Rare Birds in Dorset
82 species matching this filter.
Dorset's diverse landscapes—from the dramatic Jurassic Coast and sheltered harbours of Poole and Portland to ancient heathlands and rolling chalk downlands—attract an impressive array of rare bird species. With 82 species classified as rare in the county, patient observers may encounter elusive visitors such as the Great Grey Shrike, Arctic Jaeger, and Grasshopper Warbler, alongside scarce residents like the Barn Owl and Eurasian Woodcock. Whether scanning offshore waters for Black Guillemots and Kittiwakes or listening for the reeling song of a Garden Warbler in dense scrub, Dorset offers rewarding birding for those willing to seek out its rarer avian inhabitants.
Showing 1–23 of 82 species
Arctic Jaeger
Stercorarius parasiticusLC
A rare but regular sight from Dorset's headlands during seawatching, harassing terns and gulls on passage.
Apr–Oct
Arctic Loon
Gavia arcticaLC
Rare winter visitor to Dorset's coastal waters, occasionally seen from Portland Bill or in sheltered bays between November and March.
Nov–Mar
Arctic Tern
Sterna paradisaeaLC
A rare spring passage migrant in April and May, best seen during seawatches from Portland Bill. Does not breed in Dorset.
Apr–May
Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arcticaVU
A rare breeding species, nesting in small numbers on Dorset's coastal cliffs from April to July. Numbers have declined significantly.
Apr–Jul
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
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
Barnacle Goose
Branta leucopsisLC
A rare non-breeding visitor in late autumn and winter. Small numbers occasionally appear on coastal marshes, sometimes alongside Brent Geese.
Nov–Jan
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
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Black Guillemot
Cepphus grylleLC
A rare winter passage visitor, occasionally recorded offshore in December. Far more typical of northern and western British coasts.
Dec
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 Swan
Cygnus atratusLC
A rare and irregular visitor, likely of captive origin. Occasionally recorded on lakes and harbours in scattered months through the year.
May–Nov
Black Tern
Chlidonias nigerLC
A rare autumn passage migrant seen in September, favouring sheltered harbours and lagoons. Most likely at Poole Harbour or Lodmoor.
Sep
Brambling
Fringilla montifringillaLC
A rare winter visitor, sometimes joining Chaffinch flocks in beech woodland and farmland from October to March.
Oct–Mar
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
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 Quail
Coturnix coturnixLC
A rare summer passage visitor, occasionally heard calling from cereal fields on the Dorset downs in June and July.
Jun–Jul
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 Redstart
Phoenicurus phoenicurusLC
A rare breeding visitor to Dorset's mature oak woodlands, arriving in April. The male's fiery orange tail is unmistakable in dappled shade.
Apr–Sep
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
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
Eider
Somateria mollissimaNT
A rare non-breeding visitor in winter, occasionally seen on sheltered coastal waters around Poole Harbour and Portland. Mainly a northern breeder.
Nov–Feb
Eurasian Woodcock
Scolopax rusticolaLC
A rare winter visitor to Dorset's damp woodlands and heathland, most likely encountered during cold-weather influxes.
Nov–Jun
European Pied Flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleucaLC
A rare passage migrant, most likely seen in autumn along the coast. Does not breed in Dorset but passes through in April and August–September.
Apr–Sep