Birds to See in Dorset in October
149 species matching this filter.
Dorset in October is a rewarding destination for birdwatchers, with around 149 species recorded across its diverse habitats, from the Jurassic Coast cliffs and Poole Harbour's mudflats to the heathlands and ancient woodlands of the interior. Autumn migration brings exciting visitors such as Common Sandpiper, Greenshank and Common Merganser to the county's estuaries and wetlands, while winter thrushes like Fieldfare begin arriving from Scandinavia. Resident favourites including Barn Owl, Great Tit and Magpie remain active, and flocks of Common Starling and Linnet gather in impressive numbers as the season progresses.
New in October14
Leaving after last month21
Resident
(117)
Arctic Jaeger
Stercorarius parasiticusLC
A rare but regular sight from Dorset's headlands during seawatching, harassing terns and gulls on passage.
Apr–Oct
Avocet
Recurvirostra avosettaLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, breeding at Brownsea Island lagoon and wintering in Poole Harbour's sheltered mudflats.
Year-round
Balearic Shearwater
Puffinus mauretanicusCR
Critically endangered globally, this rare shearwater is seen offshore from Portland Bill between June and October. Dorset is a key UK site.
Jun–Oct
Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa lapponicaNT
An uncommon year-round presence, probing sandy shores and harbour mudflats with its distinctive upturned bill.
Year-round
Barn Owl
Tyto albaLC
A rare but resident owl of Dorset's farmland and grasslands, hunting at dusk over fields and along hedgerows. Best seen at dawn and dusk.
Jun–Apr
Bearded Tit
Panurus biarmicusLC
A rare resident of Dorset's reedbeds, notably at Arne and Radipole Lake. Often heard pinging from dense reeds before being glimpsed.
Year-round
Black-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosaNT
A common resident, with Poole Harbour and the Exe estuary fringes hosting important flocks throughout the year.
Year-round
Blackbird
Turdus merulaLC
An abundant resident found in virtually every Dorset habitat from gardens to woodland. Numbers swell in autumn with Continental migrants.
Year-round
Blackcap
Sylvia atricapillaLC
A common year-round resident in Dorset's woods and gardens. Summer breeders are bolstered by wintering birds from central Europe.
Year-round
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleusLC
A common year-round resident, readily visiting garden feeders across Dorset. Thrives in woodland, hedgerows and parks throughout the county.
Year-round
Brent Goose
Branta berniclaLC
An uncommon resident favouring Poole Harbour's sheltered mudflats and eelgrass beds. Numbers peak in winter with dark-bellied birds from Siberia.
Aug–May
Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhulaLC
An uncommon but year-round resident of Dorset's hedgerows and scrubby woodland edges, often heard before seen.
Year-round
Buzzard
Buteo buteoLC
A common resident soaring over Dorset's farmland, downs, and woodland edges year-round. One of the county's most frequently seen raptors.
Year-round
Canada Goose
Branta canadensisLC
A common resident found year-round on lakes, rivers and parkland throughout the county. Often seen in large flocks on Poole Harbour margins.
Year-round
Carrion Crow
Corvus coroneLC
An abundant and adaptable resident found across all Dorset habitats, from town centres to remote coastline. Intelligent and resourceful.
Year-round
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibisLC
A rare but increasingly established resident, often seen among livestock on Dorset's pastures as the species colonises southern England.
Jul–May
Cetti's Warbler
Cettia cettiLC
An uncommon but increasing resident of Dorset's reedbeds and dense waterside scrub. More often heard than seen, with an explosive burst of song.
Year-round
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebsLC
A common resident found in woodlands, hedgerows and gardens throughout Dorset, with numbers boosted by continental birds in winter.
Year-round
Chiffchaff
Phylloscopus collybitaLC
A common year-round resident in Dorset's woods, parks and gardens. Its repetitive two-note song is one of the earliest heard each spring.
Year-round
Coal Tit
Periparus aterLC
A year-round resident favouring Dorset's coniferous and mixed woodlands. Regularly visits garden feeders, especially in winter months.
Year-round
Common Gull
Larus canusLC
An uncommon resident found year-round on playing fields, farmland, and coastal areas. Numbers increase in winter with Continental arrivals.
Year-round
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthisLC
Found year-round along Dorset's rivers, streams and sheltered harbours. A flash of electric blue darting low over water is often the first sign.
Year-round
Common Pheasant
Phasianus colchicusLC
A common resident across Dorset's farmland, woodland edges and hedgerows, widely released for shooting throughout the county.
Year-round
Common Raven
Corvus coraxLC
Now a common resident, having recovered strongly in Dorset. Often seen soaring over the Jurassic Coast cliffs with deep, cronking calls.
Year-round
Common Sandpiper
Actitis hypoleucosLC
An uncommon resident, bobbing along Dorset's rivers, reservoirs and harbour edges throughout much of the year.
Jan–Nov
Common Scoter
Melanitta nigraLC
Scarce year-round off the Dorset coast, often seen as distant dark rafts on the sea from Portland Bill and Durlston.
Year-round
Common Shelduck
Tadorna tadornaLC
A common resident of estuaries and coastal mudflats, especially Poole Harbour and the Fleet. Numbers increase in winter with continental arrivals.
Year-round
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgarisLC
A common resident, with numbers boosted in winter by Continental arrivals. Spectacular murmurations form at roost sites across the county.
Year-round
Coot
Fulica atraLC
An uncommon resident on Dorset's larger lakes and reservoirs, with flocks building at sites like Poole Park in winter.
Year-round
Corn Bunting
Emberiza calandraLC
A rare and declining resident of open arable farmland, with Dorset holding some of southern England's last strongholds.
Year-round
Curlew
Numenius arquataNT
A common resident of Poole Harbour's mudflats and Dorset's coastal marshes, with numbers boosted by wintering birds.
Year-round
Dartford Warbler
Curruca undataNT
An uncommon but iconic resident of Dorset's heathlands, notably Arne and Studland. One of the UK's key strongholds for this scarce warbler.
Year-round
Dunlin
Calidris alpinaLC
An uncommon resident of Poole Harbour's mudflats and estuaries, with winter flocks larger than summer numbers.
Year-round
Dunnock
Prunella modularisLC
A common and unobtrusive resident of hedgerows and garden shrubberies across Dorset, shuffling along the ground with a distinctive thin, high-pitched song.
Year-round
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiacaLC
An uncommon but increasing resident found year-round near lakes and rivers. This naturalised species breeds in tree holes near water.
Year-round
Eurasian Collared Dove
Streptopelia decaoctoLC
An uncommon resident found in gardens, farmyards and villages across Dorset, its monotonous cooing a familiar suburban sound.
Year-round
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandariusLC
A year-round resident of Dorset's broadleaved woodlands and larger gardens. Its harsh screaming call often betrays its presence.
Year-round
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaeaLC
An uncommon resident of mature deciduous woodland, often heard calling loudly in Dorset's oak woods before being seen creeping head-first down tree trunks.
Year-round
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegusNT
A common resident along Dorset's coastline, its piping call a familiar sound on shingle beaches and harbour mudflats year-round.
Year-round
Eurasian Siskin
Spinus spinusLC
An uncommon resident, most conspicuous in winter when flocks visit alder trees and garden feeders across Dorset.
Year-round
Eurasian Skylark
Alauda arvensisLC
Present year-round on Dorset's farmland and chalk downlands, though declining. Its hovering song flight is a feature of open landscapes.
Year-round
Eurasian Spoonbill
Platalea leucorodiaLC
Increasingly present year-round in Dorset, regularly seen at Arne, Brownsea Island, and Poole Harbour. Part of a growing UK population.
Year-round
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytesLC
One of Dorset's most abundant birds, delivering a remarkably powerful song from hedgerows, gardens, and undergrowth throughout the year.
Year-round
European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelisLC
A common and colourful resident, readily seen in gardens, meadows and along hedgerows throughout the county.
Year-round
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridisLC
Resident on Dorset's grasslands and woodland edges, often feeding on ants on the ground. Its loud, laughing 'yaffle' call is distinctive.
Year-round
European Herring Gull
Larus argentatusLC
A common and conspicuous resident found throughout Dorset's coast and towns year-round. Breeds on rooftops and sea cliffs alike.
Year-round
European Robin
Erithacus rubeculaLC
One of Dorset's most familiar garden birds, singing year-round. Fiercely territorial despite its friendly appearance around human habitation.
Year-round
European Shag
Phalacrocorax aristotelisLC
Resident along Dorset's rocky coastline, breeding on Jurassic Coast cliffs at sites like Durlston Head. Smaller and sleeker than Cormorant.
Year-round
Firecrest
Regulus ignicapillaLC
An uncommon resident, scarcer than Goldcrest but increasingly established in Dorset's woodlands. Its bold head stripe and bronze shoulders aid identification.
Year-round
Gadwall
Mareca streperaLC
An uncommon year-round resident favouring lakes and marshes with abundant vegetation. Often found at Radipole Lake and other managed wetlands.
Year-round
Goldcrest
Regulus regulusLC
A common year-round resident in Dorset's coniferous and mixed woodlands. Britain's smallest bird, often located by its thin, high-pitched call.
Year-round
Great Black-backed Gull
Larus marinusLC
A common year-round resident and Dorset's largest gull. Frequents harbours, cliffs, and estuaries, often dominating other gull species.
Year-round
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carboLC
Common and widespread across Dorset, found along rivers, lakes, and the coast year-round. Often seen perched with wings outstretched to dry.
Year-round
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatusLC
Resident year-round on Dorset's larger lakes and reservoirs, with elegant courtship displays visible in spring at sites like Radipole Lake.
Year-round
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos majorLC
Present year-round in Dorset's woodlands and mature gardens. Its loud drumming in spring and sharp 'kik' call are familiar sounds.
Year-round
Great Tit
Parus majorLC
Abundant in Dorset's gardens, woodlands and hedgerows year-round. Bold and vocal, often the first to find a newly stocked bird feeder.
Year-round
Great White Egret
Ardea albaLC
An increasingly regular sight at Dorset wetlands year-round, often at Radipole Lake and Lodmoor. Part of a wider UK range expansion.
Year-round
Green Sandpiper
Tringa ochropusLC
An uncommon but year-round presence at freshwater pools and watercress beds, often flushed from ditches.
Jun–Apr
Greenfinch
Chloris chlorisLC
A common resident of gardens and farmland, though numbers have declined sharply in recent years due to disease.
Year-round
Greenshank
Tringa nebulariaLC
An uncommon year-round presence on Dorset's estuaries and harbours, often seen wading elegantly in shallow channels.
Year-round
Grey Heron
Ardea cinereaLC
A common and familiar resident found along Dorset's rivers, lakes, and estuaries throughout the year. Often seen standing motionless at the waterside.
Year-round
Grey Plover
Pluvialis squatarolaLC
An uncommon visitor to Dorset's estuaries and harbours, present most months except midsummer. Poole Harbour is a key site.
Aug–May
Grey Wagtail
Motacilla cinereaLC
An uncommon resident found along Dorset's streams and rivers, bobbing its long tail on waterside rocks. Also visits weirs and mill ponds in winter.
Year-round
Greylag Goose
Anser anserLC
An uncommon resident found year-round on lakes, water meadows and coastal marshes. Feral populations mix with occasional wild migrants in winter.
Year-round
House Sparrow
Passer domesticusLC
A common resident closely tied to human habitation, nesting in roof spaces and hedges in Dorset's towns and villages. Declining nationally but still widespread here.
Year-round
Jackdaw
Corvus monedulaLC
A common and sociable resident, nesting in Dorset's church towers, cliff faces and old buildings. Often seen in noisy flocks with Rooks.
Year-round
Kestrel
Falco tinnunculusLC
A common resident, frequently seen hovering over Dorset's roadside verges, chalk downland and coastal cliffs while hunting for voles.
Year-round
Kittiwake
Rissa tridactylaVU
Present year-round but now rare, reflecting steep national declines. Breeds on Dorset's sea cliffs and is often seen from Portland Bill.
Year-round
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus fuscusLC
A common resident present all year, breeding on rooftops and coastal cliffs. Numbers peak in summer with many birds heading south in winter.
Year-round
Linnet
Linaria cannabinaLC
Common on Dorset's heathlands, coastal scrub and farmland, often forming large flocks on stubble fields in winter.
Year-round
Little Egret
Egretta garzettaLC
A common resident of estuaries, harbours and marshes, now well established across Dorset since colonising in the 1990s.
Year-round
Little Grebe
Tachybaptus ruficollisLC
An uncommon resident found on ponds, lakes, and sheltered waterways year-round. Often heard before seen, giving a distinctive trilling call.
Year-round
Little Gull
Hydrocoloeus minutusLC
A rare but regular visitor to Dorset's harbours and coast, most often seen during spring and autumn passage. Absent in midsummer.
Aug–May
Little Owl
Athene noctuaLC
A scarce year-round resident of Dorset's farmland and parkland, often perching on fence posts. Numbers have declined significantly in recent decades.
Year-round
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatusLC
A common and endearing resident, roaming Dorset's hedgerows and woodlands in noisy family flocks. Its long tail makes it unmistakable.
Year-round
Magpie
Pica picaLC
A common and conspicuous resident throughout Dorset, found in gardens, farmland and hedgerows. Its bold black-and-white plumage is unmistakable.
Year-round
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchosLC
A common and familiar resident found year-round on virtually any freshwater habitat, from town park ponds to coastal marshes and rivers.
Year-round
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
A scarce but faithful resident of Dorset's mature deciduous woodlands. Declining nationally, making the county's populations increasingly important.
Year-round
Meadow Pipit
Anthus pratensisLC
A common resident of Dorset's heathlands, downland, and coastal grassland. Numbers increase in winter as birds move from upland areas to lower ground.
Year-round
Mistle Thrush
Turdus viscivorusLC
An uncommon resident that sings boldly from treetops even in midwinter. Favours parkland, orchards, and open woodland edges across Dorset.
Year-round
Moorhen
Gallinula chloropusLC
A common resident of ponds, streams and wetlands throughout Dorset, often seen picking along muddy margins year-round.
Year-round
Mute Swan
Cygnus olorLC
A common and elegant resident on rivers, lakes and coastal lagoons throughout Dorset. Breeds on the Frome and Stour river systems.
Year-round
Northern Gannet
Morus bassanusLC
Seen year-round offshore, often plunge-diving spectacularly. Portland Bill offers excellent views, with numbers peaking in late summer.
Year-round
Northern Lapwing
Vanellus vanellusNT
An uncommon resident found year-round on Dorset's farmland and wet meadows, though declining nationally as a breeding species.
Year-round
Northern Shoveler
Spatula clypeataLC
An uncommon resident on shallow wetlands and marshes. Numbers increase in winter at sites like Lodmoor and Radipole Lake RSPB reserves.
Year-round
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinusLC
Resident year-round, nesting on Dorset's sea cliffs and occasionally buildings. Often seen hunting over Poole Harbour and the Jurassic Coast.
Year-round
Pochard
Aythya ferinaVU
An uncommon year-round resident on lakes and gravel pits, though nationally declining. Winter numbers are boosted by continental immigrants.
Year-round
Razorbill
Alca tordaLC
An uncommon resident breeding on Dorset's sea cliffs, notably around Durlston and Portland. Present most of the year but scarce in August.
Sep–Jul
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare resident of conifer plantations, with numbers varying greatly between years depending on irruptive movements.
Year-round
Red Kite
Milvus milvusLC
An uncommon but increasing resident, soaring over Dorset's farmland and valleys year-round. Part of the species' ongoing UK recovery.
Year-round
Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
A rare visitor to Poole Harbour's mudflats, present in small numbers mainly outside the summer months.
Aug–May
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
A rare resident of arable farmland and downland, largely sustained by game releases. Found year-round but thinly spread.
Year-round
Redshank
Tringa totanusLC
A common resident of Poole Harbour's saltmarshes and mudflats, its piping calls a familiar sound year-round.
Year-round
Reed Bunting
Emberiza schoeniclusLC
An uncommon resident of reedbeds and wet ditches, found at sites like Radipole Lake and Arne year-round.
Year-round
Ringed Plover
Charadrius hiaticulaLC
An uncommon resident breeding on shingle beaches and wintering on estuarine mudflats, with numbers boosted by autumn migrants.
Year-round
Rock Dove
Columba liviaLC
Common year-round in Dorset's towns and along coastal cliffs, where feral flocks mix with birds of varied plumage.
Year-round
Rock Pipit
Anthus petrosusLC
Resident along Dorset's rocky shores and cliffs, often seen foraging among seaweed at the tideline year-round.
Year-round
Rook
Corvus frugilegusLC
A common resident, forming large rookeries in Dorset's farmland trees. Noisy colonies are a familiar sight across the county's agricultural landscape.
Year-round
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpresLC
An uncommon resident along Dorset's rocky shores and harbour walls, flipping stones to find invertebrates.
Year-round
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
A rare but year-round visitor, scurrying along Dorset's sandy beaches at the tideline in small flocks.
Year-round
Sandwich Tern
Thalasseus sandvicensisLC
An uncommon but year-round presence along the Dorset coast. Often seen plunge-diving in Poole Harbour and around Studland Bay.
Year-round
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelosLC
A common resident heard singing from gardens and hedgerows across the county. Often spotted smashing snail shells on favourite stones.
Year-round
Sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisusLC
An uncommon but widespread resident, hunting small birds in Dorset's woodlands, hedgerows, and gardens with fast, agile dashes.
Year-round
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
A rare but regular visitor to Poole Harbour and Brownsea lagoon, most reliably seen during autumn passage.
Jun–Apr
Stock Dove
Columba oenasLC
An uncommon but widespread resident, nesting in old woodpecker holes in mature trees across Dorset's parkland and farmland.
Year-round
Stonechat
Saxicola torquatusLC
A common resident of Dorset's heathlands and coastal gorse, perching prominently and calling with a sharp 'tsak'. Thrives on Purbeck's heaths year-round.
Year-round
Tawny Owl
Strix alucoLC
A resident of Dorset's mature woodlands, heard more often than seen. Its familiar hooting call carries through the county's valleys on still nights.
Year-round
Treecreeper
Certhia familiarisLC
A quiet, unobtrusive resident that spirals up tree trunks in Dorset's woodlands and mature hedgerows, easily overlooked despite being present year-round.
Year-round
Tufted Duck
Aythya fuligulaLC
An uncommon resident breeding on lakes and reservoirs across the county. Winter flocks gather on larger water bodies with good diving habitat.
Year-round
Water Rail
Rallus aquaticusLC
An uncommon but year-round resident of Dorset's reedbeds and marshes, more often heard squealing than seen at sites like Radipole.
Year-round
Western Marsh-harrier
Circus aeruginosusLC
Resident year-round, quartering reedbeds and marshes at Arne, Radipole, and across Poole Harbour. Numbers have increased in recent decades.
Year-round
Whinchat
Saxicola rubetraLC
A rare visitor seen mainly on passage in spring and autumn, favouring rough grassland and heathland edges. Identified by its bold pale supercilium.
Apr–Oct
White-tailed Sea-eagle
Haliaeetus albicillaLC
A rare but exciting resident following reintroduction on the Isle of Purbeck. Occasionally seen soaring over Poole Harbour and surrounding areas.
Year-round
Woodlark
Lullula arboreaLC
A rare resident favouring Dorset's lowland heaths and forest clearings. Sings its melodious descending song from treetops, mainly in spring.
Jan–Oct
Woodpigeon
Columba palumbusLC
An abundant resident seen in virtually every habitat across Dorset, from town centres to deep woodland.
Year-round
Yellow-legged Gull
Larus michahellisLC
A rare but increasingly regular visitor, mainly from late summer into winter. Often found among flocks of Herring Gulls at Poole Harbour.
Mar–Dec
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinellaLC
An uncommon resident of farmland hedgerows and downland scrub, declining but still found across Dorset's rural landscape.
Year-round
Breeding
(9)
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rusticaLC
A common summer visitor breeding in barns and outbuildings across Dorset's farmland. Arrives from March and lingers into November.
Mar–Nov
Hobby
Falco subbuteoLC
A summer breeding visitor, arriving in April and hunting dragonflies over Dorset's heathlands and wetlands. Departs by October.
Apr–Oct
House Martin
Delichon urbicumLC
A common summer breeder nesting under the eaves of Dorset's houses and buildings. Present from April to October, often in noisy colonies.
Apr–Oct
Osprey
Pandion haliaetusLC
Breeds in Dorset as part of the Poole Harbour reintroduction project, present March to October. Often seen fishing over the harbour's waters.
Mar–Oct
Sand Martin
Riparia ripariaLC
An uncommon summer breeder, arriving from March. Nests colonially in sandy riverbanks and cliffs, often seen hawking insects over Dorset's waterways.
Mar–Oct
Wheatear
Oenanthe oenantheLC
An uncommon summer breeder on coastal grassland and downland, arriving from March. Often bobs on fence posts along the Jurassic Coast and Purbeck.
Mar–Oct
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopusLC
An uncommon passage visitor, most often seen on Dorset's estuaries and coastal fields during spring and autumn migration.
Apr–Oct
Willow Warbler
Phylloscopus trochilusLC
An uncommon summer breeder in Dorset's woodlands and scrubby heaths from March to October. Its gentle descending song is a hallmark of spring.
Mar–Oct
Yellow Wagtail
Motacilla flavaLC
An uncommon summer breeder favouring damp meadows and arable fields. Declining nationally; arrives from April and departs by October.
Apr–Oct
Non-breeding
(17)
Black Redstart
Phoenicurus ochrurosLC
A rare non-breeding visitor, most often spotted on coastal cliffs and buildings at Portland and along the Jurassic Coast during autumn and winter.
Oct–Apr
Black-necked Grebe
Podiceps nigricollisLC
An uncommon winter visitor favouring sheltered coastal waters, regularly seen in Poole Harbour and Studland Bay from October to March.
Oct–Mar
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
A rare winter visitor, sometimes joining Chaffinch flocks in beech woodland and farmland from October to March.
Oct–Mar
Common Merganser
Mergus merganserLC
A rare winter visitor to Dorset's rivers and lakes, occasionally seen on the Stour or Frome between October and March.
Oct–Mar
Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammeaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor, occasionally found in birch and alder stands from autumn through to early spring.
Sep–Apr
Common Snipe
Gallinago gallinagoLC
An uncommon non-breeding visitor to Dorset's wet meadows and marshes, present mainly from autumn through to spring.
Aug–Apr
Eurasian Wigeon
Mareca penelopeLC
A common non-breeding visitor from August to April, forming large flocks on coastal marshes and flooded grassland around Poole Harbour.
Aug–Apr
Fieldfare
Turdus pilarisLC
A winter visitor arriving in noisy flocks from Scandinavia, often seen stripping berries from hedgerows across Dorset's farmland from October to March.
Oct–Mar
Golden Plover
Pluvialis apricariaLC
A rare winter visitor forming flocks on Dorset's wet grasslands and ploughed fields, mainly between September and March.
Sep–Mar
Greater Scaup
Aythya marilaLC
A rare non-breeding visitor from October to February, occasionally found among Tufted Duck flocks on sheltered coastal waters and lakes.
Oct–Feb
Hen Harrier
Circus cyaneusLC
A rare winter visitor to Dorset's heathlands and marshes, seen between October and March. Best looked for over Arne or the Purbeck heaths.
Oct–Mar
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
A scarce winter visitor to Dorset's heathlands and open coast, arriving from autumn. This compact falcon dashes low in pursuit of small birds.
Sep–Mar
Northern Pintail
Anas acutaLC
An uncommon non-breeding visitor from autumn to spring, favouring estuarine mudflats and flooded fields. Small groups winter around Poole Harbour.
Sep–Apr
Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serratorLC
An uncommon winter visitor favouring sheltered coastal waters, regularly seen in Poole Harbour and around the Fleet lagoon.
Oct–Apr
Redwing
Turdus iliacusNT
A winter visitor from Scandinavia, arriving from October and feeding in hedgerows and berry-laden fields. Often found alongside fieldfares in Dorset's farmland.
Oct–Mar
Ruff
Philomachus pugnaxLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to Dorset's coastal lagoons and wet grasslands, mainly in autumn and winter.
Aug–Mar
Velvet Scoter
Melanitta fuscaVU
A rare non-breeding visitor to offshore waters from October to January. Best looked for from Portland Bill among Common Scoter flocks.
Oct–Jan
Passage
(6)
Curlew Sandpiper
Calidris ferrugineaNT
An uncommon autumn passage migrant, seen on Poole Harbour's mudflats and coastal scrapes from August to October.
Aug–Oct
Grey Phalarope
Phalaropus fulicariusLC
A rare autumn passage visitor, occasionally driven to Dorset's coast by Atlantic storms, typically seen in October.
Oct
Little Stint
Calidris minutaLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, occasionally found among Dunlin flocks on Dorset's coastal scrapes and mudflats.
Aug–Oct
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
A rare passage migrant seen briefly in April and October, mainly along the Purbeck coast and downland. The male's white breast crescent is distinctive.
Oct–Apr
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
A rare passage visitor to Dorset's coastal marshes and heathlands, mainly seen in autumn and early winter. Hunts low over open ground by day.
Oct–Jan
Yellow-browed Warbler
Phylloscopus inornatusLC
A rare but eagerly sought autumn passage migrant, typically appearing at Portland Bill in October. A Siberian waif with a bold supercilium.
Oct