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@nickurch.bsky.social

Dorset/Somerset birder now living in South Somerset. Dorset Butterfly Conservation verifier. Retired teacher so more time to get out and about.

241 Followers  |  137 Following  |  92 Posts  |  Joined: 09.03.2024  |  2.4517

Latest posts by nickurch.bsky.social on Bluesky

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

27.11.2025 15:08 — 👍 9    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

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😀

24.11.2025 14:55 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

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.

24.11.2025 14:55 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

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

15.11.2025 12:55 — 👍 7    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

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

03.11.2025 12:29 — 👍 9    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

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

21.10.2025 11:47 — 👍 9    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

@swannerysteve.bsky.social

15.10.2025 12:23 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Abbotsbury Swannery: Baikal Teal refound by @dorsetbirdtours.bsky.social from Helen's Hide looking west. @birdguides.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

15.10.2025 12:07 — 👍 14    🔁 5    💬 1    📌 0

Abbotsbury Swannery: no sign of Baikal Teal yet but only limited searching so far. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

15.10.2025 08:42 — 👍 4    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0

Middlebere: 2 Curlew Sand, 11 Knot, 1 Spotshank, 100+ Blackwit, 100+ Avocet, 80+ Redshank, Dunlin, Lapwing and Curlew. 100s of Teal, also Pintail, Wigeon, Mallard and Shoveler. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

09.10.2025 14:09 — 👍 11    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0

Culpeppers Dish: Crossbill (6+), Siskin, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Goldcrest, Raven and Sparrowhawk. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

09.10.2025 13:01 — 👍 7    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

Beautiful morning at Silverlakes: goose fest with 2 Pink feet, 12+ Egyptian, 100+ Greylag & 1000+ Canada. Also singing Woodlark, Dartford Warbler & Peregrine. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

09.10.2025 09:39 — 👍 6    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

Portland: Wryneck continues to show well at the end of Barleycrates Lane. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

29.09.2025 13:50 — 👍 7    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

No sign of YB Bunting at Abbotsbury Swannery upto 1pm. 4+ Fire rests, lots of Blackcaps, 8+ Cattle Egrets and Red Kite. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

29.09.2025 12:47 — 👍 9    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0

Temminck's Stint still showing well at Cheddar Res near Cheddar Tower. @birdguides.bsky.social

28.09.2025 11:03 — 👍 4    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Great few hours at Cheddar Res. RN Phalarope, 2 Grey Phalaropes, RC Pochard (f), Black Tern, Common Tern, 6 Curlew Sand and Ruff. @somersetbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

17.09.2025 12:44 — 👍 16    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

Great afternoon at Cheddar Res: 2 Little Terns, 2 Black Terns, 10 Curlew Sand, 2 Little Stints, 6+ Dunlin, 5+ Ringed Plover, 5 Snipe, 9 Common Sand, 2 Blackwit, 6 Ruff, 2 Knot, 6 Glossy Ibis, 20+ GWE, Peregrine and Yellow Wagtail. @somersetbirds.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

10.09.2025 18:07 — 👍 8    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

No sign of Sabine's Gull at West Bay between 3 and 4. Arctic Skua west after harassing the gulls. @birdguides.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

09.09.2025 15:01 — 👍 8    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

Portland Hoopoe disappeared whilst messaging. Searching fields off Watery Lane @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

07.09.2025 11:56 — 👍 9    🔁 2    💬 1    📌 0

Just found a Hoopoe off Weston St opposite Thumb Lane in old football pitch @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

07.09.2025 11:30 — 👍 27    🔁 4    💬 1    📌 0

Great views of Grey Phalarope at Abbotsbury Swannery from Helen's hide. Also distant Osprey. @birdguides.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social . Many thanks to @swannerysteve.bsky.social and @joestockwell.bsky.social

01.09.2025 11:49 — 👍 9    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

Seaton Marsh: Marsh Sand still present and showing well from Island Hide. Also 2 Little Stints @birdguides.bsky.social

22.08.2025 14:08 — 👍 8    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 0

👍

26.07.2025 08:57 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

What are the plastic 13?

25.07.2025 19:45 — 👍 0    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Very few Clouded Yellows reported to Dorset Butterfly Conservation this year.

24.07.2025 21:08 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Hi Martin looks like a female Small Skipper - definitely not Large and fairly sure it's not Essex.

30.06.2025 11:42 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 1    📌 0

Decent seawatch from Portland Bill with the highlight being a Sooty Shearwater flying east just before 2pm. Dozens of Manx but couldn't pin down a Balearic.
@birdguides.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social

11.06.2025 14:04 — 👍 8    🔁 2    💬 0    📌 0

After an hour+ of fog at Portland Bill visibility is much improved. 4 Manxies west and a Puffin on the sea off the auk cliffs. No sign yet of Balearics or Sooty. @portlandbirdobs.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

11.06.2025 11:07 — 👍 7    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

Abbotsbury Swannery: decent WeBS count this morning - 2 Little Gulls, 2 Black Swans, 2 Sanderling, 2 Peregrines, 2 Marsh Harriers but just 1 Whimbrel, 17 Little Egrets and a Gadwall (unusual here) @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @swannerysteve.bsky.social

25.05.2025 15:42 — 👍 12    🔁 1    💬 1    📌 0

Silage!

23.05.2025 12:40 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

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