Post 9 of my recent return trip to Argentina & Antarctic covers the first day in the Drake Passage sailing for Antarctica.
These Antarctic Minke Whales were the Cetacean highlights
birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2026/03/2-de...
Post 9 of my recent return trip to Argentina & Antarctic covers the first day in the Drake Passage sailing for Antarctica.
King & Western Rockhopper Penguins, Grey-headed & Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses were some of the bird highlights
birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2026/03/2-de...
Ever wanted to see whales and dolphins in the wild? 🐋
Whether you’re totally new to wildlife watching or already obsessed with marine life, these trips are designed to be unforgettable.
Learn more 👉 orca.org.uk/get-involved...
#SeaSafari #WhaleWatching #OceanAdventure
Got home to find the bird of the day waiting for me in my apple tree. Only my 4th garden record of Firecrest. Surprisely scarce given Ive had 2 YBWs
@DorsetBirds
Had a good walkaround the migrant free St Aldhelms patch this AM. Highlights:
RTDiver 4 East
Chaffinch flock 27+
Linnet 100+
Both finches normally in minimal numbers
Corn Bunting 2 - one in a marginal territory was interesting
Adder 1
This gorgeous Oil Beetle
#DorsetBirds
Firecrest, 10th March 2026
White-tailed Eagle, 10th March 2026
Fewer Chiffchaffs today but 4 new Firecrests at the Obs, a departing to the south Marsh Harrier, a circumnavigation of the island by one of the released White-tailed Eagles and the best offshore passage (24) of Red-throated Divers so far this spring
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
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
Hey @harbourbirds.bsky.social is this what I think it is?
@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/...
Serin just pitched in a tree top at the Obs
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
A short blog up at wessexbirding.blogspot.com about Glossy Ibis and Saxons. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Martin - RBA also saying 2 Swallows at Longham today @martinwood60.bsky.social
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...
📸 Mike Durkalec
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My latest Blog Post - First Signs of Spring Part 4 - A February Adder catching some rays
birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2026/03/28-f...
So so close to 100,000 signatures to end the Guga hunt! Please keep signing: petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE...
"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...
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
👏 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
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 — sometimes even thousands!
- They are one of the species ORCA have spotted the most in the past 25 years.
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
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
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!
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.
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social 2 cranes flew over Wareham common approx an hour ago heading towards swineham
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
🌊 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...
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
Reliable report of Large Tortoiseshell at Ballard Down near Swanage yesterday, keep your eyes peeled out there. Pics to follow
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
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
