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Records 2019–2024 · GBIF

Birds in Dorset

Our list for Dorset has 226 bird species recorded regularly there: 99 residents, 34 summer visitors, 45 winter visitors, 44 passage migrants and 3 scarce visitors

The list comes from 732,000 birdwatchers' records from 2019–2024, shared through the eBird Observation Dataset on GBIF. A bird is listed when it was recorded in at least 3 of the 6 years and has a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur here than are listed; the months show when it is recorded most years.

Species on our list
226
In October
167
Common
102
Busiest month
Apr

What's special about Dorset

vs England

The birds recorded far more often here than across England, as a share of all bird records. These are the ones Dorset is worth visiting for.

  1. White-tailed Sea-eagleWhite-tailed Sea-eagle12×Resident · 0.13% of records here, 0.01% across England
  2. OspreyOsprey6.0×Summer visitor · 0.20% of records here, 0.03% across England
  3. Red-breasted MerganserRed-breasted Merganser5.2×Winter visitor · 0.32% of records here, 0.06% across England
  4. Black-necked GrebeBlack-necked Grebe5.1×Winter visitor · 0.10% of records here, 0.02% across England
  5. NightjarNightjar4.7×Summer visitor · 0.07% of records here, 0.01% across England
  6. European ShagEuropean Shag4.0×Resident · 0.41% of records here, 0.10% across England
  7. Common LoonCommon Loon4.0×Winter visitor · 0.17% of records here, 0.04% across England
  8. Mediterranean GullMediterranean Gull3.7×Resident · 0.69% of records here, 0.19% across England

This month: October

GBIF · Oct

Most likely

  1. Carrion CrowCarrion Crow2.96%
  2. WoodpigeonWoodpigeon2.87%
  3. European RobinEuropean Robin2.82%
  4. European Herring GullEuropean Herring Gull2.54%
  5. MagpieMagpie2.28%
  6. Black-headed GullBlack-headed Gull2.17%

Arriving now

  1. RedwingRedwingWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.52%
  2. FieldfareFieldfareWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.11%
  3. Ring OuzelRing OuzelPassage migrantSep 0.00% → Oct 0.11%
  4. Yellow-browed WarblerYellow-browed WarblerPassage migrantSep 0.00% → Oct 0.10%
  5. Hen HarrierHen HarrierPassage migrantSep 0.00% → Oct 0.09%
  6. Red-breasted MerganserRed-breasted MerganserWinter visitorSep 0.00% → Oct 0.09%

Share of all bird records in Dorset in October, 2019–2024. “Arriving now” are the birds whose share rises most from last month. Each month links to that month’s page.

Near you this week

The birds most likely around your town or postcode right now, from the same records, for a square about 9 km across.

The bird calendar for Dorset

Month by month

When each bird is around, through the year. The darker the square, the closer that month is to the bird’s busiest. Filter by summer or winter visitors to see the seasons turn over.

The year in Dorset

Records by month
Bird records in Dorset by month, 2019–2024
January68,510
February50,577
March60,315
April87,023
May74,268
June48,763
July48,132
August60,711
September64,206
October65,665
November56,196
December47,277

April has the most records (87,000). Records follow birdwatchers as well as birds: a busy month means more people out looking, as well as more birds passing through.

By family

12 of 33
All 33 families in Dorset

How common

More of England

All of England

All 226 birds, A to Z

Show all 226 birds

Questions

4

What birds is Dorset known for?

Compared with the rest of England, Dorset stands out for White-tailed Sea-eagle, Osprey, Red-breasted Merganser and Black-necked Grebe. Each is recorded at least 5.1 times as often here as across England, as a share of all bird records (2019–2024).

How many birds are on Birdfact's list for Dorset?

226 species, each recorded regularly in Dorset (in at least 3 of the 6 years 2019–2024): 99 residents, 34 summer visitors, 45 winter visitors, 44 passage migrants and 3 scarce visitors. The list includes only birds with a Birdfact species guide, so more species occur in Dorset, and rarer vagrants are not listed.

What birds can I see in Dorset in October?

167 species on our list for Dorset are recorded regularly in October. Of these, the most often recorded are Carrion Crow, Woodpigeon, European Robin, European Herring Gull and Magpie.

What are the most common birds in Dorset?

Of the birds on our list, the ones birdwatchers record most often in Dorset are Woodpigeon, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, European Herring Gull and European Robin.

Data: EOD – eBird Observation Dataset (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), accessed via GBIF.org, CC BY 4.0. Records from 2019–2024, aggregated and filtered by Birdfact. How these lists are made

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