Poole Harbour, Durlston Country Park and Swanage, Dorset

A family day out to Swanage provided me with a couple of hours birding at my favourite part of the world, Durlston Country Park. On route we briefly stopped off at Pool Harbour where I noted Eurasian Oystercatcher, Dunlin and Sanderling all feeding on the mud flats.

                                                             Eurasian Oystercatcher

While crossing over to Sandbanks via the chain ferry I added Shelduck and three Sandwich Tern to my day list. Once at Durlston Country Park a couple of hours birding provided the following species:-
Common Pheasant (2), Fulmar (5), Great Cormorant, European Shag (2), Common Buzzard (1), Common Kestrel (pair), Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Guillemot (90+), Razorbill (5), Feral Rock Dove, Woodpigeon, Green Woodpecker (1), Barn Swallow (2), Rock Pipit (4 inc displaying male), Meadow Pipit (1), Pied Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Northern Wheatear (female), Common Stonechat (male), Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, Blackcap (2), Lesser Whitethroat (1), Willow Warbler (1), Common Chiffchaff (3), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Common Magpie, Eurasian Jay (2), Western Jackdaw, Common Raven (2), Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch (4), European Goldfinch (1), Eurasian Bullfinch (male).

                                                                  Common Guillemot

                                                                           Razorbill

                                                                    
                                                                       Fulmar

 

 

                                                                    Feral Rock Dove

                                                                     Common Raven

                                                                          Rock Pipit


At Durlston Castle an Adder was briefly observed before disappearing into a stone wall.