Bird watching in Purbeck
Guest blog by my brother John !
Purbeck is a great place for bird watching throughout the year. Autumn and spring migration may bring unusual visitors and nearby Poole Harbour is important for over wintering birds.
The wide range of relatively wild habitats found in this part of Dorset makes it a great place for bird watching. The Jurassic Coast is varied, with cliffs reflecting the geology of limestone and chalk, and the stretch around Durlston, near Swanage, is home to colonies of breeding guillemots, some razorbills and a few puffins, plus peregrine falcons and ravens. Black redstarts, rock pipits and white wagtails can also be found at places like Dancing Ledge.
The shores of Poole Harbour are great for over-wintering ducks and waders. In recent years species such as avocet and spoonbill, plus 3 species of egrets have added to the diversity of rare species found here. A local charity Birds of Poole Harbour run popular 3 hour bird watching cruises, with expert guides to help you identify the birds. The boats leave from Poole quay, but these do need booking in advance. See A little bit about Birds of Poole Harbour - Birds of Poole Harbour . In the last couple of years Ospreys have started breeding here and also a pair of White tailed sea eagles are seen regularly, along with marsh and hen harriers, so it is a great place to watch birds of prey.
Another boat trip in Poole Harbour is to Brownsea Island which the National Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust look after. The lagoon has hides where you can see many species of ducks, waders, gulls, breeding terns in summer and last year avocets bred for the first time. The island is also home to red squirrels and has a heronry.
RSPB Arne is a great nature reserve to visit with its hides overlooking the harbour. It is free for members, but others have to pay, I think £5 per head. It also has a café and RSPB shop. On the heaths you may see birds like Dartford warbler, stonechat, hobby and in the evenings in early summer nightjars.
A National Trust heathland restoration site nearby is free to visit and has a couple of hides. One overlooks Middlebere lake, a channel of the harbour, that is great for birds depending on the state of the tide.
The hills, fields and woods around the cottage also hold many species of birds, with spotted flycatchers and a range of warblers being seen in summer, calling cuckoos in spring and buzzards, ravens and much more flying overhead. Lots can be seen from just sitting in the garden, so don’t forget to bring your binoculars!