[Jeanieallergy]

We'll be visiting Dorset for a few days in early to mid September and would welcome recommendations of where to stay, perhaps on the coast (ideally close to a Real Ale pub which serves dark beer and good food) and where best to go birdwatching to see something we don't find in Cheshire. We were thinking of Arne, hoping to see Dartford Warbler, and a trip to the Portland Bird Observatory to see what's around, but are there any other "must do" sites that are teeming with rare birds in September?

Not asking for much, really....

Thanks for any suggestions

[James Lowther]

you could do worse than looking at worth matravers with the famous square and compass pub,
it's closeish to arne and other good sites in poole harbour like middlebere (should be ospreys in september), also close to durlston country park which is good for migrants and seawatching if you're into that,
plus winspit bottom is accessed from the village and gives you a really good chance of finding some interesting migrant birds of your own

on a wider basis it's hard to predict exactly where the good birds will be but portland bill is unmissable and lodmoor can turn up good waders around that time of year

hope that's a start
cheers,
James

[JamesA]

The Red Lion in Swanage had excellent beers last time I was down there. In fact, if you're not averse to staying in a town, you can do far worse than Swanage - a very nice place.

Durlston CP is always worth a visit, as is Arne. Dartfords should be easy on almost any patch of heathland around that area.

[Jeanieallergy]

Thanks for the input, looking forward to our trip.