BRDP

2008 Balearic Shearwater Survey Opportunity

Migrating Wood Pigeons at West Bay

Since 2002, Marinelife has been monitoring the migration of marine and land birds along the English Channel coast at West Bay in West Dorset. The migration comprises some of the biggest and most spectacular movements of birds anywhere in the UK, confirming the national importance of West Bay as a migration flyway and hotspot.

Check the Latest Sightings

The main migration season lasts from the end of August through to mid-November when in the region of a quarter of million land birds pass over in the early hours of the morning, whilst smaller quantities of seabirds pass offshore. Maximum days counts in 2005 included 37,000 Wood Pigeons, 5600 Starlings, 5500 Stock Doves, 5000 House Martins, 2500 Greenfinches, 1900 Linnets, 19000 Chaffinches, 1000 Goldfinches and 800 Skylarks.

Bar-tailed Godwit on spring migration

There is a smaller visible land migration in the spring between March and May, and over the same period the passage of coastal and seabirds can at times be spectacular. Sea and shorebirds passing through include a wide variety of terns, waders, ducks, auks and three species of skua. Rarities over the period have included Common Crane, White Stork, and Osprey.

A migrating Bonxie (Great Skua) at West Bay

West Bay is a small fishing village and survey and monitoring of seabirds and cetaceans is ongoing in the surrounding waters of Lyme Bay, from land-based watches and from surveys on fishing boats

A wide variety of seabirds were recorded in 2005 included Grey Phalarope, Pomarine Skua, British Storm-petrel and Balearic Shearwater.

Starlings on migration

Marinelife is a partner in the DiscoverWestBay Project, which is working to develop wildlife and other education and interpretation facilities at West Bay.

Coastal migration watch is carried out by a dedicated team of skilled recorders, who carry out systematic surveys throughout the main migration periods.

Seabird monitoring at West Bay