Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 11/10/2026Not quite as impressive but visible from Dorset, phone camera is doing some heavy lifting here but it was just visible without. 000
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. 0101
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 · 16/07/2025A few more pictures of this very obliging bird which remained in view for about 2 hours. 072
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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 21/08/2024Large green bush cricket (clue in the name) at Durlston this morning. 020
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 14/08/2024Wasp spider at Durlston this morning, the first one I have seen. 0114
Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 20/06/2024Sailed across Lyme Bay yesterday. There were plenty of manx shearwaters though the dolphins were the highlight. 020
