Studland Birds

The account from Mansel-Pleydell of Great Bustards in Dorset up to 1888 (albeit I've put the original into word so it's searchable compared to the original book). This mentions historic records in Langton Matravers & Studland
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We’ve heard back from them already…..see full details here: www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/sightings/

The Great Bustard was still visible (scope needed) in the private fields East of the Glebelands estate late PM, with a party of 3 Roe Deer. I was viewing from the Glebelands estate next to the house called Beechwood
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Strictly, its only the 3rd Poole Harbour record since they went extinct as a UK breeding in the mid-late 1800s😉
This one is sporting a nice orange ring. Hopefully the Great Bustard Project will be able to tell us more about it & it's movements in the next few days
@harbourbirds.bsky.social

Middle Beach, Studland lunchtime
GN Diver 3
GC Grebe 4
BN Grebe 6
Slav G 1
Com Scoter female
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Signs of Spring at South Haven, Studland
No Grebes or Divers in Shell Bay
A flighty Red Admiral
The first Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Brands Bay & Jerry's Pt, Studland this AM
GN Diver 3
GC Grebe 11
BN Grebe 8
Slav 3
RB Merg 33
Teal 185
Wig 319
Greenshank 1
Com Gull 271+
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

A group of people excavating the timber remains of a ship on the beach at Studland Bay

Yesterday a team from the National Trust had the pleasure in helping students from Bournemouth University excavate and remove the remains of a 17th cargo vessel from the beach at Studland Bay in Dorset.
The discovery was made earlier this month by one of our own volunteers, Pam.

The view from Middle Beach looking North.

The famous Jerry's Point, with view to Brownsea Island.

From Shell Bay looking North to the ferry to Sandbanks. Studland, Dorset 🇬🇧

Dry, bright & still at Studland #DorsetBirds 🪶 🇬🇧
Middle Beach, Black-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver, GC Grebe, lots Shag.
Bramble Bush Bay & Jerry's Point, 10 BNG, 4 GND, c25 Red-breasted Merganser, 20+ GCG. 20 Turnstone, 24 Sanderling, 11 Dunlin, Redshank, Sparrowhawk.
@harbourbirds.bsky.social

Yday, there were 377+ Common Gulls in Brands Bay on the low tide, which is a good, but typicalnumber for a late afternoon Feb/Mar low tide count

Today there were just 2 Common Gulls. Yet Wader & Wildfowl numbers were a bit better
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Jerry's Pt, Studland (both WeBS sections)
GN Diver 3
GC Grebe 27
BN Grebe 4
Slav G 3
RB Merg 26
Brent G 82
Dunlin 66
Gshank 1

Middle Beach, Studland
GN Diver 1
GC Grebe 9
BN Grebe 3
Com Scoter 1
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

Brands Bay, Studland low tide WeBS count:
Brent G 164
Canada G 60
Teal 216
Wig 565
Pintail 2 - Another pathetic Pintail count
Shelduck 58
RB Merg 7
Sea-eagle 2
Oik 13
Avocet 2
Grey Plov 16
Curlew 75
Redshank 77
Knot 5
Dunlin c660
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N.Haven this morning for possibly my last early visit of the season with @dfozzie.bsky.social 83 Shag, 3 GND, 1 GCG, 2 Pintail, 1 Avocet a site tick all in. 3 Med gull year tick for me. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

Other Snippets from the walk to Old Harry
Studland Bay
GN Diver 1
GC Grebe 5
BN Grebe 4
RB Merg 4
Com Scoter 1 plus 10 South

Old Harry
Fulmar 2
Razorbill 21+ on sea/flying around
Auk sp. 15+ on sea/flying around
R Pipit 2
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

Still one female-type Cirl Bunting in the weedy field hedge on the path to Old Harry. It showed well for 3 minutes (scope views), once the persistent stream of walkers in the rain stopped
Also
Skylark 55+
Chaffinch 50+
Linnet 60+
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

2 M & a F Com Scoter from Middle Beach, Studland at lunchtime
Also 3 scattered BNGs, 4 Mergs and 5 GC Grebes
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Timbers from 17th Century shipwreck appear on Dorset beach Experts believe timbers found at Studland Beach form a missing piece of the Swash Channel wreck from 1631.

Historic timbers from a historic shipwreck have been discovered at Studland Bay, Dorset. They are thought to be from the armed Dutch merchant ship Fame from Hoorn which ran aground & sank in 1631. 👇
BBC News - Timbers from 17th Century shipwreck appear on Dorset beach
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A late rising tide visit to Brands Bay, Studland this AM:
Pale-bellied Brent 1
Brent G 169
Teal 48
Wigeon 425
Pintail 5
Lapwing 36
Grey Plover 19
Curlew 15
Dunlin 300+
Turnstone 2
Common Gull 234+
Med G 6

No Blackwits
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#DorsetBirds

A late rising tide visit to Brands Bay, Studland this AM:
GN Diver 1
Brent G 32
Teal 70
Wigeon 358
Pintail 2
Sea-eagle 1
Grey Plover 37
Blackwit 74
Curlew 54
Dunlin 331
Turnstone 2
Common Gull 188
S Tern 3
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

N.Haven this morning with @dfozzie.bsky.social 83 Shag, 7 GND, 8 RBM, 2 GCG all in. The 7 Divers a season high for me. Although a few off Graham A high of 13. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

From The Last Stand photobook.
Studland Bay, Dorset, England In April 1944, after months of intensive planning and practice, a full-scale D-Day rehearsal for the Normandy landings was held in Studland Bay. ‘Exercise Smash,’ in which live ammunition was used, was watched from Fort Henry, a nearby...

From The Last Stand photobook.
Studland Bay, Dorset, England, 2011
In April 1944, after months of intensive planning and practice, a full-scale D-Day rehearsal for the Normandy landings was held in Studland Bay. ‘Exercise Smash,’ in which live ammunition was used, was watched from...

Hadn't seen Studland from above like this before, was quite chuffed with this shot

Inbetween the rain today & some cozy #Dorset pubs

#Winter

We're thrilled to be speaking at the 2026 Careys Secret Garden Migration Festival, running from February 13th-15th. We can share with you a 20% discount code for tickets for Friday & Sunday, for BoPH supporters. Enter the code BOPH20 at checkout.
www.careyssecretgarden.co.uk/products/mig...

A rare opportunity y'day morning to get out and about in Dorset this winter produced 3 Slav's, 6 BN Grebe, 25 GC Grebes, & 3 GN Diver from Jerry's Point (but sadly no sign of the long-staying RN Grebe), plus a pair of C.Scoter & single BN Grebe & GN Diver off Middle Beach @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

N.Haven first light this morning 87 Shag, 2 GND, 2 GCG in. 1 GND off Pilots point on the water. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

Stinking Iris in Clayton Meadow, Dorset. Its berries provide a useful food source for birds.
#birds #iris #wildflowerhour #wildflowers #meadows #berries

Greenshank
Studland, Dorset
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8 Cirl Bunting logged at Old Harry this morning, also 25 Red-throated Diver moving south, plus 4 GN Diver, 1 BT Diver, 5 Common Scoter, 3 Fulmar, 10+ Kittiwake, lots of Guillemot and Razorbill, 20+ Gannet @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Nick Hopper had 6+ Cirl Bunting in a cover crop out near Old Harry this AM….incredible total @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social