Lovely morning in the Quantocks with 3 Wood Warblers, Pied Fly and Cuckoo. Then on to Steart Marshes to see BW Stilt plus 3 LRP, 2+ Yellow Wags and about 10 White Wags @birdguides.bsky.social

Portland - RN Cemetery: male Pied Fly.
Reap Lane: 3 Pied Fly (2m+1f), 2 Redstart (m+f) and 4+ Wheatear. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Abbotsbury Swannery WeBS: lovely morning with highlights being a flock of 14 Common Sands (+1 singleton), 7 Red Kites heading west and 3 Whimbrel. @swannerysteve.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Just had a report of a possible Pearl-bordered Fritillary at the top of Seacombe Bottom near Worth Matravers; almost certainly a release/escape if correct but if anyone is in the area please have a quick look. @dorsetbutterflies.bsky.social

Herbury Gore: 1 Knot, 5 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plovers on the point. Also 2 Whimbrel on the far shore. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

One WT Eagle now heading east and 3 Red Kites following. Whimbrel west @swannerysteve.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Rodden Hive: no sign of BW Teal nor any Shoveler; 30+ Sandwich Terns, Whitethroat, Willow warbler and 2 WT Eagles (imm) on the beach. @swannerysteve.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Congratulations to you and Frances🍾

A lovely spring morning for WeBS count at Abbotsbury Swannery; nothing too unusual but GW Egret, Red Kite and Common Sand were the highlights. @swannerysteve.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Portland Harbour (north) WeBS: 5 GN Divers, 1 Slav and 4 BN Grebes. @swannerysteve.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Great visit to Steart Marshes: SE Owl over Wall Common at 10:30 then a good roost of Knot, Dunlin, Grey Plover and Turnstones on the beach. Little Stint with Dunlin and Golden Plover on Otterhampton Marsh plus Merlin and Peregrine. @birdguides.bsky.social ui

Ludham airfield (near Flogas depot) 23 Bewick's and 17 Whooper Swans. @birdguides.bsky.social

Black-winged Kite showing well about 1km north of Stubbs Mill Raptor watchpoint from Eastfield Pumping Station. @birdguides.bsky.social

Iceland Gull still at Sea Palling. Also 6 Purple Sandpipers. @birdguides.bsky.social

Just refound the American Wigeon at Noah's Lake. @birdguides.bsky.social

9 Glossy Ibis at Waddocks Cross CB. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

A relaxed start to the new year with local birding in Somerset. Blackcap & Siskins in the garden were a great start, 20+ WF Geese on Wet Moor, excellent views of Water Rail at Greylakes, RN Duck on Decoy Lake and then 46 Cranes at dusk over Wet Moor heading to roost. @somersetbirds.bsky.social

Yellow-browed Warbler in Chickerell Down Woods @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

63 Egyptian Geese opposite Woodsford Castle Farm, my highest count in Dorset @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Walk in South Somerset and only 1 Redwing and 2 Fieldfares - fields usually carpeted with thrushes😕. 4 Blackcaps were some recompense.

Good refind - thought they'd gone

Or park in Abbotsbury Sub-tropical gardens car park for free and walk down to the beach, it's only 5 extra mins.

Jerry's Point: only 1 Velvet Scoter, 1 Goldeneye (m), 6 BN Grebes, 4 GN Divers, 2 Barwit and a Kingfisher @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Desert Wheatear at the western end of Bridging Camp showed very well until 14:20. Still there but lost to view. Also Black Redstart. Slav Grebe a bit further along the Fleet. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

I always missed quite a few species due to work and other commitments but over the years discovered some great new places to bird and enjoyed finding "common" species in local areas. Good luck😀

When I lived and worked in Dorset, I year-listed and would expect 220+ with the vast majority in Portland/Poole area. As you're near Poole, you should get 180+ around the harbour, Wareham forest & Durlston fairly easily. Add in a few trips west and the odd local twitch and 200 becomes quite do-able.

Durlston CP: no sign of Pallas's Warbler north of lighthouse, nor the one near Peveril Point. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Snow Bunting settled and showing well on Portland east cliffs. It's by the cliff edge just before Fig Tree Quarry. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Portland The hump: no sign of RB Flycatcher. 1 Firecrest, 20+ Goldcrests and 6+ Chiffchaffs. @birdguides.bsky.social @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

@swannerysteve.bsky.social