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| March 2010 |
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Saturday 13th
10am – 2pm [4hr]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Sherford Bridge
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
Wareham Forest Early Birds
This is often the best month to look for Woodlark as they begin their courtship flights and Dartford Warbler will be singing on fine days. The forest provides some excellent walking and a range of other birds that may include Raven, Crossbill and, occasionally, over wintering Great Grey Shrike. |
Wednesday 24th
10am – 4pm [6hr]
Cost: £18.00
Meet: Radipole Lake
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
Urban Birding in Weymouth
We will cover the same sites as the November walk but the birds will be changing. This is a good time to catch some of the birds that have over wintered before they leave while Weymouth usually turns up some of the first early summer visitors arriving in Dorset. These may include Wheatear, Sand Martin, Swallow and Sandwich Tern. This is a good time to catch up with the elusive Cetti’s Warbler usually heard but less often seen. |
| April 2010 |
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Saturday 10th
10am – 2pm [4hr]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Kingcombe
Main Interest: Birds, Butterflies |
WALK |
Bird Song of Kingcombe Meadows & Powerstock Common
These two Dorset Wildlife Trust reserves will provide us with a variety of bird song. The year’s first Cuckoo may have just arrived and other summer visitors, including a selection of warblers, will be joining the local birds as they set up their breeding territories. As well as the birds, both sites are also well known for their variety of butterflies and we will look for some of the earlier species that are on the wing. |
| Thursday 15th |
TALK |
Japan: Birding in the Land of the Rising Sun
Corfe Mullen Horticultural Society |
Wednesday 21st
10am – 2pm [4hr]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Langton Matravers
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
Puffins & Passage on the Purbeck Coast
A few pairs of the colourful Puffin breed on the cliffs at Dancing Ledge. We’ll put in time here to look for them (and for the other auks) coming in to the cliffs before continuing along the coast towards Seacombe and Winspit. These valleys are great areas to search for newly arrived migrants and local birds tucked in amongst the sheltered scrub. Amongst others, Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Whinchat and a selection of warblers are possible. |
| May 2010 |
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Saturday 8th
10am – 4pm [6hr]
Cost: £18.00
Meet: Portland Bill
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
Portland Spring Migrants
Dorset in the spring can turn up the expected and the unexpected and the place to be is usually Portland. Many of common migrants arriving on Dorset’s shores will come through the island and at this spring migration time unexpected species turn up as they overshoot the continent. “The Bill” is as good a place as any to start but depending on what species are about on the day we will move around the island to catch up with as many of them as we can. We’ll spend some time sea watching looking for passing skuas, shearwaters, terns, Gannet and auks (inc. Puffin). |
Wednesday 19th
10am – 2pm [4hr]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Sherford Bridge
Main Interest: Birds, Butterflies, Dragonflies |
WALK |
Wareham Forest: Bird Song & Winged Insects
With the breeding season well underway we will see what the forest has to offer. The birds will be in full song so there will be an opportunity to get to grips some of these. The heathland holds breeding Dartford Warbler, Stonechat, Tree Pipit, Woodlark and there is always the possibly of Hobby in the area. This is one of the few Dorset sites for breeding Redstart and we will find a good selection of common woodland birds. We will also have a chance to see a variety of early butterflies and dragonflies are starting to emerge on the heathland ponds. |
| June 2010 |
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Wednesday 9th
10am – 4pm [6hr]
Cost: £18.00
Meet: Martin Down
Main Interest: Birds, Butterflies |
WALK |
The 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. |
Tuesday 15th [evening]
7.30pm – 10.15 pm [2.5+hr]
Cost: £8.00
Meet: Hartland Moor
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
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, before the Nightjars become active as dusk draws in. We should finish at around 10.15-10.30pm. |
Saturday 26th
10am – 12.30pm [2.5 hr]
Cost: £8.00
Meet: Stoborough/Creech
Main Interest: Dragonflies |
WALK |
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.
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| July 2010 |
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| Wednesday 14th |
WALK |
In Search of Nightjars (Wareham Forest) 7.30-10.30pm
East Dorset Heritage Trust www.edht.org.uk |
| Tuesday 27th |
TALK |
Japan: Birding in the Land of the Rising Sun
Bournemouth Natural Science Society |
| August 2010 |
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Friday 20th to
Sunday 22nd |
EVENT |
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 |
EVENT |
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 |
Archived dates
Our next programme of walks will run Sept 2010-June 2011.
The walks from our current programme are listed below as examples of the type of walks we may run in the future. |
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| September 2009 |
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Wednesday 16th
10am – 4pm [6hr]
Cost: £18.00
Meet: Studland
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
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. |
Saturday 26th
10am – 2pm [4hr]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Durlston Country Park
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
Peregrines & Passage at Durlston Country Park
More coastal migration, this time at this new National Nature Reserve near Swanage. With a chance of a good fall of migrants we’ll spend time searching the valleys and bushes for them. Peregrine are regular here and a few seabirds may be lingering offshore. |
| October 2009 |
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Saturday 10th
10am – 4pm [6hr]
Cost: £18.00
Meet: Portland
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
Portland Autumn Migrants
Dorset in the autumn can turn up the expected and the unexpected and the place to be is usually Portland. Many of common migrants leaving Dorset’s shores will pass through the island while winter visitors start to arrive. “The Bill” is as good a place as any to start but depending on what species are about on the day we will move around the island to catch up with as many of them as we can. A sea watch can also be very productive. |
Wednesday 21st
8am – 4.30pm [8.5 hr]
Cost: £25.00
Meet: Wareham
Main Interest: Birds
Max. 6 places |
WALK |
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 Purbeck. 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 actual route on the day will depend on a number of variables such as weather, tides and what birds are in the area. Amongst other places, our search may take us Arne, Middlebere, Studland, Durlston and Swineham. We should comfortably pick up 80+ species but 100+ is not impossible. Free transport is provided in a 7-seat vehicle/drinks included. |
| November 2009 |
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Wednesday 11th
10am – 2pm [4hr]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Upton Country Park
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
In Search of Waders:
Poole Harbour’s northern 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. |
Saturday 21st
10am – 4pm [6hr]
Cost: £18.00
Meet: Radipole Lake
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
Urban Birding in Weymouth
Despite its urban environment, Weymouth provides some excellent birding. We will spend the day visiting a number of sites in and around the town taking in a variety of habitats including the sea, reed beds, grazing marsh and woodland. Sites will include Radipole for ducks and 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.
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| December 2009 |
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Wednesday 2nd
10am – 2pm [4hrs]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Wareham
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
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. |
Saturday 19th
10am – 2pm [4hrs]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Maiden Castle
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
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 Thorncombe Wood where we may be rewarded with a sighting of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker amongst the mixture of woodland birds. |
| January 2010 |
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Saturday 16th
8am – 4.30pm [8.5 hr]
Cost: £25.00
Meet: Wareham
Main Interest: Birds
Max. 6 places |
WALK |
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 Purbeck. 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 actual route on the day will depend on a number of variables such as weather, tides and what birds are in the area. Amongst other places, our search may take us Arne, Middlebere, Studland, Durlston and Swineham. We should comfortably pick up 80+ species but 100+ is not impossible. Free transport is provided in a 7-seat vehicle/drinks included. |
Wednesday 27th
10am – 4pm [6hr]
Cost: £18.00
Meet: Ferrybridge
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
Wintering Waders & Wildfowl of The Fleet
The Fleet stretches over 10 miles from Portland to Abbotsbury. We will start at Ferrybridge and head north stopping at various locations, ending near Abbotsbury, with a combination of short walks and viewing from the roads. A search amongst the Brent Geese may produce pale-bellied and Brant individuals and other wildfowl are usually well represented. A selection of waders should be picked up along the way. This is an excellent site for Mediterranean Gulls. |
February 2010 |
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Wednesday 10th
10am – 2pm [4hr]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Stanpit Marsh
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
The Marsh & Mudflats of Christchurch Harbour
In comparison to Poole Harbour, Christchurch is much more compact and we’ll spend time on the two nature reserves at Stanpit Marsh and Hengistbury Head. At this time of year there should be a god selection of regular birds using the harbour to get to grips with but there is always with the possibility of something a little more unusual being around. |
Saturday 20th
10am – 2pm [4hr]
Cost: £12.00
Meet: Studland
Main Interest: Birds |
WALK |
Studland Divers, Grebes, Ducks, Waders .......& Parakeets!
A visit to Studland in the winter has some of Dorset’s best birding. It is possible to find five species of grebes here as well as a good mixture of ducks, waders and maybe a diver or two. We’ll check out the gulls on the beaches where we should find Mediterranean Gulls amongst them. If we are lucky, a search through any flocks of small birds we come across may produce over wintering Firecrest or Chiffchaff. |
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