A Female Mandarin Duck flew downriver over Holmebridge mid-AM today, before dropped out of sight
Also, 23 Cattle Egrets feeding upriver of Holmebridge
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds
👏 Hear hear, Ed Miliband! Good to see our Energy Secretary holding strong to the government's commitment on no new oil and gas licences.
In an unstable world, we must keep driving towards clean, home-grown renewable power to ensure true energy security!
#NoNewOil
Here are some things you may not be aware of...
- They’re among the most energetic and acrobatic dolphins in the sea.
- They can gather in superpods numbering in the hundreds — sometimes even thousands!
- They are one of the species ORCA have spotted the most in the past 25 years.
A cold northerly made today’s boat trip feel like winter again with a good haul of species including 3 GN Diver, 5 BN Grebe, 2 WT Eagle, 2 Spoonbill, 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Red Kite, c150 Avocet, c80 Barwit, c70 Med Gull @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
Ad Short-tailed Albatross, we saw 45 of these beauties, recovering from near extinction. Many were close to the boat and allowed flight shots with my bridge camera.
Laysan Albatross, at least 24, along with 25 Black-footed and more than 5000 Streaked Shearwater seen on the crossing
The very attractive and island endemic male Izu Thrush
Ural Owl, having missed this in Hokkaido where the "known" roost tree has fallen down, I thought we were going to draw a blank on this desirable species. Thanks to some local gen we were able to see one in a Tokyo park!
Home after an amazing time in wonderful Japan. I said it before and I will say it again. Where did we go wrong? The last part of our trip was around Tokyo and included a trip out to the Izu Islands. A must do at this time of year for the chance of an albatross spectacular on the return ferry.
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social 2 cranes flew over Wareham common approx an hour ago heading towards swineham
To say that the Poole Park Forster's Tern is showy is a bit of an understatement... By far and away my best views of this returning American vagrant over the last few years @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
🌊 Sweeping cuts are set to hit UK-funded environmental projects in developing countries, including the Blue Planet Fund, set up following Sir Attenborough’s landmark Ocean doc. These cuts will be a devastating loss for ocean, people & planet.
oceanographicmagazine.com/news/ngos-co...
Photo of the Large Tortoiseshell seen yesterday at Ballard Down by Shona Refoy. An exciting spot after one seen at Baiter in Poole a few days ago. Please report any other sightings on our website or here
Reliable report of Large Tortoiseshell at Ballard Down near Swanage yesterday, keep your eyes peeled out there. Pics to follow
The Forster's Tern was feeding by Stone Island between Brownsea and South Haven at 07:20-07:30 with 4 Sandwich Terns before I lost it flying back towards the lagoon
@wildontheroad.bsky.social
Its only taken 7 seasons over 4 years, to see the Forster's Tern from South Haven, Studland
The 3rd Studland record
It was feeding around Stone Island with 4 Sarnie Terns 07:20-07:30
I lost it as it flew back towards Brownsea
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds
Sadly no sight or sound of any Bittern leaving Swineham GPs this evening, but a flock of 23 Sand Martin (my 1st of the year) were welcome, with at least 27 Cattle & 46 Little Egret counted coming into roost & a Barn Owl watched quartering the pits at dusk @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Well done @wildlifebcn.org
Nature Reserves shouldn't be treated as places where dog owners can let their dogs run in an uncontrolled fashion
My latest Blog Post - First Signs of Spring Part 3 - February Sand Martins
birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2026/03/26-f...
Forster's Tern
Poole Park, Dorset
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
4 BN Grebes still off Jerry's Point, Studland this evening
Also, 27 RB Mergs on the late PM low tide
Brands Bay very quiet with just over 100 Teal & 21 Wigeon (was 300+ a few days ago)
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds
Through long-term collaborations with key shipping partners, we have been able to study how whales and ships interact during close encounters which is critical in reducing vessel strikes!
In-fact, thousands of seafarers have now completed ORCA’s vessel strike mitigation training.
These are the scenes at Mercure Nottingham City Centre Hotel. Sickening use of deadly bird netting that ends up with birds trapped and starving to death. Police have been contacted.
Please sign the petition calling on the hotel to end the use of netting: protectthewild.org.uk/mercure-hote...
For anyone wanting to see the Forster’s Tern, apparently it’s showing brilliantly in Poole Park near the model boating lake. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
Middle Beach, Studland today per Chris N
GN Diver 1
BN Grebe 3
Common Scoter 5
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds
10 Glossy Ibis Wareham Flood showing from North wall. 20 Cattle Egret Wareham Common @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
2 Common Crane and WTE circling over Carey now @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
First Dorset record of Large Tortoiseshell this year. Watch this space for other new sightings
Rob Johnson saw the Forster's Tern around the Poole Harbour mouth as he arrived for work on the chain ferry this AM
Surprisingly only the second Studland record given this is its 7th season over 4 calendar years in Poole Harbour
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds
Baiter is still the best option for the Forster's Tern & take some patience along with you as @bikingbirder.bsky.social & I spent an good hour scanning that area from Brownsea early PM with no joy
It clearly comes & goes from that area
Today's Brownsea lagoon High Tide count with @bikingbirder.bsky.social Highlights Pt 3:
Med 127
Com Gull 6+
GBBG 23
Sandwich Tern 2 or 3
Forster's Tern Just the one - c15 mins mid PM
Note Brownsea is still closed to the public
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds
Today's Brownsea lagoon High Tide count with @bikingbirder.bsky.social Highlights Pt 2:
Avocet 83
Oik 158
R Plover 2
Grey Plover 8
Blackwit 1604
Barwit 58
Curlew 17
Snipe 1
Redshank 48
Greenshank 12
Knot 1
Dunlin 27
Turnstone 12
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds
Today's Brownsea lagoon High Tide count with @bikingbirder.bsky.social Highlights Pt 1:
Brent G 2
Canada G 41
Greylag 22
Shelduck 62
Teal 62
Wig 30
Gad 19
Shov 12
Sparrowhawk 1
Sea-eagle 1 imm
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds
Curious about how to tell your baleen whales from your bottlenose dolphins?
Our Introduction to Whale & Dolphin Identification course gives you the practical knowledge to recognise and identify cetaceans with confidence!
Learn more 👉 orca.org.uk/training/int...
#WhaleWatching #ORCA #ORCACourses
