This year we have carried out a very successful project to record the variety of species that depend on the beach strandline habitat. Unfortunately we were not able to record the birds that make use of strandlines as recording the invertebrates that they feed on was very time consuming. However it is vital that this group be included in the project and so we are appealing for help with this.

It only takes an hour of your time 
 
If you have a pair of binoculars or a spotting scope and are confident in identifying birds WE NEED YOUR HELP! All we ask is that you spend 1 hour on one or more of the following beaches just recording which birds you see feeding on the strandline (the seaweed and other marine debris that is washed up on the beach). Do not record birds feeding in the sea or lower down on the shore, or behind the beach - ONLY on the strandline.

Beaches to check
 
The beaches are:
Sandbanks (between Shore Road and the ferry end)
Shell Bay (Studland side of the Sandbanks ferry)
Knoll Beach, Studland
Swanage, North Beach - past the end of the promenade
Chapmans Pool (near Worth Matravers)
Worbarrow Bay (between Kimmeridge and Lulworth Cove)
Mupe Bay (near Lulworth Cove)
Ringstead Bay (between Lulworth and Weymouth)
Osmington Mills (just east of Weymouth)
just pick a spot where you can see strandline material.
 
We need to collect these records by end of November, but the sooner the better. The time of day doesn't matter although there is more chance of recording birds when there are not people and dogs around. If you plan to go to any of these beaches please let us know so that we can focus attention on any that are not done.
 

Only birds feeding on the strandline please.

At this stage we don't need numbers of each species, although that would be helpful.  It's more important that we get the species correct, and that we only record those feeding on the strandline.

Where to send your records

Please send any records to or call us on 0929 481044.

Thank you!