The Dorset Birding and Wildlife Experience - Avocet/Black-tailed Godwit flock -  Autumn/winter high water roosts on Brownsea Island can hold up to 1500-2000 individuals of both Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit.  October is a good month to see these and other species of waders before the island close for the season.  Special trips are organised during the winter months. Photography by Neil Gartshore.

Our Events Programme

 

Our Themed Birding and Wildlife Walks.                    brochure/terms & conditions/booking info

These types of walks are also available to groups. 

 

Other Walks and Tours.  Bookings for these walks/tours should be made through the walk/tour organiser but contact us if you would like more information.

 

Illustrated Wildlife Talks. These are requested from a variety of groups, non-members are usually welcome.  Contact us for further details.

 

We will be exhibiting at these events with 'Calluna Books', our natural history book business.

Information about the DBWE will be available.

 
March 2010    

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    

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    

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    

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.

 

July 2010    
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    

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.

 
September 2009    

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    

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    

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.

 

December 2009    

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    

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
   

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.

     
The Dorset Birding and Wildlife Experience - Arne from Rempstone.  Photography by Neil Gartshore
The Dorset Birding and Wildlife Experience - Marsh tit - Unlike the Willow Tit, the Marsh Tit is still fairly common in many parts of the county. Photography by Neil Gartshore.
The Dorset Birding and Wildlife Experience - Spoonbill - An unprecedented flock of 27 birds were around Poole harbour in late 2007.  Birds may be recorded throughout the year, but more regularly in the winter, usually in ones and twos. Photography by Neil Gartshore.
The Dorset Birding and Wildlife Experience - The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a common woodland species found throughout the county, its smaller relation, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is more localised, whilst the Green Woodpecker is more widespread.  Wryneck turns up regularly on passage, mainly in the autumn. Photography by Neil Gartshore.
Spotted Redshank - small numbers overwinter in Poole Harbour.  Photography by Neil gartshore

 

 

Arne from Rempstone/ Marsh Tit

Spoonbills / Great Spotted Woodpecker

Portland Bird Obs / Spotted Redshank

Mediterranean Gull /Little Owl

all photographs © N.Gartshore