The Dorset Bird List currently stands at 428 species as of October 2018, with the recent additions of Least Sandpiper, Elegant Tern, Spectacled Warbler, Two-barred Greenish Warbler
and Yellow Warbler. There remains one species pending - South Polar Skua.
Types of records required
A All records
B Breeding records
C Counts of roosts, flocks or monthly maxima
D Dorset rarity, written description required
F&L First and last dates recorded (migrants)
I All inland records
M Migration or weather movements
S All records from May to August
U Unusual records (albino, behaviour, etc)
W All winter records
* National rarities to be assessed by the BBRC
Mute Swan Cygnus olor B,M,C
Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus D
Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus D
Bean Goose Anser fabalis D
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus D
White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons A
Greylag Goose Anser anser A
Snow Goose Anser caerulescens D
Canada Goose Branta canadensis B,C
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis A
Brent Goose Branta bernicla C,I,F&L
Red-breasted Goose Branta ruficollis *
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca A
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea A
Shelduck Tadorna tadorna B,C,M
Mandarin Aix galericulata A
Wigeon Anas penelope C,M,S
American Wigeon Anas americana D
Gadwall Anas strepera B,C
Teal Anas crecca B,C,M
Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis D
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos B,C,M
Pintail Anas acuta C,M,S
Garganey Anas querquedula A
Blue-winged Teal Anas discors *
Shoveler Anas clypeata C,M,S
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina A
Pochard Aythya ferina B,C,M
Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris D
Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca *
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula B,C,M
Scaup Aythya marila A
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis D
Eider Somateria mollissima A
King Eider Somateria spectabilis *
Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis A
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra C,M
Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata D
Velvet Scoter Melanitta fusca A
Bufflehead Bucephala albeola *
Goldeneye Bucephala clangula C,S,M
Smew Mergellus albellus A
Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator C,I,M,S
Goosander Mergus merganser A
Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis A
Quail Coturnix coturnix A
Red-legged Partridge Alectoris rufa B,C
Black Grouse Tetrao tetrix D
Grey Partridge Perdix perdix A
Pheasant Phasianus colchicus U
Golden Pheasant Chrysolophus pictus A
Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata A
Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica A
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer A
White-billed Diver Gavia adamsii D
Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris *
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis B,I,M
Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea D
Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis D
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus A
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus A
Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus A
Macronesian Shearwater Puffinus baroli *
Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus A
Leach's Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa D
Gannet Morus bassanus I,M
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo B,C,I
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis B,C,I
Bittern Botaurus stellaris A
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus *
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus *
Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax D
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides *
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis A
Little Egret Egretta garzetta A
Great White Egret Ardea alba A
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea B,C
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea D
Black Stork Ciconia nigra *
White Stork Ciconia ciconia D
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus D
Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia A
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps *
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis B,C
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus B,C
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena A
Slavonian Grebe Podiceps auritus A
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis A
Honey Buzzard Pernis apivorus A (D away from known breeding sites)
Black Kite Milvus migrans D
Red Kite Milvus milvus A
White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla *
Short-toed Eagle Circaetus gallicus *
Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus A
Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus A
Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius *
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus *
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus D
Goshawk Accipiter gentilis A (D away from known breeding sites)
Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus B,M
Buzzard Buteo buteo B,C,M
Rough-legged Buzzard Buteo lagopus D
Osprey Pandion haliaetus A
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus B,C,M
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana D
Little Crake Porzana parva *
Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla *
Corncrake Crex crex D
Moorhen Gallinula chloropus B,C,M
Allen's Gallinule Porphyrula alleni *
Coot Fulica atra B,C,M
Crane Grus grus D
Little Bustard Tetrax tetrax *
Great Bustard Otis tarda *
Stone-curlew Burhinus oedicnemus D
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus D
Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta A
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus B,C,M
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola C,M
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria C,M
American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica D
Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva *
Dotterel Charadrius morinellus D
Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula B,C,M
Little Ringed Plover Charadrius dubius A
Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus D
Sociable Plover Vanellus gregarius *
White-tailed Plover Vanellus leucurus *
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus B,C,M
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda *
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus C,M,F&L
Curlew Numenius arquata B,C,M
Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa C,M
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica C,M
Turnstone Arenaria interpres C,M
Ruff Philomachus pugnax A
Knot Calidris canutus A
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Calidris acuminata *
Broad-billed Sandpiper Limicola falcinellus *
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea A
Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus *
Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis *
Temminck's Stint Calidris temminckii D
Sanderling Calidris alba A
Dunlin Calidris alpina C,M
Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima A
Baird's Sandpiper Calidris bairdii *
Little Stint Calidris minuta A
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla *
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis D
Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos D
Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri *
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla *
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis D
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor *
Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus D
Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius A (D if not settled)
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus *
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos C,M,W
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius *
Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus C,M
Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus C,M
Greenshank Tringa nebularia C,M
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes D
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis *
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola A
Redshank Tringa totanus B,C,M
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus A
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus *
Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus *
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola A
Snipe Gallinago gallinago B,C,M
Great Snipe Gallinago media *
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola *
Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor *
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus A
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus A
Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus D
Great Skua Stercorarius skua A
Puffin Fratercula arctica A
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle A (D away from Portland Harbour)
Razorbill Alca torda B,I,M
Little Auk Alle alle D
Guillemot Uria aalge B,I,M
Brünnich's Guillemot Uria lomvia *
Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscata *
Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus *
Little Tern Sternula albifrons B,C,M,F&L
Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica *
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia *
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida *
Black Tern Chlidonias niger A
White-winged Black Tern Chlidonias leucopterus D
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis B,C,M,F&L
Elegant Tern Thalasseus elegans *
Lesser Crested Tern Sterna bengalensis *
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri *
Common Tern Sterna hirundo B,I,M,F&L
Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii A (D away from Brownsea)
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea A
Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea *
Sabine's Gull Xema sabini D
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla B,C,M
Bonaparte's Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia *
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus B,C,M
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus A
Ross's Gull Rhodostethia rosea *
Laughing Gull Larus atricilla *
Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan *
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus A
Common Gull Larus canus C,M,S
Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis D
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus B,C,M
Herring Gull Larus argentatus B,C,M
Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis A
Caspian Gull Larus cachinnans D
American Herring Gull Larus smithsonianus *
Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides D
Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus D
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus B,C,M
Pallas's Sandgrouse Syrrhaptes paradoxus *
Feral Pigeon Columba livia C,U
Stock Dove Columba oenas C,M
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus C,M
Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto C,M
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur A
Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius *
Cuckoo Cuculus canorus B,M,F&L
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus *
Barn Owl Tyto alba A
Scops Owl Otus scops *
Little Owl Athene noctua A
Tawny Owl Strix aluco B,C
Long-eared Owl Asio otus A
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus A
Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus A
Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius *
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor *
Swift Apus apus B,C,M,F&L
Pallid Swift Apus pallidus *
Alpine Swift Apus melba D
Little Swift Apus affinis *
Hoopoe Upupa epops A
Bee-eater Merops apiaster D
Roller Coracias garrulus *
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis A
Wryneck Jynx torquilla A
Green Woodpecker Picus viridis B
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major B,M
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor A
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus B,M
Red-footed Falcon Falco vespertinus D
Merlin Falco columbarius A
Hobby Falco subbuteo A
Gyr Falcon Falco rusticolus *
Peregrine Falco peregrinus B,I
Ring-necked Parakeet Psittacula krameri A
Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus *
Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus D
Isabelline Shrike Lanius isabellinus *
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio D
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor *
Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor A
Southern Grey Shrike Lanius meridionalis *
Woodchat Shrike Lanius senator D
Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax D
Magpie Pica pica C
Jay Garrulus glandarius B,M
Nutcracker Nucifraga caryocatactes *
Jackdaw Corvus monedula C,M
Rook Corvus frugilegus C
Carrion Crow Corvus corone C
Hooded Crow Corvus cornix D
Raven Corvus corax A
Goldcrest Regulus regulus B,M
Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla A
Penduline Tit Remiz pendulinus D
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus U
Great Tit Parus major U
Coal Tit Periparus ater B,C
Willow Tit Poecile montana D
Marsh Tit Poecile palustris A
Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus A
Woodlark Lullula arborea A
Skylark Alauda arvensis B,C,M
Shore Lark Eremophila alpestris D
Short-toed Lark Calandrella brachydactyla D
Calandra Lark Melanocorypha calandra *
Lesser Short-toed Lark Calandrella rufescens *
Sand Martin Riparia riparia B,C,M,F&L
Swallow Hirundo rustica B,C,M,F&L
House Martin Delichon urbicum B,C,M,F&L
Red-rumped Swallow Cecropis daurica D
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota *
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti A
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus B,C
Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides D
Two-barred Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus plumbeitarsus *
Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis D
Pallas's Warbler Phylloscopus proregulus D
Yellow-browed Warbler Phylloscopus inornatus A
Hume's Warbler Phylloscopus humei *
Radde's Warbler Phylloscopus schwarzi D
Dusky Warbler Phylloscopus fuscatus D
Western Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus bonelli *
Eastern Bonelli's Warbler Phylloscopus orientalis *
Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix A
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita B,M,W
Iberian Chiffchaff Phylloscopus ibericus *
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus B,M,F&L
Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla B,M,W
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin B,M,F&L
Asian Desert Warbler Sylvia nana *
Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria D
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca B,M,F&L
Western Orphean Warbler Sylvia hortensis *
Sardinian Warbler Sylvia melanocephala *
Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans * (all forms)
Whitethroat Sylvia communis B,M,F&L
Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata *
Dartford Warbler Sylvia undata B,M
Pallas's Grasshopper Warbler Locustella certhiola *
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia A
Savi's Warbler Locustella luscinioides *
Booted Warbler Hippolais caligata *
Sykes's Warbler Hippolais rama *
Eastern Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida *
Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina D
Melodious Warbler Hippolais polyglotta D
Aquatic Warbler Acrocephalus paludicola *
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus B,M,F&L
Paddyfield Warbler Acrocephalus agricola *
Blyth's Reed Warbler Acrocephalus dumetorum D
Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus palustris D
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus B,M,F&L
Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus *
Fan-tailed Warbler Cisticola juncidis *
Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus A
Wallcreeper Tichodroma muraria *
Nuthatch Sitta europaea B,C
Treecreeper Certhia familiaris B,C
Short-toed Treecreeper Certhia brachydactyla *
Wren Troglodytes troglodytes U
Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum *
Starling Sturnus vulgaris C,M
Rose-coloured Starling Sturnus roseus D
Dipper Cinclus cinclus A
Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus A
Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus A
Blackbird Turdus merula M,U
Black-throated Thrush Turdus ruficollis *
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris C,M,F&L
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos B,M
Redwing Turdus iliacus C,M,F&L
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus B,M
American Robin Turdus migratorius *
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata B,M,F&L
Robin Erithacus rubecula M,U
Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia *
Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos A
Bluethroat Luscinia svecica D
Siberian Rubythroat Luscinia calliope *
Red-flanked Bluetail Tarsiger cyanurus D
Red-breasted Flycatcher Ficedula parva D
Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis *
Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca A
Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros A
Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus B,M,F&L
Rock Thrush Monticola saxatilis *
Whinchat Saxicola rubetra B,M,F&L
Siberian Stonechat Saxicola maurus *
Stonechat Saxicola torquatus B,C,M
Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe B,M,F&L
Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti *
Black-eared Wheatear Oenanthe hispanica *
Pied Wheatear Oenanthe pleschanka *
Alpine Accentor Prunella collaris *
Dunnock Prunella modularis U
House Sparrow Passer domesticus C,M
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus A (D away from known breeding sites)
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava A
Citrine Wagtail Motacilla citreola D
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea B,C,M
White/Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba B,C,M
Richard's Pipit Anthus richardi D
Blyth's Pipit Anthus godlewskii *
Tawny Pipit Anthus campestris *
Olive-backed Pipit Anthus hodgsoni D
Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis A
Pechora Pipit Anthus gustavi *
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis B,C,M
Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus *
Rock Pipit Anthus petrosus B,C,M
Water Pipit Anthus spinoletta A
Brambling Fringilla montifringilla A
Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs C,M
Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes D
Common Rosefinch Carpodacus erythrinus D
Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula B,C,M
Greenfinch Carduelis chloris C,M
Linnet Carduelis cannabina B,C,M
Twite Carduelis flavirostris D
Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret B,C,M
Common Redpoll Carduelis flammea D
Arctic Redpoll Carduelis hornemanni * (all forms)
Two-barred Crossbill Loxia leucoptera *
Crossbill Loxia curvirostra A
Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis C,M
Serin Serinus serinus A (D away from Portland)
Siskin Carduelis spinus B,C,M
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis A
Lapland Bunting Calcarius lapponicus A
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis *
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis *
Black-headed Bunting Emberiza melanocephala *
Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra A
Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana D
Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus D
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella B,C
Pine Bunting Emberiza leucocephalos *
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus B,C,M
Yellow-breasted Bunting Emberiza aureola *
Little Bunting Emberiza pusilla D
Rustic Bunting Emberiza rustica *
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus *
Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis *
Northern Parula Parula americana *
Yellow Warbler Setophaga aestiva *
Selected Identifiable Subspecies
Tundra Bean Goose D
Greenland White-fronted Goose D
Pale-bellied Brent Goose A
Black Brant D
Continental Cormorant A
Scandinavian Herring Gull D
'Intermedius' Lesser Black-backed Gull A
Kumlien's Gull D
Scandinavian Rock Pipit D
Blue-headed Wagtail D
Grey-headed Wagtail D
Ashy-headed Wagtail *
White Wagtail A
Continental Stonechat A
Greenland Wheatear A
Siberian Lesser Whitehtroat D
Siberian Chiffchaff A
Continental Coal Tit D
***END***
Records
Since 2000, the Dorset Bird Club has been working closely with the Dorset Environmental Record Centre to maintain an electronic database of bird records submitted to the Club.
In addition to the records input from 2000, we have an ongoing project to input the old paper records - submitted to the Club between 1957 and 1999 - on to the database.
Submitting Records
please send your records to:
Forms: (download)
For well photographed birds please use this form: