[Alan G]

I'm down in Bournemouth at the end of the month for a football match.

Just wondering if there's any decent birding nearby?

Nowt major - just somewhere to kill a couple of hours on the morning before the pubs re-open?

Without knowing the geography wheres the nearest Heathland for Dartford Warbler, or estuary for Avocets - I'm guessing Poole for the latter?

Anyway, thanks in anticipation.

[MSA]

Hi Alan

If your "couple of hours" includes travelling, Poole sites will be tricky. You could see Avocet from Evening Hill, which overlooks Brownsea Lagoon from the Poole side of Sandbanks. If you're keen to see Dartford, there's a wintering bird on Wick Fields, I can give precise directions if you're interested. Avocet do pop up from time to time on Stanpit, so if you're lucky you could do both sites in the time available, and still get back to the Queens Park pub (I guess?) for a pre-match pint.

[John Cantelo]

Wick Marches/Stanpit/Hengistbury area perhaps. Maybe the New Forest (though winter birding there can be quiet). Perhaps a quick trip on the Sandbanks ferry to Studland area (though you'd have to be careful to get the ferry back in time esp. if you take your car over),
John

[Alan G]

Thanks chaps.

I was planning a trip to the New Forest for next June with the wife - perhaps popping across into Dorset for a day or so.

Quite coincidental that the FA Cup has dealt me the chance to visit earlier than expected - although time is limited.

I'll take a look at the sites suggested above and decide what to do for the best.

Cheers

Alan

[ChrisJA]

For you dartford / advocets there's the RSBP Arne Reserve, but that's the far side of Poole so not sure you have the time.

For a general winter wildfowl place, with some woodland birds too there Blashford Lakes just near Ringwood, just off the top of the A338.