Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 26/05/2026A perfect warm still evening for a Purbeck Heath Nightjar survey. Plenty of churring and one very obliging bird. 091
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 26/02/2026And so it begins... It might not look like much but the arrival of the first creature in a new wildlife pond is a momentous event! 020
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 13/12/2025Great Northern Diver (5) and distant Black Necked Grebe (4) from Jerry's Point this afternoon. 010
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 03/12/2025A busy Brands Bay with several thousand birds on a falling tide 5 Goldeneye viewed over Redhorn. 3 Knot 3 Greenshank 1070 Dunlin 292 Blackwit 57 Curlew 45 Redshank 55 Lapwing 454 Wigeon 240 Teal 5 Brent 10 Avocet app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... 010
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 18/07/2025I started watching Brands Bay a year ago, I like the movement of birds at this site - over an hour as the tide goes out and mud uncovers and over the seasons as the species and numbers change. BB on a falling tide Med Gull 40 Curlew 87 Blackwit 14 Redshank 17 Whimbrel 1 app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... 033
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 16/07/2025Purple Heron from Rees Cox hide, seen on my third visit. Thanks to everyone who got the word out and kept the news updated 1121
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 03/07/2025Brands Bay on a morning falling tide. Whimbrel 1 Redshank 31 Blackwit 7 Dunlin 1 Curlew 59 Lapwing 2 Med gull 17 Bhg 98 GC grebe 4 Sandwich tern 1 app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... 010
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 18/06/2025Another Purbeck Heath nightjar survey last night. I arrived early so had the benefit of the sunset. It was a warm still evening so the nightjars were very active. The combination of darkness and loud churring of several nightjar close by can make these heaths feel like very wild places. 010
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 15/06/2025Out early for a High Nature Stewardship Bird Survey... ...and back home 10 minutes later to pick up my glasses Nice to see reasonable numbers of swallow, house martin and swift Good things are often seen after the last transect - today it was a cuckoo accompanied by an entourage of unhappy mipits 020
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 12/06/2025The Purbeck heathland after sunset is an amazing place. A nightjar survey for just over 2 hours after sunset yielded 10 territories, lots of churring, calling and wing clapping and a good number of sightings. Plus the added bonus of seeing glow-worms. 060
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 11/06/2025Just a roof, with gaps in it. In 2 hours yesterday evening there were 26 swift flights in/out of 8 different gaps. There was a 20 minute period where swifts were landing on the roof anywhere there was a gap,staying for a short while. At one point there were 4 swifts on the roof at the same time. 040
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 27/05/2025An hours sea watch from 12:30 at Durlston. 3 gannet. 27 manx shearwater west. There were probably more manx. After a slow start for the first 4, I got my eye in and found the right distance, and they were more frequent. 062
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 05/05/2025Nature book challenge A book per day, in no particular order, until you've shared ALL of the best nature, environment & conservation books in your personal library No explanations, no reviews, just covers! #Books #Nature #Naturewriting #naturebooks #naturebookchallenge 042
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 04/05/2025A dawn chorus walk to Swineham. Plenty of blackcap and reed warbler and cettis. 071
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 28/04/2025Up early for the challenge of learning a new @bbs-birds.bsky.social square with a wide mix of habitats. The best birds were cuckoo and tree pipit, both found after I had finished the last transect and was walking back to the car. 041
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 24/04/2025Completed another heathland bird survey this morning. No dartford warbler were found but there was a peregrine on the castle, along with whitethroat, stonechat and linnet on West Hill, plus the usual Purbeck views. Full list app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... 020
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 21/04/2025A morning walk over Corfe Common provided the first swallow and whitethroat of the year for this patch. Plenty of chiffs, 13 linnet and a few blackcap were the best of the rest. Full list app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... 020
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 14/04/2025A mornings birding near Norden making a second visit for a BTO Heathland Bird Survey for woodlark. No woodlark were present but there were 21 chiffchaff and a few linnet & stonechat territories. Full list on birdtrack. app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... 020
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 13/04/2025Brands Bay on a falling tide. As expected the number of birds is well down from the winter peak of 2000+ but there were 104 black tailed godwit and 22 dunlin in summer plumage. Full list app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... 033
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 09/04/2025A busy morning with a NT BBS survey followed by a BTO heathland survey but the early start had its good points. 020
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 23/03/2025Didn't manage to find the hoopoe at Worth but Durlston provided several black redstart behind the lighthouse and my first house martin of the year. 061
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 21/03/2025Brands Bay on a rising tide. A large group of wigeon were flushed by a WTE as I approached the hide but there were still over 600 birds in the bay. WTE 1 Wigeon 240 Teal 130 Curlew 13 Redshank 16 Blackwit 30 Dunlin 128 Grey Plover 3 And loads of Chiffchaff everywhere. app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... 062
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 23/02/2025A morning walk in the Corfe River Valley. At least 8 chiffchaff at Norden STW, kingfisher flying along the river and 2 marsh tit in woodland near Purbeck Park. There were plenty of scarlet cap too. 091
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 04/02/2025Brands Bay on a rising tide. The birds seemed unsettled, regularly moving and flying, the peregrine was only around briefly. GND 1 Peregrine 1 Spoonbill 1 Wigeon 424 Brent 195 Shellduck 167 Teal 275 Pintail 38 RB Merganser 7 Avocet 9 Redshank 17 Curlew 33 Grey Plover 16 Dunlin 114 Turnstone 28 082
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 03/02/2025St Aldhelms this morning was a bit quiet and wetter/windier/murkier than expected. Good views of 2 WTE. Others included 5 gannet, 4 chaffinch and 20+ goldfinch. 081
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 02/02/2025A late afternoon watch from Slepe Heath looking north to Gigger's Island. 2 fieldfare 1 buzzard 1 kestrel 1 SEO 2 hen harrier (male & ringtail) 2 WTE 5 marsh harrier 051
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 02/02/2025A morning walk around DWT Wild Woodbury. The weather brought out a hint of spring with singing birds, drumming woodpecker etc. The highlight was 3 green sandpiper on the watercress beds. 071
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 19/01/2025Brands Bay on an early rising tide. Wigeon 460 Teal 290 Pintail 127 Shellduck 87 Brent 85 Redshank 26 Blackwit 52 Greenshank 1 Curlew 29 Dunlin 490 Grey plover 4 Lapwing 60 Avocet 3 Kingfisher 1 Avocet 3 061
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 12/01/2025A busy WeBS count compared to the usually quiet standards of the Little Sea with over 200 wigeon 000
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 03/01/2025A superb winter morning with sunshine and a hard frost. I walked along the Corfe River from Scotland to Middlebere. Initially it was very quiet. There were 5 redwing in the woods near Sharford Bridge and a fieldfare near Middlebere Farm. Full list on birdtrack. app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... 020
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 31/12/2024Brands Bay, pm falling tide Most waders flew out before I got round to counting them which simplified the count Spoonbill 7 Brent 170+ Lapwing 100+ Pintail 210+ Wigeon 800+ Teal 100+ Avocet 22 Curlew 29 Grey plover 25 Many thanks to @studlandbirds.bsky.social for the regular reports for this site 041
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 23/11/2024An hour or so seawatching at Durlston this morning - a few gannets and a manx shearwater but hard work with the spray/rain and gannets disappearing behind huge waves. 030
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 29/10/2024St Aldhelms this morning. Low autumn sun, constant noise of skylarks and active raptors unsettling the woodpigs throughout the morning - whats not to like. Ring ouzel - flying south below Emmetts Hill Wheatear - near chapel Merlin Peregrine Sparrowhawk Kestrel Buzzard 0111
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 22/10/2024 Brands Bay this morning, nice to see my first Brent of the autumn 6 Brent Goose 1 Marsh Harrier 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Greenshank 2 Grey Plover 22 Lapwing 24 Curlew 25 Turnstone 42 Redshank 72 Blackwit 2 Gadwall 26 Pintail 62 Teal 112 Wigeon 9 GC Grebe app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... #BirdTrack #DorsetBirds 040
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 18/10/2024Challow Hill was very quiet this morning apart from 2 cattle egret flying south through the gap. The views were exceptional, with a fogbow and temperature inversion. 031
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 15/10/2024Brands Bay, on a rising tide. A peregrine flew through twice which impacted counting. Cattle egret 1 found by @janpars.bsky.social Teal c100 Wigeon 95 Pintail 11 Grey Plover 1 Blackwit 61 Curlew 18 Redshank 110 Greenshank 3 Knot 3 Dunlin 5 Lapwing 8 R B Merganser 11 G C Grebe 6 072
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 15/10/2024Corfe River Valley this morning. Quieter than previous visits, apart from the bellowing stags. 44 Swallow 2 Mistle Thrush 1 Firecrest 3 Chiffchaff Full list on birdtrack. app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... #BirdTrack #DorsetBirds 030
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 10/10/2024Challow Hill felt more autumnal this morning. Alba wagtail 28+ on recently worked field. Meadow pipit 10+ Chaffinch 12 Swallow 7 Blackcap 2 Chiffchaff 4 Stonechat 6 Goldfinch 2 Skylark 2 020
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 03/10/2024An afternoon walk round St Aldhelms. All the usual good stuff like 100s of linnet and regular groups of swallow working their way east. Good views of winchat in the field of seed heads west of the car park, third time I have seen one in this location. And of course this amazing landscape. 081
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 03/10/2024A morning on Combe Heath is always time well spent. There was a group of 30+ meadow pipits on the heath and plenty of house martins and swallows overhead. Highlight was a firecrest, in amongst the chiffchaffs in the holly/birch/oak. 050
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 01/10/2024Middlebere this morning. Warblers were much fewer than in recent visits while robin numbers were higher. There was plenty of variety and it was good to see a few butterflies. Large white 2 Speckled wood 2 Wall 2 Small copper 2 Comma 5 Red admiral 3 app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... 020
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 23/09/2024Middlebere this morning. Plenty of warblers chiffchaff 22+ blackcap 3 whitethroat 1 willow warbler 1 Lots of variety but generally active and unobliging in terms of good views, the exceptions being a quartering marsh harrier and a flyover by great white egret. app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... 050
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 21/09/2024Challow Hill this morning. Main interest was hirundines moving east, many quite high and on both sides of the hill so difficult to count. Swallow 114 House Martin 76 Great black backed gull 1 Herring gull 20 Raven 2 Magpie 1 Jackdaw 4 Pied wagtail 1 Meadow pipit 1 Robin 1 Dunnock 1 040
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 17/09/2024St Aldhelms could become addictive. Yesterday, whinchat (in field of seed heads near west hill), snipe and 4 yellow wagtail. Today, winchat, 2 wheatear and many blackcap. But for me the best of it is the 100s of linnet and meadow pipit along with the numbers of hirundines. 0111
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 13/09/2024A lovely morning walk along the Purbeck Way from Corfe Castle to East Creech returning over Knowle Hill. As ever the birding slowed progress. Usual woodland species, numerous chiffchaff, 2 spotted flycatcher and a firecrest. 070
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 11/09/2024A couple of hours around South Middlebere this morning. Plenty of warblers and nice to see a good group of woodlark. 2 whitethroat 2 blackcap 7 Chiffchaff 2 willow warbler 1 dartford warbler 9 woodlark 34+ swallow 35+ goldfinch app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu...app.bto.orgShare your BirdTrack records with others over social media 070
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 08/09/2024A walk round South Middlebere shortly after the rain cleared. I wished I had taken my scope as it was very birdy for the first hour 2 spotted flycatcher 3 whitethroat 2 blackcap 5 Chiffchaff 2 willow warbler 4 stonechat 1 dartford warbler 4 woodlark 1 tree pipit 1 hobby 17 swallow 35+ house martin 040
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 07/09/2024Challow Hill this morning. It doesn't count as a VisMig if a wasp spider is the highlight. 1 swallow 30+ goldfinch feeding on the ragwort. 2 meadow pipit 2 skylark 1 Stonechat 1 buzzard 3 raven 4 herring gull 21 woodpigeon 190
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 28/08/2024Corfe river valley this morning, the highlight was the number of spotted flycatchers, mostly near Shawford Bridge. Swallow 53 Spotted flycatcher 11+ Blackcap 1 Chiffchaff 7 Willow warbler 2 Full list app.bto.org/birdtrack/pu... #Dorsetbirdsapp.bto.orgShare your BirdTrack records with others over social media 060
