Birds to See in Dorset in August
166 bird species on our list for Dorset are recorded regularly in August
Of these, the most often recorded are Woodpigeon, European Herring Gull, Carrion Crow, Black-headed Gull and European Robin. New this month: Eurasian Wigeon, Common Snipe, Whinchat and Grey Plover and 15 more.
On the move in August
GBIF · AugArriving
At their peak
From Dorset’s bird records, 2019–2024: arriving birds are regular this month but not last; leaving birds are regular this month but not next.
Other months
All 166 birds in August
166 birds
WoodpigeonColumba palumbusResidentCommon40–42 cmRecorded all year · 3.60% in Aug
European Herring GullLarus argentatusResidentCommon55–67 cmRecorded all year · 3.09% in Aug
Carrion CrowCorvus coroneResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 2.99% in Aug
Black-headed GullChroicocephalus ridibundusResidentCommon38–44 cmRecorded all year · 2.62% in Aug
European RobinErithacus rubeculaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 2.18% in Aug
Little EgretEgretta garzettaResidentCommon55–65 cmRecorded all year · 2.17% in Aug
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 2.09% in Aug
Great CormorantPhalacrocorax carboResidentCommon80–100 cmRecorded all year · 2.01% in Aug
European GoldfinchCarduelis carduelisResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 1.90% in Aug
MallardAnas platyrhynchosResidentCommon50–65 cmRecorded all year · 1.83% in Aug
Blue TitCyanistes caeruleusResidentCommon11–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.81% in Aug
Common StarlingSturnus vulgarisResidentCommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Aug
ChiffchaffPhylloscopus collybitaSummer visitorCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Aug
MagpiePica picaResidentCommon44–46 cmRecorded all year · 1.72% in Aug
Grey HeronArdea cinereaResidentCommon90–98 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Aug
Eurasian WrenTroglodytes troglodytesResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 1.67% in Aug
BlackbirdTurdus merulaResidentCommon24–25 cmRecorded all year · 1.58% in Aug
Great Black-backed GullLarus marinusResidentCommon64–79 cmRecorded all year · 1.56% in Aug
JackdawColoeus monedulaResidentCommon34–39 cmRecorded all year · 1.42% in Aug
Great TitParus majorResidentCommonRecorded all year · 1.42% in Aug
Eurasian OystercatcherHaematopus ostralegusResidentCommon40–45 cmRecorded all year · 1.41% in Aug
Black-tailed GodwitLimosa limosaResidentCommon40–44 cmRecorded all year · 1.39% in Aug
Lesser Black-backed GullLarus fuscusResidentCommon52–64 cmRecorded all year · 1.31% in Aug
BuzzardButeo buteoResidentCommon51–57 cmRecorded all year · 1.29% in Aug
Mute SwanCygnus olorResidentCommon140–160 cmRecorded all year · 1.28% in Aug
House SparrowPasser domesticusResidentCommon14–17 cmRecorded all year · 1.22% in Aug
RedshankTringa totanusResidentCommon27–29 cmRecorded all year · 1.16% in Aug
Canada GooseBranta canadensisResidentCommon76–110 cmRecorded all year · 1.15% in Aug
House MartinDelichon urbicumSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 1.09% in Aug
Willow WarblerPhylloscopus trochilusSummer visitorCommon11–13 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 1.08% in Aug
CurlewNumenius arquataResidentCommon50–60 cmRecorded all year · 1.06% in Aug
LinnetLinaria cannabinaResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 1.04% in Aug
Sandwich TernThalasseus sandvicensisSummer visitorCommon36–41 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 1.03% in Aug
Pied WagtailMotacilla albaResidentCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 1.03% in Aug
ChaffinchFringilla coelebsResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.94% in Aug
StonechatSaxicola rubicolaResidentCommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Aug
OspreyPandion haliaetusSummer visitorCommon54–58 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.93% in Aug
GreenfinchChloris chlorisResidentCommon15–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.93% in Aug
Rock DoveColumba liviaResidentCommon29–37 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Aug
Common RavenCorvus coraxResidentCommon54–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Aug
KestrelFalco tinnunculusResidentCommon32–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.91% in Aug
DunlinCalidris alpinaResidentCommon16–22 cmRecorded all year · 0.90% in Aug
Long-tailed TitAegithalos caudatusResidentCommon13–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.89% in Aug
GreenshankTringa nebulariaWinter visitorCommon30–35 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.86% in Aug
DunnockPrunella modularisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Aug
Northern LapwingVanellus vanellusResidentCommon28–31 cmRecorded all year · 0.86% in Aug
Stock DoveColumba oenasResidentCommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Aug
MoorhenGallinula chloropusResidentCommon30–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.83% in Aug
Common SandpiperActitis hypoleucosSummer visitorCommon18–20 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.79% in Aug
BlackcapSylvia atricapillaSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.76% in Aug
Great Spotted WoodpeckerDendrocopos majorResidentCommon23–26 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Aug
Coal TitPeriparus aterResidentCommon10–12 cmRecorded all year · 0.74% in Aug
Common TernSterna hirundoSummer visitorCommon31–35 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.71% in Aug
Ringed PloverCharadrius hiaticulaSummer visitorCommon17–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.71% in Aug
Common ShelduckTadorna tadornaResidentCommon58–67 cmRecorded all year · 0.70% in Aug
Sand MartinRiparia ripariaSummer visitorCommon12–14 cmRegularly Mar–Sep · 0.70% in Aug
Common Reed-warblerAcrocephalus scirpaceusSummer visitorCommon13–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.68% in Aug
Eurasian TealAnas creccaWinter visitorCommon34–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.65% in Aug
SparrowhawkAccipiter nisusResidentCommon28–38 cmRecorded all year · 0.64% in Aug
WhitethroatCurruca communisSummer visitorCommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.64% in Aug
WheatearOenanthe oenantheSummer visitorCommon15–16 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.64% in Aug
Eurasian Collared DoveStreptopelia decaoctoResidentCommon30–32 cmRecorded all year · 0.63% in Aug
Eurasian NuthatchSitta europaeaResidentCommon12–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Aug
CootFulica atraResidentCommon36–42 cmRecorded all year · 0.57% in Aug
Green SandpiperTringa ochropusWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.57% in Aug
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusPassage migrantCommon40–46 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.55% in Aug
RookCorvus frugilegusResidentCommon45–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.54% in Aug
Common KingfisherAlcedo atthisWinter visitorCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.53% in Aug
Mediterranean GullIchthyaetus melanocephalusResidentCommon37–40 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Aug
Eurasian JayGarrulus glandariusResidentCommon32–35 cmRecorded all year · 0.49% in Aug
Western Marsh-harrierCircus aeruginosusResidentCommon48–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Aug
European Green WoodpeckerPicus viridisResidentUncommon30–36 cmRecorded all year · 0.44% in Aug
Great Crested GrebePodiceps cristatusResidentCommon46–51 cmRecorded all year · 0.43% in Aug
Sedge WarblerAcrocephalus schoenobaenusSummer visitorUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.43% in Aug
Common SwiftApus apusSummer visitorCommon16–17 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.42% in Aug
Reed BuntingEmberiza schoeniclusResidentCommon14–16 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Aug
Common PheasantPhasianus colchicusResidentCommon50–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.42% in Aug
Spotted FlycatcherMuscicapa striataSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.41% in Aug
Peregrine FalconFalco peregrinusResidentUncommon34–58 cmRecorded all year · 0.41% in Aug
BullfinchPyrrhula pyrrhulaResidentCommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Aug
Cetti's WarblerCettia cettiResidentCommon13–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.40% in Aug
GoldcrestRegulus regulusResidentCommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.37% in Aug
Eurasian SpoonbillPlatalea leucorodiaResidentUncommon80–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Aug
Meadow PipitAnthus pratensisResidentCommon14–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.36% in Aug
GadwallMareca streperaResidentCommon46–56 cmRecorded all year · 0.35% in Aug
Water RailRallus aquaticusWinter visitorUncommon23–28 cmRecorded all year · 0.34% in Aug
Yellow WagtailMotacilla flavaPassage migrantCommon15–17 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.33% in Aug
European ShagGulosus aristotelisResidentCommon65–80 cmRecorded all year · 0.31% in Aug
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresWinter visitorCommon21–24 cmRecorded all year · 0.30% in Aug
HobbyFalco subbuteoSummer visitorUncommon28–35 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.29% in Aug
Northern GannetMorus bassanusResidentUncommon87–100 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
Song ThrushTurdus philomelosResidentCommon20–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.28% in Aug
Eurasian SiskinSpinus spinusResidentCommon11–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.26% in Aug
White-tailed Sea-eagleHaliaeetus albicillaResidentUncommon66–94 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Aug
Rock PipitAnthus petrosusResidentCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.25% in Aug
AvocetRecurvirostra avosettaWinter visitorCommon42–45 cmRecorded all year · 0.24% in Aug
Grey WagtailMotacilla cinereaWinter visitorCommon17–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Great White EgretArdea albaResidentUncommon80–104 cmRecorded all year · 0.23% in Aug
Tree PipitAnthus trivialisSummer visitorUncommon14–16 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.23% in Aug
TreecreeperCerthia familiarisResidentUncommon12–14 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Tufted DuckAythya fuligulaResidentCommon40–47 cmRecorded all year · 0.22% in Aug
Common SnipeGallinago gallinagoWinter visitorCommon25–27 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.22% in Aug
Greylag GooseAnser anserResidentUncommon75–90 cmRecorded all year · 0.20% in Aug
Little GrebeTachybaptus ruficollisResidentCommon23–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
Common GullLarus canusWinter visitorCommon40–46 cmRecorded all year · 0.19% in Aug
Spotted RedshankTringa erythropusWinter visitorUncommon29–31 cmRegularly Jun–Apr · 0.18% in Aug
SanderlingCalidris albaResidentUncommon18–20 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
WhinchatSaxicola rubetraPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.17% in Aug
YellowhammerEmberiza citrinellaResidentCommon16–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.17% in Aug
Grasshopper WarblerLocustella naeviaPassage migrantUncommon12–13 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.16% in Aug
Northern ShovelerSpatula clypeataWinter visitorCommon44–51 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Aug
Red KnotCalidris canutusWinter visitorUncommon23–26 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.16% in Aug
Egyptian GooseAlopochen aegyptiacaResidentUncommon63–73 cmRecorded all year · 0.16% in Aug
FulmarFulmarus glacialisResidentUncommon45–50 cmRegularly Nov–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Common RedstartPhoenicurus phoenicurusSummer visitorUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.16% in Aug
Eurasian SkylarkAlauda arvensisSummer visitorCommon16–18 cmRecorded all year · 0.15% in Aug
Yellow-legged GullLarus michahellisSummer visitorUncommon52–68 cmRegularly Apr–Feb · 0.14% in Aug
Garden WarblerSylvia borinSummer visitorUncommon14–15 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.14% in Aug
Tawny OwlStrix alucoResidentUncommon37–43 cmRecorded all year · 0.13% in Aug
European Pied FlycatcherFicedula hypoleucaPassage migrantUncommon12–14 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.11% in Aug
KittiwakeRissa tridactylaSummer visitorUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.11% in Aug
Eurasian WigeonMareca penelopeWinter visitorCommon42–51 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.10% in Aug
Bar-tailed GodwitLimosa lapponicaResidentUncommon37–41 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
Mistle ThrushTurdus viscivorusResidentUncommon26–29 cmRecorded all year · 0.10% in Aug
NightjarCaprimulgus europaeusSummer visitorUncommon24–28 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.10% in Aug
Cattle EgretArdea ibisWinter visitorUncommon46–56 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.09% in Aug
FirecrestRegulus ignicapillaResidentUncommon9–10 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Lesser WhitethroatCurruca currucaSummer visitorUncommon11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Sep · 0.09% in Aug
Bearded TitPanurus biarmicusResidentUncommon13–15 cmRecorded all year · 0.09% in Aug
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaPassage migrantUncommon19–21 cmRegularly May–Sep · 0.08% in Aug
Balearic ShearwaterPuffinus mauretanicusSummer visitorUncommon35–40 cmRegularly May–Oct · 0.08% in Aug
Manx ShearwaterPuffinus puffinusSummer visitorUncommon30–38 cmRegularly Mar–Oct · 0.08% in Aug
Red KiteMilvus milvusResidentUncommon60–66 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
RuffCalidris pugnaxWinter visitorUncommon20–32 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.08% in Aug
Common ScoterMelanitta nigraResidentUncommon43–54 cmRecorded all year · 0.08% in Aug
Marsh TitPoecile palustrisResidentUncommon12–13 cmRecorded all year · 0.07% in Aug
Little OwlAthene noctuaResidentUncommon21–23 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Little Ringed PloverThinornis dubiusSummer visitorUncommon14–17 cmRegularly Mar–Aug · 0.05% in Aug
Little TernSternula albifronsSummer visitorUncommon21–25 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.05% in Aug
Curlew SandpiperCalidris ferrugineaPassage migrantUncommon18–23 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.05% in Aug
Grey PloverPluvialis squatarolaWinter visitorUncommon27–30 cmRegularly Aug–May · 0.05% in Aug
PochardAythya ferinaWinter visitorUncommon42–49 cmRegularly Aug–Jun · 0.05% in Aug
Red-legged PartridgeAlectoris rufaResidentUncommon32–34 cmRecorded all year · 0.05% in Aug
Arctic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusSummer visitorUncommon41–46 cmRegularly Apr–Nov · 0.04% in Aug
Corn BuntingEmberiza calandraResidentUncommon16–19 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Barn OwlTyto albaResidentUncommon33–39 cmRecorded all year · 0.04% in Aug
Black SwanCygnus atratusSummer visitorUncommon110–142 cmRegularly Mar–Jan · 0.03% in Aug
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaPassage migrantRare33–39 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.03% in Aug
Little StintCalidris minutaPassage migrantUncommon13–15 cmRegularly Aug–Oct · 0.03% in Aug
Whooper SwanCygnus cygnusWinter visitorRare140–165 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.03% in Aug
Little GullHydrocoloeus minutusPassage migrantUncommon25–30 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.02% in Aug
Aquatic WarblerAcrocephalus paludicolaPassage migrantRare12–13 cmRegularly Aug · 0.02% in Aug
Grey PartridgePerdix perdixWinter visitorRare28–32 cmRegularly Jul–May · 0.02% in Aug
Black TernChlidonias nigerPassage migrantRare22–26 cmRegularly Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Common QuailCoturnix coturnixSummer visitorUncommon16–18 cmRegularly May–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
WoodlarkLullula arboreaResidentUncommon15–17 cmRecorded all year · 0.01% in Aug
Great SkuaStercorarius skuaPassage migrantRare50–58 cmRegularly Apr–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
Indian PeafowlPavo cristatusResidentRare86–230 cmRegularly Aug · 0.01% in Aug
DipperCinclus cinclusResidentRare17–20 cmRegularly Jan–Oct · 0.01% in Aug
European Storm-petrelHydrobates pelagicusPassage migrantRare14–18 cmRegularly Aug · 0.01% in Aug
Golden PloverPluvialis apricariaWinter visitorUncommon26–29 cmRegularly Aug–Mar · 0.01% in Aug
Mandarin DuckAix galericulataResidentRare41–49 cmRegularly Feb–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
MerlinFalco columbariusWinter visitorUncommon24–33 cmRegularly Aug–Apr · 0.01% in Aug
Wood WarblerPhylloscopus sibilatrixPassage migrantRare11–13 cmRegularly Apr–Aug · 0.01% in Aug
European Honey-buzzardPernis apivorusPassage migrantRare52–60 cmRegularly Aug–Sep · 0.01% in Aug
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