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St Aldhelms Birder

@staldhelmsbirder

Lifelong birder in the historic Isle of Purbeck esp. St Aldhelms & Studland, unless I can get abroad. Also into 🐬& 🐳. All photos mine, except retweets

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09.03.2024
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Latest posts by St Aldhelms Birder @staldhelmsbirder

Big Redwing and Song Thrush departure going on right now over northern areas of the harbour. Low cloud and light SW airflow sending birds back home @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

09.03.2026 21:00 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Snow Bunting at the Lytchett Bay feeding station this afternoon was pretty random! Aldo at Swineham this evening 1 (possibly 2) Bittern left at dusk, plus c60 Sand Martin bombing around and 1 Little Ringed Plover flying around calling @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

09.03.2026 19:44 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Hey @harbourbirds.bsky.social is this what I think it is?

09.03.2026 15:29 πŸ‘ 25 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0
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Large tortoiseshell butterfly confirmed no longer extinct in UK Early spring sightings show colourful insect is a resident species for first time in decades, says conservation charity

@savebutterflies.bsky.social now considers Large Tortoiseshell a resident species once again.
It is yet to recoloniese our region. But with a continent-facing coastline and abundant elm surely soon.

@richardfoxbc.bsky.social @patrickbarkham.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

09.03.2026 11:26 πŸ‘ 15 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Serin just pitched in a tree top at the Obs

09.03.2026 10:57 πŸ‘ 144 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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A murky start but busy in the reedbed with bh gulls, Cettis and my first reed bunting of the year. Couldn't see much on the lagoon. Back at the Villa coal tit and blue tit having territorial battles... #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

09.03.2026 07:28 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Wessex Birding - Dorset Big Year 2026

A short blog up at wessexbirding.blogspot.com about Glossy Ibis and Saxons. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

08.03.2026 19:57 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Martin - RBA also saying 2 Swallows at Longham today @martinwood60.bsky.social

08.03.2026 14:08 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Ship assistance in North American landbirds in the Western Palearctic To the end of 2023, a total of 3,084 individual North American landbirds of 94 taxa had been recorded in the Western Palearctic. The most frequent of these...

End of 2023, a total of 3,084 North American landbirds of 94 taxa had been recorded in the Western Palearctic. The most frequent of these species include Red-eyed Vireo, American Pipit & Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Read more: britishbirds.co.uk/journal/arti...

πŸ“Έ Mike Durkalec
πŸ₯‡Subscriber Content

07.03.2026 16:51 πŸ‘ 26 πŸ” 13 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

My latest Blog Post - First Signs of Spring Part 4 - A February Adder catching some rays
birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2026/03/28-f...

07.03.2026 18:07 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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So so close to 100,000 signatures to end the Guga hunt! Please keep signing: petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...

07.03.2026 12:00 πŸ‘ 27 πŸ” 23 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Yorkshire Dales sheep and cattle swap boosts biodiversity - studies Natural England began switching to cattle grazing at its Ingleborough site in the Dales in 2004.

"There's five times as many butterflies on cattle grazing sites compared with sheep grazed sites,"

@bcyorkshire.bsky.social
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

06.03.2026 09:24 πŸ‘ 68 πŸ” 36 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 4

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

06.03.2026 16:55 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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πŸ‘ 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

06.03.2026 16:20 πŸ‘ 33 πŸ” 8 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 3
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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 β€” sometimes even thousands!

- They are one of the species ORCA have spotted the most in the past 25 years.

06.03.2026 16:30 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

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

06.03.2026 14:00 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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.

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

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

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!

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.

06.03.2026 12:35 πŸ‘ 20 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social 2 cranes flew over Wareham common approx an hour ago heading towards swineham

06.03.2026 12:38 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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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

06.03.2026 11:35 πŸ‘ 51 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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NGOs condemn UK plan to cut climate aid and Blue Planet Fund FOI requests reveal UK government is set to cut, or drastically reduce, programmes designed to protect the environment in developing countries

🌊 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...

06.03.2026 10:14 πŸ‘ 17 πŸ” 12 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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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

06.03.2026 08:21 πŸ‘ 76 πŸ” 20 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Reliable report of Large Tortoiseshell at Ballard Down near Swanage yesterday, keep your eyes peeled out there. Pics to follow

06.03.2026 08:13 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

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

06.03.2026 09:26 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

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

06.03.2026 07:45 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

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

05.03.2026 21:15 πŸ‘ 16 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Well done @wildlifebcn.org‬
Nature Reserves shouldn't be treated as places where dog owners can let their dogs run in an uncontrolled fashion

05.03.2026 20:28 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

My latest Blog Post - First Signs of Spring Part 3 - February Sand Martins
birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2026/03/26-f...

05.03.2026 19:30 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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Forster's Tern
Poole Park, Dorset
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

05.03.2026 18:04 πŸ‘ 84 πŸ” 11 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 0

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

05.03.2026 17:58 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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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.

05.03.2026 16:31 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0