterday with no joy
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

Round the patch yesterday and found this Garganey which the newly arriving Mallards had kindly brought with them, that's a patch 1st and takes me to 112 for the year =ing last years total which was also a 1st, + the resident Buzzard #dorsetbirds #ukbirding #ornithology @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

A rare Twitch to @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social to find the seasonal Red-backed Shrike #DorsetBirds 🇬🇧 🪶 👌 That makes 250 European Birds for us for 2026! ✅️

Easier at Ferrybridge with 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, Knot, Sanderling, 3 Turnstone, 2 Oystercatcher, Little Egret, lots of Dunlin & Ringed Plover. Nice

Brownsea today. Nicki @wildontheroad.bsky.social had counted the Waders & so I didn't recount them
Highlights:
Spoonys 78
Avocet 320+
R Plover c60
Grey Plover 8 per Nicki
Curlew 13
Blackwit 36
Barwit 8
Greenshank 12
Tstone 2
Dunlin c60
Red Squirrel 3-4
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

Struggled this AM at St Aldhelms but by late AM I had succeded in my quest to find the fields
Merlin 1
Red Kite 1
Redstart 1
Chiffy 15
Blackcap 4
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

Yesterday's new arrivals at Portland didn't extend to St Aldhelms, despite a good search
Most of the weekend's Warblers had cleared out
Golden Plover 1 circling at lunchtime
The Merlin joined me in the search of the Linnet flocks
Clouded Yellow 15
Wall 1
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
#DorsetBirds

Marvellous Maiden Castle #DorsetBirds 🇬🇧 🪶
Red Kite bothered by Corvids, 2 Raven, Kestrel.
2 pair resident Stonechat. Chiffchaff, more Robin than usual.
Large flocks of Linnet & Starling.
Visible/audible migration; large numbers of Skylark & Meadow Pipit passing over.

Sparrowhawk, Whitfield Farm ❤️

An unsuccessful search late PM for the AM's Ring Ouzel at the Western end of Durlston. Did see maybe my last Hobby of the year by The Warren
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

How exciting, we new the lonesome Barn owl had found a mate a few months back, but we didn't expect them to get down to business this year, look what I found this PM #ukbirding #dorsetbirds @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

🌞 & warm, Winfrith Heath DWT @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
#DorsetBirds 🪶 🇬🇧
Dartford Warbler, 7 Stonechat, Jay, 3 Chiffchaff, 6 Swallow, flocks Meadow Pipit.
3+ Buzzard, 3 sightings of Kestrel, Red Kite ♥️ 2 Raven, Sparrowhawk, 2 LtEgret, Grey Heron.
Tits; Coal,LT,Blue. Chaffinch, Robin & Blackbird

A reasonable morning at St Aldhelms today but still no real goodies:
Merlin 1
Golden Plover 1 East
Dartford W 1 reappeared after 2 weeks
Bcap 4
Wthroat 3
Chiffy 22
Swallow c100
HMartin 7
Clouded Yellow 8
P Lady 2
Mig Hawker 2
@beardybirder.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
#DorsetBirds

Female white tailed Eagle at Mudeford wasn't particularly bothered by a Carrion Crow that kept pecking away at its tail #p1000 #birdphotography #birdwatching #dorsetbirds #birds #dorsetwildlife #eagles #Mudeford

In search of Barnacle Geese at Silverlake #DorsetBirds 🇬🇧 🪶
Found 5 Barnacle on Middle Lake. Water level very low! 100s of Canada, 40+ each of Egyptian & Greylag Geese.
Buzzard, LtEgret, Grey Heron, a few Coot, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Swan, Cormorant.
Plenty of Gulls; Mediterranean, Herring, GtBlkBk 😃

Both Peregrines were in Poole this morning, but only one of them had a head! #p1000 #birdwatching #birds #dorsetwildlife #peregrines #pooleperegrines #dorsetbirds

Brands Bay, Studland on the rising tide:
Teal 113
Wigeon 47
Pintail 6
Goosander 8 off the Brownsea/Furzey shoreline
Lapwing 7
Curlew 70
Blackwit 190
Redshank 50
Greenshank 5
Dunlin 31
Turnstone 5
Sandwich T 3
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

50 minutes with a Spotted Crake at Lodmoor 🌞 Postbox Pool from 1130hr 🪶 #DorsetBirds 🇬🇧
Also, 3 Osprey sightings (fishing), Peregrine, Buzzard, Kestrel. 3 Great White Egret, 3 Snipe, 2 LtGrebe. 4 Shoveler, several Gadwall & Teal, Coot.
Ferrybridge had 6 Barwit, Curlew, Sanderling, 3 Oyc, 5 Turnstone.

Kingfisher in the unusually warm sunny weather this morning #p1000 #birdwatching #birdphotography #dorsetbirds #kingfisher #birds

A couple of pics on my travels the other day Stonechat, Grey Wag & this Otter I snuck behind #ukbirding #dorsetbirds

A worthwhile visit to Brands Bay, Studland this AM with my second Ruff (3rd bird day) for 26 here
Teal 72
Wig 26
Pintail 9
Goosander 2 redheads
Lap 9
Curlew 55
Blackwit 120
Redshank 60
Greenshank 6
Ruff Male
Dunlin 11
#DorsetBirds
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Plus the flyover Glossy Ibis which one of my colleagues saw. It came from Sandbanks & flew over further into the harbour without stopping. Presumably a new arrival
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds