St Aldhelms Birder
@staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social
350 followers 120 following 1.1K posts
Lifelong birder in the historic Isle of Purbeck esp. St Aldhelms & Studland, unless I can get abroad. Also into 🐬& 🐳. All photos mine, except retweets
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social
My latest Blog Post - Post 15 - Day 18 Exploring Carthage on another shore run as an ORCA wildlife guide on the Jan/Feb 25 Saga cruise
We also visited the delightful town of Sidi-Bou-Said for some fun haggling over goods
birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2025/10/6-fe...
staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social
My latest Blog Post - Post 15 - Day 18 Exploring Carthage on another shore run as an ORCA wildlife guide on the Jan/Feb 25 Saga cruise
Not only extensive ruins, but a few birds including this Spotless Starling from the ship with the camera
birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2025/10/6-fe...
staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social
My latest Blog Post - Post 15 - Day 18 Exploring Carthage. A place I thought would be great to see as a kid reading about Hannibal & Rome, but never thought I would visit it
There are extensive ruins
birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2025/10/6-fe...
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
martinadams1.bsky.social
Willow Emerald Damselflies mating in Upton CP, Dorset. Possibly the first county breeding record? @britishdragonflies.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
oceanauk.bsky.social
🎉 OCEAN WIN: The green turtle has been rescued from the brink of extinction thanks to decades of global conservation efforts, new data shows 🌊

This victory shows how our ocean can recover if we let!

"We must use this win as a catalyst to achieve numerous other wins"
https://bbc.in/4330ICY
Green turtle bounces back from brink in conservation 'win'
Once endangered due to hunting, it is making a strong recovery thanks to global conservation efforts.
www.bbc.co.uk
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
studlandbirds.bsky.social
A 2.5 hour Vis Mig watch at South Haven, Studland this AM by Graham Armstrong produced the following species moving North:

Swallow 52
Goldfinch 755
Siskin 235
Redpoll 197
Chaffinch 14
Crossbill 71
Linnet 32
M Pipit 27
Skylark 15
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
purbeckpilgrim.bsky.social
Best of a falling tide at Middlebere.
c550 Avocet
c 450 Blackwit
7 Curlew Sandpiper
2 Spotted Redshank
65 Redshank
5 Knot
2 Great White Egret
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Merlin
1 Marsh Harrier
@harbourbirds.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
harbourbirds.bsky.social
11 Eider in Studland Bay off Middle Beach info from James Leaver, plus 1 each of GN Diver and BT Diver out in Poole Bay @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
studlandbirds.bsky.social
A bit more variety of Waders in Brands Bay, Studland with the arrival of 3 Grey Plovers:
Teal 116
Wigeon 25
Pintail 10
Grey Plover 3
R Plover 4
Curlew 44
Blackwit 255
Redshank 92
Greenshank 3
Turnstone 2
Dunlin 32
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
oceanauk.bsky.social
🌡️🌊 Marine heatwaves will become more frequent off UK coasts, similar in intensity to the ‘unheard of’ temps in 2023, which put ocean life at risk of death - experts say

“This is [...] likely to worsen unless we make significant strides to cut emissions”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Marine heatwaves to become more frequent off UK and Irish coasts, experts say
Scientists find 10% chance that similar events to the ‘unheard of’ temperatures in 2023 could occur each year
www.theguardian.com
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
dorsetwildlife.bsky.social
Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay 💚

Did you know? Spending time in nature is proven to benefit both our physical and mental health. That's why we're encouraging you to visit one of our nature reserves and experience the wonder and beauty that they have to offer. 👉 bit.ly/437IksB ~ Jack
Credit: Ben Hall/2020VISION
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
studlandbirds.bsky.social
Per James Leaver

11 Eider on the sea off Middle Beach, Studland.
1 adult male, 1 first winter & the rest were brown
The largest Studland Eider flock I can remember
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds
staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social
Limited rewards at St Aldhelms this AM
Wheatear 1
Whinchat 1
A few Chiffys
A cheeky Stoat

Weds not much better
Wheatear 2
Firecrest 1
Goldcrest 2
A few Chiffys & Blackcaps

Scatterings of Swallows & Martins both days
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @beardybirder.bsky.social #DorsetBirds
staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social
Feels like a decent early date for Dorset as well @bexbirder.bsky.social
bexbirder.bsky.social
A Red-necked Grebe was a bit of a surprise off West Bex this morning. A little distant and crap light but still a smart bird...
staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social
Also Slender-billed Curlew is the first species (Morocco 90) that I've seen that's been declared extinct
Sadly, it might not be the last species I've seen that disappears in my lifetime
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
wildontheroad.bsky.social
'Only' 69 spoonies on the lagoon today... we may have reached our peak count?! Close to the Tern Hide this morning snd great views again... just get a load of this stunner 😍 #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
beavertrust.bsky.social
The results of the study show that beavers can improve habitats for many species on both immediate and legacy timescales.

The removal of beavers from much of the northern hemisphere disrupted the balance - but their return offers a rare opportunity to restore it.
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
beavertrust.bsky.social
Engineering a legacy: 54 years of beaver impact

A new study explores over five decades of beaver activity in southern Finland. While some benefits appear quickly, others emerge only later or after beavers leave an area.

Find out more 👇
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
staldhelmsbirder.bsky.social
My latest Blog Post - Post 14 - Day 17 - You Dirty Old Town

Suffice to say I wasn't impressed with walking around Palermo with how much rubbish there was on virtually every street during another shore run on our Saga cruise in Jan/Feb 25
birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.com/2025/10/5-fe...
Reposted by St Aldhelms Birder
paulupwey.bsky.social
Doing the tourist bit at Sete Citades today and delighted to find an endemic! 3 São Miguel Goldcrest (R.r. azoricus) in the lakeside trees. Call more piercing than our Goldcrest, a bit more Firecrest like. Also found a drake Ring-necked Duck, no idea if it has been seen previously?