Highlights from Middlebere watch with @beardybirder.bsky.social @jolmitchell.bsky.social @moorebirdsbybike.bsky.social 2 Osprey, 4 poss 5 Spotted Redshank, 22 Knot, 10 Greenshank, 4 Great White Egret, 296 Blackwit, 29 Dunlin and a Yellow-legged Gull. @harbourbirds.bsky.social

You don’t have to travel far to experience incredible marine wildlife. Our Ocean Conservation programmes take place across the North Sea, English Channel and Bay of Biscay, where Ocean Conservationists combine wildlife watches with education and outreach. #ORCA #MarineWildlife

Autumn Safaris are off to a brilliant start! 3 Curlew Sandpipers on Arne Moors the highlight of this morning’s boat. A supporting cast of 1 Glossy Ibis at Keysworth, 2 Osprey in the Wareham Channel, and rising numbers of Spoonbill and Avocet on the Brownsea Lagoon.

Went to check up on an urban fringe heathland hobby family a few days ago. Both chicks have fledged well and are strong on the wing. It won't be many days now until they leave for warmer climes. The latest we have seen a family group still at their breeding site is 6th October.

The 9 Redhead Goosanders were feeding in Brands Bay, Studland this AM. This length of stay is exceptional for this erratic species Also, R Plover 2 Blackwit 139 Redshank 49 Greenshank 4 Turnstone 4 Com Sand 1 Dunlin 18 C Yellow 1 @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

Finally added Clouded Yellow to the Garden Year List to bring me to a record 19 species for the Swanage Garden Year List. I've missed Small Tort (once annual but none since 2021), Purple Hairstreak (1 record). GV White, Large Skipper & Common Blue all seen in 2025, but average 1 in 4 years

Middlebere: Great to see the first Merlin of the Autumn and an increase in wader numbers. 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 40 Dunlin, 3 Spotted Redshank, 310 Blackwit, 17 knot, 3 Great White Egret, 11 Greenshank and a Cattle Egret. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Surely Slender-billed Curlew is a more recent extinction in Europe and there are also Eskimo Curlew records from UK& Im assuming Europe that will have occurred since Great Auk times Both species are now extinct/presumed extinct in the world @birdguides.bsky.social

BirdGuides@birdguides.bsky.social · 2d ago

Eighteen young Common Buttonquail have arrived in Andalusia in the next phase of a project to restore the species to Spain:

Marine conservation isn’t just about protecting whales and dolphins - it’s about giving people the opportunity to be part of that work too. And we believe citizen science helps people from all backgrounds contribute observations. To see how you can get involved, visit our website! 👉 orca.org.uk/

1st Curlew Sandpiper of the Autumn on French's Pool #LytchettFields @narwhalsh.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @mick666.bsky.social

A tasty little seawatch from Durlston CP this morning (0642 - 1035hrs), with some excellent westerly tern passage: Balearic Shear' 1, A.Skua 3, Arctic Tern 107, Common Tern 11, Commic Tern 98, C.Scoter 14, Razorbill 14, Auk sp 44, Swallow 385, & a close breaching Tuna @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Norway’s 2026 whale hunt season has come to an end. Here are two key figures: 418 minke whales killed (but this does not include the unborn calves that die when pregnant females are shot). 1% of Norwegians regularly eat whale meat. This is a pointless slaughter. https://ow.ly/XuV250ZOlKT

This course teaches you how to carry out scientific distance-sampling surveys from a ferry, record whales, dolphins and porpoises, and follow our survey protocols. You'll also learn what to expect from offshore surveys and how to prepare for your time on board. 👉 orca.org.uk/training/mar...

Marine ecosystems respond to short-term oceanographic fluctuations, while longer-term pressures such as climate change can reshape them over time. By collecting observations regularly from ferries, cruise ships and other platforms of opportunity, we are helping fill important gaps in marine data.

Looked like an 8 to me today. @markwright12002.bsky.social Hopefully @martinadams1.bsky.social can check on friday

@markwright12002.bsky.social · 3d ago

Isn't it NH B 9 rather than NH89?

Natural England has declared Lyscombe nature reserve the 16th site in the King's Series of National Nature Reserves (NNRs). It recognises one of the most ambitious nature recovery projects in Dorset.... www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/lyscomb...

Lyscombe nature reserve gains national recognition | Dorset Wildlife Trust

Natural England has declared Lyscombe nature reserve the 16th site in the King's Series of National Nature Reserves (NNRs). It recognises one of the most ambitious nature recovery projects in Dorset.

dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk

Lyme Bay Pelagic, Brixham. 23 Great, 38 Balearic & 1100 Manx Shearwater, Great & Arctic Skua, Storm-petrel, Caspian & 2 Yellow-legged Gull, 1200 Kittiwake, 750 Gannet, Rissos' & 135 Common Dolphin,HP, lots of Bluefin Tuna, Osprey & good vismig @naturetrek.bsky.social Data @marinelife1.bsky.social

I can't believe a landowner is putting the iconic Glenelg to Skye ferry at risk. Support the local community and save the world famous Glenelg to Skye ferry by joining me and signing the petition today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/sa...

Save the Glenelg - Skye ferry!

This ten minute crossing is famous around the world - and is believed to be the last turntable style ferry anywhere. It's an iconic part of Skye's history, but the ferry's operator says its futur...

you.38degrees.org.uk

My latest Blog Post - From the Biggest to the Smallest Expedition day 3 in June 26 - Meeting the Aberdeeen Departure Committee (a pod of 4 Bottlenose Dolphins). A flock of Goosander were also present birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2026/08/12-j...

St Aldhelms Birder@staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social · 2w ago

My latest Blog Post - From the Biggest to the Smallest Expedition day 3 in June 26 - Exploring the Bullers of Buchan seabird cliffs which had breeding Kittiwakes, Puffins & Razorbills birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2026/08/12-j...

Good to see some old friends on the @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Brownsea lagoon today Spoony 61 inc NH89 & NB97 Avocet 302 inc 5 CR birds. Only 1 seen well Left blue flag with KO on it over yellow ring Right yellow ring @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

St Aldhelms Birder@staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social · 3d ago

@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Brownsea lagoon today Teal 59+ Spoony 61 Water Rail 2 Avocet 302 R Plover 19 Curlew 12 Blackwit 11 Barwit 8 Redshank 78+ Greenshank 7 Knot 1 Dunlin 9 Wheatear 1 No sign of yesterday's Willow Emerald @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

@dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Brownsea lagoon today Teal 59+ Spoony 61 Water Rail 2 Avocet 302 R Plover 19 Curlew 12 Blackwit 11 Barwit 8 Redshank 78+ Greenshank 7 Knot 1 Dunlin 9 Wheatear 1 No sign of yesterday's Willow Emerald @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

The "Nine" goosanders were being chased by a juvenile peregrine around Brands bay this afternoon before finally ditching (unharmed) into the water by Redhorn Quay. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

A vessel strike is when a whale or other cetacean is hit by a boat or ship. And as vessel traffic increases, collisions are becoming an increasingly important threat to large whales! But we're determined to minimise the the threat posed. #ORCA #VesselStrike #WhaleConservation

Tidying up a net ride when I became aware of some crunching behind me, astonished to find a Lesser Emperor devouring a Migrant Hawker just a meter from my head!

Currently 61 Spoonys on the @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social Brownsea lagoon inc NH89 and old friend & regular visitor NB97 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

Shell Bay, Studland this AM Sanderling 8 on beach SS Waverley South @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

BBC Breakfast TV has a really good interview with one of the @savebutterflies.bsky.social team about UK Butterflies & then spoilt it with a stupid background showing pretty species Swallowtail (OK), Monarch (UK rarity from North America) & a tropical species Why not use check & use UK species?

To all you toggers who ram your bird pics through an Ai engine - if you think we don’t notice, think again! They look proper weird.

A fascinating deep-diving whale found across the North Atlantic, the Northern bottlenose whale is recognisable by its bulbous forehead and long, slender body. They can dive to incredible depths in search of squid and other deep-water prey, spending much of their lives far below the surface!