An 5 mile walk around Hartland Moor & was surprised to see an Osprey with a fish, which then perched on a post mid moor to eat it. Also 5 Dartford warblers, a Whinchat and Swallows Sand Martins gathering on teh wires. Then it was back to Middlebere for more Osprey action. @harbourbirds.bsky.social

A great day at Middlebere where the tide neve fully went out: 3 Spotted Redshank, 4 Osprey, White tailed Eagle, 2 Marsh Harries, 16 Avocet, 22 Blackwit, a Turnstone, 12 Greenshank, 3 GW Egrets, a Grey wagtail, 150 Cormorant and 1 Whimbrel. @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Got a bit wet walking the Swineham loop, but highlights were 3 Yellow Wags, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Marsh Harriers, 3 Great White Egret, 1 White tailed Eagle, 1 Osprey, lots of bright Willow Warblers, 2 Greenshank, 1 Cattle Egret and a Wheatear. @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Not a bird, but pleased with this animation of eclipse this evening.

An early walk along to the new trail at Arne RSPB to the Saline Lagoon to see the male Common Scoter. There was also a unringed female Osprey watching a Grey Seal successfully catch fish. At Gold point another 5 Osprey circled high, also 60+ Curlew & 1 Whimbrel. @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Local birder Brian Edge has just found a Cicada species going bonkers in a suburban Swanage cul-de-sac !!! @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

A family of Spotted Flycatchers by the Ulwell Caravan Park. @harbourbirds.bsky.social

A memorable morning at the Middlebere NT Hide with 7 Osprey seen together. Which is the most seen at the same time from the hide. Plus 3 Great White Egrets, 1 White tailed Eagle, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank and a Spoonbill. Also a Wood Sandpiper at Sunnyside Farm. @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Middlebere NT Avocet Hide: An unexpected Wheatear, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpipers, 8 Greenshank & a Peregrine that fancied a juv Shelduck for breakfast, but went hungry. A whinchat on Hartland Moor was a bonus too. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Always a joy to see a beautiful Marsh Gentian out in flower on the Isle of Purbeck.

Sunrise watch at Middlebere: 11 Spoonbill, 3 Great White Egret, 1 Hobby, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Whimbrel, a singing Willow Warbler, a Juv Marsh Harrier, 2 Peregrines, a Goshawk and a Dartford Warbler to the side of the hide. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Middlebere highlights 6.00 - 8.00am: 1 White tailed Eagle flew to Wareham Channel, 1 Juv Marsh Harrier, 1 Hobby, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Spoonbill, 2 Green Sandpiper and a 1 Green shank. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Another twitch today, but this time to Gloucestershire for England's first Long-tailed Shrike. A cracking bird, despite the heat haze. Great company with @moorebirdsbybike.bsky.social @beardybirder.bsky.social @luvaducksbutt.bsky.social

A quadruple Sandpiper day with @moorebirdsbybike.bsky.social where we saw Pectoral, Common and Green Sandpipers at Keyhaven / Pennington Marshes, Hampshire. Then a Wood Sandpiper at Morden Bog in Wareham Forest.

An early start and over the border into Hampshire for a sunrise twitch of the Pectoral Sandpiper at Fishtail Lagoon, Pennington Marsh. @birdguides.bsky.social

A rewarding walk along the River Frome, around Swineham point and up the piddle Valley that brought my Dorset year list to 200. Hightlights were 14 cattle Egret in Frome Meadows, 4 Yellow Wagtails at stilt pool & 3 at the point, a Barnacle Goose at the tidal flap. @harbourbirds.bsky.social

A few more shots of the Spoonbills at Middlebere this morning. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Sunrise watch at Middlebere: 7 Spoonbill, 2 Great White Egret, 1 Goshawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, Kestrel, 2 Whimbrel, 21 Oystercatchers and a Spotted Flycatcher. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social

2026 Half Year Highlights #6 Red footed Falcon - Holt Heath, Dorset Wood Warbler - New Forest, Hampshire Broad billed Sandpiper - Dawlish Warren, Devon Western reef Heron - Sandy Haven, Pembrokeshire

2026 Half Year Highlights #5 Black headed Bunting - Lesvos, Greece Bee - eater - Lesvos Greece Golden Oriole - Lesvos, Greece Spur winged Lapwing - Lesvos, Greece

2026 Half Year Highlights #4 Pied Flycatcher - Worth Matravers, Dorset Lesser Flamingo - Lesvos, Greece Masked Shrike - Lesvos, Greece Eastern Bonelli's Warbler - Lesvos Greece

2026 Half Year Highlights #3 Forster's Tern - Poole Park, Dorset Garganey - Warmwell, Dorset Firecrest - Swanage, Dorset Bluethroat - Swineham, Dorset

2026 Half Year Highlights #2 Little Bustard - Castro Verde, Portugal Spanish Imperial eagle - Castro Verde, Portugal Kildeer - Ripley, Hampshire Tundra Bean Geese with Glossy Ibis - Wareham, Dorset

2026 Half Year Highlights #1 Blue winged Teal - Faro, Portugal Caspian Tern - Faro, Portugal Marsh Sandpiper - Faro, Portugal Penduline Tit - Faro Portugal

A whistle off by the miniature Traction engines at Roads to Rails, Nordon. A cacophany for some, but a euphony for others.

A successful early morning twitch to Portland Bill for Serin then back home for a family day out at Road to Rails. Over 30 full size and miniature Traction engines, plus vintage cars, old petrol engines and lots of fun.

Summer Plummage Spotted Redshank just dropped in at Middlebere. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @ukorchids.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

2nd time of trying for the Western Reef Heron and well worth the trip for amazing views of a stunning looking bird. @birdguides.bsky.social

5H6 "I have my eyes set on you" 6J8 "So does 5h3 and 5H0" Which one one will win the race to 6J8's heart and hopefully breed with her next year? @harbourbirds.bsky.social

A cracking looking adult Yellow - legged Gull at Middlebere this evening. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social