Dipping the Dipper

 On Wednesday, 25th March, I went on a birding trip with my good friend George Green. We’d planned to visit either Dancing Ledge for Puffins or Maiden Newton for Dippers, and chose the Dippers—a smart move given the strong winds, which would have been worse on the cliffs. George knew the route, so he drove and picked me up at 9:30 am. It was a short drive, and we found a good parking spot in Maiden Newton near the river. From the first bridge by the school, we had a quick look, then crossed a small footbridge into a field and followed the riverbank, scanning for any sign of a dipper, but had no luck. We wandered through the village, checking a few more bridges without success, and just as we reached the farthest point from the car, rain began to fall, quickly turning into a sharp hailstorm. Luckily, it didn’t last long—just enough to send us back to the car. Once there, we considered our next move, as no dippers had been spotted in Maiden Newton.

Plan B took us to Kingcombe Meadows Nature Reserve, with a few stops along the River Hooke en route. Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any birds along these stretches, even though the habitat looked perfect for Dippers. According to *The Birds of Dorset*, this should be prime territory. So why are they so hard to find in Dorset, especially in the east, when most sightings come from the west? A Tetrad Survey from 1987–1994 estimated 25–30 pairs. That was some time ago, but with such ideal habitat, what’s stopping these wonderful birds from expanding their range?  

At the Kingcombe Visitor Centre, our first stop was the café for a warming coffee. We both went for large cups and the most delicious fruit scones with jam and cream. If you visit, the scones are highly recommended—slightly pricey, but very filling and absolutely delicious.

After finishing our drinks and food, we headed to the River Hooke, and along the way, another memory surfaced. When I first arrived at the centre, I thought I had never been there before, but as I walked to the river, I realized I had visited back in the late ’90s—around 1998 or 1999. I had volunteered to survey otters on the River Stour in Dorset and attended a course on tracking them by their prints and spraint, as well as learning to tell the difference between otters and mink. Otter spraint has a sweet, violet-like smell, while mink give off a strong, musky odor. All these memories came flooding back as I walked along a section of the River Hooke, which looked much the same as it had all those years ago. I had a fantastic time on the course and thoroughly enjoyed surveying the River Stour at Iford Bridge and around Julian’s Bridge in Wimborne.

The R.Hooke

Looking down stream 

Cuckoo Flower also known as Lady's Smock

As no Dippers were seen along the section of river, we headed to a bird hide we’d spotted earlier while having coffee. This turned out to be a great decision, as while watching various birds come and go to a single peanut feeder, a Marsh Tit appeared; a bird I thought I’d have to make a special trip to see at places like Gaston Wood or Thorncombe Wood.

It was a wonderful outing to places I hadn’t visited before, and even though we didn’t see a Dipper, if anyone has tips on spotting them at Maiden Newton, please share. I’ll be going back, as it’s most likely just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. The only Dipper I’ve seen in Dorset was on the R. Allen in August 2019, just a short 2–5 minute walk from home!

Archive picture from August 2019 Dipper on the R.Allen

Marsh Tit

Coal Tit

# Green Woodpecker 110

# Marsh Tit 111 

Meeting the Forster's Tern

 Saturday March 7th 2026, I am on my way to Poole Park with the hope of catching up with the Forster's Tern. There are a few blogs and pictures about of this bird. This is my short account of this wonderful Tern that arrived in Dorset in 2023.

When if first heard about this bird I was at work and could not go off straight away and had to wait for the weekend. When the weekend arrived I heard that the tern was being seen from the then new Rockley View Point at Lytchett Field area. I arrived at the small car park to find it was full so I parked up on the lane and proceeded to walk down Slough Lane. arriving at the point there were a couple of  unknown birders still there so I asked if the tern was about and was told sorry mate it as just flown under the bridge, the bridge is a railway bridge that separates Lytchett Bay and the Rockley and Lake Pier area. Dip one that was a start of a series of dips and being unable to get to see the bird due to work of family commitments a total of seven to eight dips  that year. The next two year following I always seemed to be in the wrong place or it never showed up especially when I did a few trips after work to Shipstal Point. I decided after a while if I was going to see I would and if not so be it and gave up trying to connect with the Bird.

The Forster's Tern arrived again this year 2026 and was first seen off Baiter and in Parkstone Bay and of coarse, it began to be seen in Poole Park while I was at work, with me hoping it would stay until the weekend as the sightings suggested this would be the best chance I would have with catching up with this nemesis.

  Driving into the park brought back some childhood memories as my nan and grandad used to live in an old house that was behind the crazy and pitch and put golf courses, and overlooked the park. As I ked I spent many a summer in the 70s at the park. I found a parking space and headed for the group of people near the model yacht pool. Here I came across Nick Hull and asked is the tern still about and Nick pointed the tern out sat on a small post among the the Black-head Gulls. I got the bins on it and a sense of relive passed over me with the three year wait/trying to see the bird. I started to setup the scope for better close up views and the bird took flight. It flew very fast and erratic over the main lake before climb high and out to Baiter! 

So with the bird going AWOL I went to look for the Mandarina Duck that was on one of the smaller ponds over the back near the little train and cricket pitch. The train was going round the small track as I walked that way and remember the many journeys I had on the train when the engine at first was like a stream locomotive then becoming a blue and yellow diesel engine. I eventually found the Mandarina Duck a smart male bird on the very small pond near the cricket pitch.

Male Mandarin; a very colourful bird

Back to the tern and I noticed that everyone had vacated the the area and were on the other side of the lake. So I made my way round the model yacht remembering how I sailed my little fiberglass hulled yacht with its blue sail across the lake and running along the board sometimes a bit scared as when it was chopper the thing used to sway with the waves. I eventually caught up with the crowd and had some good views of the Forster's Tern before if flew of again, but returned back to its original post near the model yacht lake. 

Forster's Tern

Now the bird list is going up slowly but surely  up to 109, though only two months in chasing the birds I have discovered one thing that I do miss going round my local patch Longham Lakes. Yes it can at times feel mundane but it is always exciting when something new turns whether if is found by friends or just one of the many people who like to walk round the place taking pictures. 

The list even though I list my bird seen here they can also be found on BUBO  

# 103 Glossy Ibis

# 104 Red legged Partridge

# 105 Mandarin Duck

# 106 Collard Dove

# 107 Forster's Tern = lifer 

#108 Kestrel

# 109 Great spotted Woodpecker

GLOSSY IBIS IN THE BAG

 After many attempts during January and February and in some awful weather to see the pesky Glossy Ibis which I always seemed to miss or could not locate February came to a close and I still had not seen the birds.

Sunday 1st March and I am off to see Glossy Ibis at Wareham, during the week I kept getting reports that the birds were showing well from the North Walls. Would they still be there when I arrived I certainly hoped so, Unusually for me on a birding trip it was quite nice weather for a change. I found somewhere to park on a very narrow road below what they called West Walls and North Walls, these are earth ramparts built by the Saxons to defend and keep Wareham save from invaders, more about this later in the blog. I climb up the side of West Walls ramparts and walked along the top until I came to North Walls and  could look over the waterlogged fields of Wareham Common. There in front of me and on the others side of the river were the glorious Glossy Ibis all ten birds out in the open in the flooded field feeding. Yes got them in the bag and on the year list  finally.

Three of the Ten Glossy Ibis

record capture

The 10 Glossy Ibis coming in to feed.

Glossy Ibis

It was wonderful standing on top of the wall watching these birds feeding and flying around the common and to see ten of them all in one place. My 1st was a single bird back in May 2016 at Lytchett Fields. 

While standing on the wall/ramparts something dawned on me and I did wonder what the place might of looked like with a palisade and armed warriors patrolling the ramparts on the look out for Viking invades. I have been to Wareham manty time and past over the years but never visited them which I found a bit odd as I have an interest in Saxon history.

This interest began after reading Bernard Cromwell's Historical novels the Last Kingdom.

Signage telling a story about the walls at Point 3 walk

a view along the west wall

Then discovering King Alfred brother was buried in the local church Wimborne Minster I had to go and investigate. 

Wimborne Minster

 So on one Saturday morning I popped into to the Minster to have a look round it is real interesting inside with the arches and stained glass windows. After looking round I got talk to someone in the church that was working. I was told King AEthelred  is supposedly buried under the Pulpit.

The Pulpit 

Apparently back in Victorian times they made a brass plaque to honour ( if that is the right word) and now it is on the wall up by the alter. 

The Plaque to King AEthelred