Birding Sites

Dorset has some excellent birding sites, including RSPB and Dorset Wildlife Trust reserves and numerous sites, with a wide range of habitats, offering top quality year-round birding. The best sources of advice about where and when to visit are:

· Where to Watch Birds in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight – Keith Betton, Martin Cade and George Green October 2021  https://www.nhbs.com/where-to-watch-birds-in-dorset-hampshire-and-the-isle-of-wight-book

·       Dorset – Best Birdwatching Sites – Neil Gartshore 2011 https://callunabooks.co.uk/recommended-reading/

Some other birding sites in Dorset - not included in Where to Watch Birds - are described below.

The annual Dorset Bird Report contains a map showing 76 top birding sites and a gazetteer giving grid references for around 800 locations where records are commonly received from.

League table for waders

Dorset has eight sites within the national 'league table' of top wader sites, from work done by Steve Preddy in autumn 2021 in collaboration with birders and bird clubs. Dorset sites in order of number of species recorded:

Additional Sites - not in Betton, Cade and Green

Lytchett Bay

This site is in Betton, Cade and Green but there have since been improvements to the site with more viewpoints and parking. The map is correct as at April 2023. The Lytchett Bay team say "Whilst we have named as many sites as we can, please remember that some areas remain private and we would be grateful if visitors stick to the extensive network of public and permissive pathways that are available. There is a wide selection of viewpoints that provide visibility of the area."

Maiden Castle

Maiden Castle in Dorset is one of the largest and most complex Iron Age hillforts in Europe - the size of 50 football pitches. Its huge multiple ramparts, mostly built in the 1st century BC, once protected hundreds of residents. When it was first built, the gleaming white chalk ramparts would have towered over the surrounding landscape. It is also possibly the best site in Dorset to see Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Golden Plover. Grey Partridge are also frequently seen there.

Although you might see all these species anywhere in the vicinity, Corn Buntings are most commonly found in the fields directly below the northern ramparts of the castle, i.e., near the car park. Yellowhammers can be found foraging on the ground together with Corn Buntings, as well as in surrounding trees and bushes. Grey Partridges are most likely to be found in the longer grass near this fence. Common arable land species are here: Linnet, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Stock Dove, Lapwing. Large numbers of Golden Plover (1,000+) can be found between November and March with a peak in February.

Parking

Approximately 20 spaces with access to the hillfort directly from the free car park. The access lane is too narrow for a coach. 3-4 minibuses could be accommodated, however parking is not controlled.

Accessibility

Most of the Iron Age castle itself is inaccessible except on foot, but the car park, road and cycleway are mobility-accessible, especially since the cycle track (running east-west from Maiden Castle Road extension to north of Martinstown) was resurfaced recently.

Public transport

There are bus and train services to Dorchester. The nearest bus stop for Maiden Castle is at Queens Avenue on Weymouth Avenue. From there it is a 45 minute (1.8 miles) walk to the Maiden Castle car park.

Road access

Car park is at the end of Maiden Castle Road, 2 miles southwest of Dorchester. It is a 35 minute walk from Dorchester South railway station.

Download a fuller site guide to Maiden Castle here

Sherborne (west side)

The western edge of Sherborne consists mainly of open farmland which is primarily arable in use. To the south-west of Sherborne there is a large sewage treatment works, all of which is private and does not afford access. However, if you take the road down to the household waste and recycling centre you can drive to the end where there is room for at least one car to park.

Accessibility

Both locations can, with the exception of Lenthay Common, be accessed with a wheelchair but there are few footpaths once you leave the edge of town so it would be on public roads, so not very suitable.

Public transport

The West Sherborne site can be reached from Sherborne Train station or from buses that stop in the centre of town, but then requires a 10-20 minutes walk, depending on whether investigating Bradford Road or the sewage works areas.

Download a pdf guide to West Sherborne here

Silverlake

This site, a few miles east of Dorchester, was a sand and gravel quarry until the late 2010s. Even while operating as a quarry the area was known to be attractive to birds, with Woodlarks year-round, a large Sand Martin breeding colony estimated at 600-700 during 1997-1999 and a good record in attracting interesting wildfowl. It was bought by Habitat First, a family-run development company founded on the principle of creating holiday home communities where families can holiday and explore the great outdoors. The site has been relandscaped and homes are being built in the southern and western parts of the site, including West Lake and Middle Lake (no public access to built areas). The north-eastern part comprising East Lake, South Lake and Knighton Heath Wood is being developed as a public access nature reserve with good bridleways and footpaths through a mosaic of lakes, woodland and gorse scrub.

Silverlake map 

Silverlake area: access and accessibility

CP6 – Main car park

P1 – parking place on bend in lane (3 or 4 cars only)

P2 – parking place at start of west side bridleway (3 cars only)

P4 – roadside parking by level crossing (limited access to site)

Blue and red dotted lines are public bridleways and footpaths (some permissive)

NOTE: No public access to Heath Pond, Sand Martin Lake, Woodlark Heath etc.

Public transport: Damory bus service 5 leaves Trinity Street, Dorchester five times a day for Weymouth via Broadmayne, West Knighton and Crossways. Leave the bus at Lington Close (on Dick O' the Banks Road) and walk 1 km westwards and turn left into the Silverlake public car park. The bus journey from Dorchester is about 30 minutes. Return is the same route. Alternatively take the No 5 bus from Kings Statue, Weymouth to Lington Close, Crossways via Osmington and Warmwell, which takes about 30 minutes, returning the same route.

Main access point at northeast corner: The site is best reached from the large car park (CP6), off the Crossways – West Stafford Road with a DDAS sign. This is next to the east and south lakes, which will remain undisturbed by housing. From here, either follow the path to the lookout at Pylon B, watching for Woodlarks and Dartford Warblers along the way, then carry on to more lookouts at Pylon C and into Knighton Heath Wood. At the wood either go through diagonally to walk the causeway between west and middle lakes, or carry on along the southern edge of the wood to view West Lake from its southern side. These paths are reasonably accessible but the lookouts involve some climbing or mud (or both). Or go westwards from the car park along the northern edge of East Lake to another lookout, and carry on westwards to P1. This route can be extremely muddy after rain.

Download a fuller pdf guide to Silverlake here.

Sturminster Newton

Sturminster Newton is a small market town situated in the heart of the Blackmore Vale, referred to by Thomas Hardy in ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’ as the ‘vale of little dairies’. A network of footpaths with many delightful walks radiate out in all directions from the town. The walk(s) described here make use of the old railway line, now designated ‘The Trailway” which runs from Station Road carpark to the east of the town.

Parking (refer to map)

1        Station Road car park.  Pay and display - check for times as well as fee.

          Public conveniences close by including for disabled.

2        On minor road from Hammoon (Ham Lane) at the Trailway crossing point.

3        Fiddleford Manor. Free car park. Accessed from off A357.

Download a full pdf guide here

Download a shorter pdf guide here

Sutton Bingham Reservoir - Dorset end

Whereas the bulk of this small reservoir lies in Somerset, the extreme southern end does sit in Dorset, though not much of the site is accessible or viewable from public rights of way. For the purist Dorset listers you may have a dilemma ticking birds in Dorset if you are in Somerset, but scanning the southern end from just over the border will give you the chance of seeing birds that are technically in Dorset itself…even if you are not!

Unfortunately the southern end of the reservoir is not accessible for wheelchair users and getting there by public transport is not feasible.

Download a pdf guide to Dorset end of Sutton Bingham Resr here

Wild Woodbury DWT

An extensive area of mixed land east of Bere Regis was acquired by Dorset Wildlife Trust in September 2021 and has since been managed for wildlife with very impressive results. There is a waymarked walking trail around the Wild Woodbury site and a car park at the main entrance. There are also footpaths and public rights of way across the land which are open to everyone. Vehicle access is from Southbrook, Bere Regis, BH20 7LL and the what3words location for the main entrance is: ///pesky.indicates.stubble

Public transport: Damory bus service CR9 leaves Dorchester South Station 4 times a day, arriving in Bere Regis in about 1 hour. Head south from the village towards Bovington and take the track/footpath on the left, just before a bridge over the stream. This is all Wild Woodbury land; the centre is among the old farm buildings in approx 300 metres.

https://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/what-we-do/conservation-work-land/wild-woodbury

Older local site reports: download here

Lodmoor 2012

Lytchett Bay 2012

West Bexington and Cogden 2012