Urban Birder Weekender Portland & environs, England
Waders, gulls and migrants!
Duration
29 May ā 1 June 2025
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Free loan of Leica binoculars is available for the duration of the tour ā subject to availability. Please ask for details. 
About Portland, Dorset, England
Long known as one of the chief migration points in the UK the Isle of Portland is a limestone island connected to the mainland by road and a short distance away from Weymouth. It is indeed the southernmost point of Dorset jutting some six miles into the English Channel. The Portland Heights Hotel is situated on the island in the heart of the migration action. The Isle of Portland is also sited right in the centre of the famous Jurassic Coast, itself a World Heritage Site. Picture postcard shots are guaranteed at almost every turn!
Nearby lie ornithologically recognised hotspots like Portland Bill on the Isle itself, Arne, Poole Harbour and of course, urban birding in Weymouth around Radipole Lake and Lodmoor.
The local currency is the British Pound
Tour overview
We will take a leisurely wander around Portland Bill and the surrounding areas looking for breeding migrants in a very relaxed atmosphere. We will follow the itinerary fairly loosely in order to react to bird news and weather conditions. We will visit some of the classic sites in the area with a special visit to the world famous Portland Bill Bird Observatory and spots like Radipole Lake and sites around Poole Harbour including Brownsea Island. We would also hope to catch up with the reintroduced Western Osprey and White-tailed Eagle. All trips will be made in a comfortable minibus ā apart from the boat trip to Brownsea Island.
Our evenings will be spent at The Portland Heights Hotel enjoying delicious food washed down with wine and conversation!
Expected birds
Northern Fulmar, Northern Gannet, Little Egret, Eurasian Spoonbill, Common Scoter, White-tailed Eagle, Western Osprey, Mediterranean Gull, terns including possible Roseate Tern, Little Owl, European Nightjar, Common Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Barn Swallow, Woodlark, Rock Pipit, Common Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Bearded Tit, Dartford Warbler, Cettiās Warbler, migrants including chats, warblers and maybe even a rarity! Meanwhile, out at sea we will keep a look out for interesting seabirds.
Itinerary
May 29 – Arrival
Arrival by 6pm at The Heights Hotel, Portland for a welcome reception followed by dinner.
May 30 ā Portland Bird Observatory, Radipole Lake & Lodmoor Nature Reserve
We will start the day after breakfast with a visit to the Bird Observatory and its garden. Whilst birding the immediate area we will indulge in a guided tour of the Observatory to learn about the work carried out there. If we are lucky, we may be able to witness the ringing of migrants. We will then walk to Portland Bill birding the fields on the way. We will hopefully pick up the resident Little Owls in the tiny quarry that lies near the Observatory plus possible migrants.
After lunch we will journey back onto the mainland to visit the RSPBās Radipole Lake within the urban surrounds of Weymouth. The reedbeds here are home to Bearded Tits and Cettiās Warblers. We will also keep a keen eye out for any passing migrants. Later in the afternoon we will make the short trip to Lodmoor RSPB Reserve, still within urban Weymouth. Its combination of reedbed, open water, saltmarsh, wet grassland and scrub makes it an ideal venue for breeding birds and possible lurking migrants. We will spend the rest of our day trying to eke out ducks, Marsh Harrier, terns and a variety of waders.
If we are blessed with a calm, warm night we will venture out after dinner to see if we can track down nearby breeding European Nightjars.
Dinner at The Portland Heights Hotel. Overnight stay at The Portland Heights Hotel.
May 31 ā Poole Harbour & environs, Brownsea Island and Arne RSPB Reserve
Today, we will head to Poole Harbour after breakfast to catch the morning ferry to Brownsea Island ā the site where Little Egrets first bred in Britain back in 1996. It will be an hourās drive. We will visit the Dorset Wildlife Trustās nature reserve to search for Red Squirrel. We will hopefully watch Eurasian Spoonbill, Little Egret and breeding terns from the Lagoon Hides.
After lunch, we get the boat back to the mainland and drift around this beautiful stretch of coastline stopping where the desire takes us to bird the shore and surrounding hinterland before ending our beautiful day at Arne.
We will be treated to a slightly different vista to what we were experiencing previously: dramatic open heathland and ancient oak woodland. We will be searching for Dartford Warbler, dragonflies and butterflies including rare Silver-studded Blue. Arne is also one of the few places in the country where it is possible to find all six species of reptile to be found in the UK.
Happy days!
Dinner at The Portland Heights Hotel. Overnight stay at The Portland Heights Hotel.
June 1 ā Last looks around the hotel & departure
After breakfast we may take another gander around the hotel, perhaps checking the nearby Chesil Beach for waders and perhaps slightly beyond for a couple of hours before we depart home.
Special trip notes
This trip is suitable for all ages and abilities.
There is a reasonable amount of walking involved thus a moderate level of fitness is required.
There will be a short boat trip so if you have an aversion to boats let that be known now.
We may walk across uneven terrain so a sturdy pair of shoes or better still, walking boots would be a good idea.
We will be dealing with British weather so bring waterproof attire ā just in caseā¦
Recommended field guide
Collins Bird Guide ā Lars Svensson, Killian Mullarney & Dan Zetterstrƶm
Book now
Price includes
- 3 nights full board accommodation at the famous Portland Heights Hotel, Portland Bill, Dorset
- Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
- Transport in a comfortable minibus
- Entrance fees to reserves and national parks
- Guided trips out every day with David Lindo ā The Urban Birder
- The optional loan of a pair of sexy Leica binoculars for the duration of the tour ā subject to availability ā
Price does not include
- Airline tickets and airport taxes
- All additional alcoholic beverages
- Incidental refreshments at cafes and bars
- Items of a personal nature
- Personal travel insurance