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| August 2010 |
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Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd
The British Birdwatching Fair,Rutland Water
We will be exhibiting at the Fair with Calluna Books where information about The DBWE will be available. www.birdfair.org.uk |
Saturday 28th
Oak Fair, Stock Gaylard Estate, Dorset
We will be exhibiting at the Fair with Calluna Books where information about The DBWE will be available. www.stockgaylard.com |
| September 2010 |
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Wednesday 29th September
Autumn Birds on Ballard & Studland
Starting off from South Beach, we’ll take a circular walk out over the eastern end of Ballard Down where we’ll have a chance of something a little more unusual amongst the passing migrants. Worth the walk for the views alone! For the remainder of the day we’ll make a number of stops along the Studland road to search for waders and wildfowl and hopefully some early divers and grebes.
Time: 10am – 4pm [6hr]
Cost: £18.00
Meet: Studland
Main Interest: Birds |
| October 2010 |
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Sunday 17th October
Winter birding in Purbeck: a race to see 100 species
Join up for a day’s bird racing with the aim of seeing/ hearing 100 species during the day. We will meet/end in Wareham and will stay within the Purbeck boundary. The day will be quite intensive as we aim for our target with new birds coming thick and fast to begin with before slowing down as we try to pick off those that have proven more elusive. Our route on the day will depend on a number of variables, such as weather, tides and what birds are about, but may take us Arne, Middlebere, Studland, Durlston and Swineham. We should comfortably pick up 80+ species but 100+ is not impossible.
Free transport (eight-seat vehicle) & drinks are provided.
Time: 8am – 4.30pm [8.5 hr]
Cost: £25.00
Meet: Wareham
Main Interest: Birds |
| November 2010 |
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Wednesday 10th November
In Search of Waders: Poole Harbour’s north shore
We will make our way from Upton Country Park (Hole’s Bay) to Sandbanks stopping off at Baiter and Shore Road on the way. Amongst the expected waders (we could see up to 18 species) these sites will give us a good chance of finding Spotted Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank, Knot and Purple Sandpiper. A good selection of wildfowl and gulls will add to our days tally.
Time: 10am – 2pm [4hr]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Upton Country Park
Main Interest: Birds |
Wednesday 24th November 2010
Winter birding in Purbeck: a race to see 100 species
See October 17th.
Free transport (eight-seat vehicle) & drinks are provided. Max 6 places.
Time: 8am – 4.30pm [8.5 hr]
Cost: £25.00
Meet: Wareham |
| December 2010 |
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Saturday 11th December
Urban Birding in Weymouth
Despite its urban environment Weymouth provides some excellent birding. We’ll spend the day visiting a number of sites in/around the town taking in a variety of habitats including the sea, reed beds, grazing marsh and woodland. Sites will include Radipole for ducks, gulls and possibly Bittern, Lodmoor for waders, Weymouth Bay/Portland Harbour for grebes and divers and Lorton Meadow/Two-mile coppice for woodland/scrub birds.
Time: 10am – 4pm [6hr]
Cost: £18.00
Meet: Radipole Lake
Main Interest: Birds |
| January 2011 |
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Saturday 8th January
Swineham Walks: River, Pits & Harbour
We will take a circular walk around the Swineham area starting out by following the River Frome from Wareham to the gravel pits at Swineham. We’ll continue on around into the Piddle Valley before completing the circuit back to Wareham. This walk usually provides a good mixture of birds and there is a good chance of both Hen and Marsh Harriers. The pits hold a selection of duck and can turn up something a little more unusual such Ruddy Duck or Scaup.
Time: 10am – 2pm [4hrs]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Wareham
Main Interest: Birds |
Saturday 29th January
Winter birding in Purbeck: a race to see 100 species
See October 17th.
Free transport (eight-seat vehicle) & drinks are provided. Max 6 places.
Time: 8am – 4.30pm [8.5 hr]
Cost: £25.00
Meet: Wareham |
February 2011 |
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Wednesday 16th February
Maiden Castle & Thornecombe Wood: Farmland & Woodland Birds
In the dramatic landscape of one of the UK’s top hill-forts we will go in search of farmland birds. The surrounding area often holds large numbers of Golden Plover/Lapwing and is one of the best places to find Corn Bunting (and possibly Grey Partridge). We should also pick up a good mixture of thrushes and finches and Buzzards are always plentiful. We will leave time to visit the nearby Thornecombe Wood where we may be rewarded with a sighting of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker amongst the mixture of woodland birds.
Time: 10am – 2pm [4hr]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Maiden Castle
Main Interest: Birds |
| March 2011 |
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Wednesday 2nd March
Poole Harbour Circuit – the Birding Hotspots
Birding around Poole Harbour we are spoilt for choice of where to go with many hot-spots to choose from. We’ll keep on the move dropping in to places of interest to find the variety of species that winter here. Sites will include Upton Country Park, Shore Road, Studland, the Hartland Moor-Middlebere-Arne area and Swineham Point [Wareham].
Time: 10am – 4pm [6hr]
Cost: £18.00
Meet: Upton Country Park
Main Interest: Birds |
Saturday 19th March
Wareham Forest Early Birds
This is often the best month to look for the two heathland specialities. Both Woodlark and Dartford Warbler breed here and this is a good time of the year to catch them in full song. The forest provides some excellent walking and we should pick up a range of other birds that usually include Raven and Crossbill, and we may hear our first chiffchaff of the year. Occasionally, Great Grey Shrike over winter.
Time: 10am – 2pm [4hr]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Sherford Bridge
Main Interest: Birds |
| April 2011 |
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Wednesday 6th April
Around Weymouth & Portland
From the middle of March, Dorset’s first migrants start to appear - early species include Sandwich Tern, Sand Martin, Swallow and Wheatear. Portland is often the first stopping off point on their journey north and we’ll spend time around the island looking for them. With increased seabird activity off The Bill there may be a chance of a Puffin or two amongst the auks. Moving off Portland we’ll check out the harbour for late ducks, divers and grebes before moving on to Radipole Lake and Lodmoor. This is also a good time to catch up with the elusive Cetti’s Warbler, usually heard but less often seen, and Bearded Tit.
Time: 10am – 4pm [6hr]
Cost: £18.00
Meet: Portland Bill
Main Interest: Birds |
Thursday 28th April – Thursday 5th May 2011
LESVOS, GREECE
Lesvos holds several south-eastern European specialities including Krüper's & Western Rock Nuthatches, Sombre Tit, Olive-tree Warbler, Masked Shrike, Cretzschmar's and Cinereous Buntings. Many other southern European species also occur including European Bee-eater, European Roller, Hoopoe and Eastern Olivaceous and Great Reed-warblers. Lesvos is also an excellent migration spot and many passing migrants move through the island including the occasional rarity or two. The tour is based at one of the best hotels on the island, which is conveniently situated in Skala Kallonis and has excellent birding sites nearby.
This trip is run by Birdfinders.
Please contact us for further details or check out the Birdfinders website: www.birdfinders.co.uk
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| May 2011 |
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Monday 9th May - Monday 16th May 2011
SPAIN: COTO DOÑANA & EXTREMADURA
This spring tour to Spain covers two of the finest birdwatching sites in mainland Europe. These hold several specialities that either can be found nowhere else in Europe or are difficult elsewhere including Crested Coot, White-headed Duck, Great and Little Bustards, Spanish Eagle and Red-necked Nightjar. This trip is suitable both for those on a first birdwatching holiday to continental Europe and for those wishing to catch up with the specialities of the region.
This trip is run by Birdfinders.
Please contact us for further details or check out the Birdfinders website: www.birdfinders.co.uk
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Saturday 21st May
Puffins & Passage on the Purbeck Coast A few pairs of the colourful Puffin breed on the cliffs at Dancing Ledge. We’ll put in some time here to look for them (and for the other auks) coming in to the cliffs before we continue along the coastal path towards Seacombe and Winspit. As well as for local birds, these valleys are great areas to search for newly arrived migrants which are often tucked in amongst the sheltered scrub. Amongst others, Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Whinchat and a selection of warblers are possible.
Time: 10am – 2pm [4hr]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Langton Matravers
Main Interest: Birds |
| June 2011 |
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Wednesday 8th June
Northern Chalk: Birds & Butterflies of Woods & Downs
We will visit a number of sites on the county boundary in the Sixpenny Handley area of north Dorset. In the woodlands the birds are more readily heard than seen so we will have a chance to get to grips with a variety of bird song. Although both Turtle Dove and Nightingale have declined in Dorset over years they are still found in this area along with a good mixture of warblers. As well as the birds we’ll concentrate on the butterflies of the chalk grassland and woodland rides where possibilities include a variety of blues, fritillaries and White Admiral.
Time: 10am – 4pm [6hr]
Cost: £18.00
Meet: Martin Down
Main Interest: Birds, Butterflies |
Saturday 18th June
The Dragons & Damsels of Dorset’s heathland
Some of the UK’s best dragonfly watching is to be found on the Dorset heathlands. Old flooded clay workings and ponds on the heaths usually hold a good mixture of “Odos” from the large Emperor and hawkers to a variety of the diminutive damselflies. We will also look out for heathland birds and flora.
Time: 10am – 12.30pm [2.5 hr]
Cost: £8.00
Meet: Stoborough/Creech
Main Interest: Dragonflies |
Tuesday 28th June
In Search of Nightjars
A Dorset experience not to miss is a dusk visit to one of the county’s heathlands to listen for (and hopefully see) the enigmatic ‘goatsucker’. Our walk will start at 7.30pm to give us time to look for other birds, such as Dartford Warbler, Hobby and Stonechat on Morden Bog, before the Nightjars become active as dusk draws in. We should finish at around 10.15-10.30pm.
Time: evening 7.30pm – 10.15 pm [2.5+ hr]
Cost: £8.00
Meet: Sherford Bridge
Main Interest: Birds |
