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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

A perfect warm still evening for a Purbeck Heath Nightjar survey. Plenty of churring and one very obliging bird.

Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

And 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!

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 13/12/2025

Great Northern Diver (5) and distant Black Necked Grebe (4) from Jerry's Point this afternoon.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

A 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...

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 02/10/2025

I had swaro 8.5x42 for about 20 years and liked them. A couple of years ago I traded them in for swaro 8x32 nl. Optically fine but they have several annoying features in use (unacceptable at this price point) and I would look at other manufacturers in future.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

I 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...

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

A few more pictures of this very obliging bird which remained in view for about 2 hours.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Purple Heron from Rees Cox hide, seen on my third visit. Thanks to everyone who got the word out and kept the news updated

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Brands 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...

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Another 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Out 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

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

The 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Just 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

An 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

I have seen the wall lizards at Durlston a few times, always in the same place (though they may well be elsewhere) - on the south side, towards the lower end and a few metres up and only when the sun was on the wall.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Nature 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

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

A dawn chorus walk to Swineham. Plenty of blackcap and reed warbler and cettis.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Up 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Completed 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...

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 21/04/2025

A 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...

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

A 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...

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Brands 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...

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

A busy morning with a NT BBS survey followed by a BTO heathland survey but the early start had its good points.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Didn'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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Brands 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...

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

A 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Brands 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

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

St 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

A 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

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 02/02/2025

A 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

3 Slavs at Jerry's Point earlier this morning

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

Brands 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

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

A busy WeBS count compared to the usually quiet standards of the Little Sea with over 200 wigeon

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

A 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...

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

Brands 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

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 23/11/2024

An 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

I was at Brands Bay earlier in the afternoon on a falling tide, a lot was very distant and difficult to count. Brent, Wigeon, Lapwing and Blackwit counts were similar to yours, others were: Avocet 40+ Greenshank 2 Grey plover 2 Dunlin 600+ Amazing to see this site so packed out for the first time.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 29/10/2024

St 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

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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

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 18/10/2024

Challow 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 15/10/2024

Brands 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

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 15/10/2024

Corfe 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

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 10/10/2024

Challow 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

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 03/10/2024

An 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 03/10/2024

A 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 01/10/2024

Middlebere 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...

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 23/09/2024

Middlebere 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...

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 21/09/2024

Challow 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

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 17/09/2024

St 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.

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Ian @dbirder.bsky.social · 13/09/2024

A 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.

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