Autumn Bird Week 2009: Saturday 29 August - Sunday 6 September

Saturday 29 August, 10am Bird-watching for Beginners A 2 mile walk with tips for beginners and a look for migrants in the Park. Led by Dick Burt. Suitable for children; no public transport; for limited wheelchair access call 01929 424443. Meet: Durlston Country Park Visitor Centre, near (SZ 031 773)

Saturday 29 August, 2pm Discover Radipole Lake – a gem in the middle of town An introduction to Radipole Lake’s varied summer highlights. Enjoy a relaxed walk and learn about the reserve’s birds and other wildlife, as well as the habitats and how they are managed. The guides will help you to get the most from your visit to one of Britain’s most urban bird-watching spots. Suitable for children; public transport available; suitable for wheelchairs. BOOKINGS ONLY – call 01305 778313. Meet: RSPB Radipole Lake Visitor Centre, Weymouth (SY 676 796)

Sunday 30 August, 1pm There's Much Birding on the Marsh A guided walk to view the birds of Stanpit Marsh as seen through the binoculars of David Taylor from the Christchurch Harbour Ornithological Group. Suitable for older children; suitable for less able but not wheelchairs. £2.50 Meet: Stanpit Marsh Information Centre, Stanpit, Christchurch (SZ 167 922)

Monday 31 August, 10am Wildfowl, Waders and Whinchats A 2 - 3 mile walk to explore a superb area for autumn goodies. Led by Dick Burt. Suitable for older children; no public transport; limited wheelchair access. Meet: Hartland Moor lay-by, near Wareham (SY 963 857)

Monday 31 August, 2pm Wareham's Wetland Birds A 3 mile walk to look for autumn goodies of the Frome and Piddle estuaries. Led by Dick Burt. Suitable for older children; public transport available; not suitable for wheelchairs. BOOKINGS ONLY – call 01929 424443. Meet: Wareham Quay (SY 923 872)

Tuesday 1 September, 10am Autumn Birds at Portland A 1.5 mile walk to look for newly arrived migrants and at the workings of a top British Observatory. Suitable for older children; public transport available; not suitable for wheelchairs. Meet: car park in front of Lighthouse, Portland (SY 677 686)

Tuesday 1 September, 2pm Autumn Migrants of Purbeck A 3 mile walk to look for migrants in and Seacombe. Led by Dick Burt. Suitable for older children; infrequent bus access; not suitable for wheelchairs. Meet: car park, near Swanage (SY 973 777)

Wednesday 2 September, 10am Ham Common Local Nature Reserve September is an exciting month when Ham's resident/breeding birds are joined by migrants from further afield. Join us in the hope of seeking out some of these migrants, anything from a Wheatear to an Osprey is possible! Suitable for children; public transport available; not suitable for wheelchair users. Meet: main car park at Ham Common view point, Poole (SY 978 908)

Wednesday 2 September, 10am Autumn Birds of Wareham Forest A 2 – 3 mile walk to look for goodies like Hobby and Woodlark. Led by Hamish Murray, Countryside Head Ranger. Suitable for older children; no public transport; not suitable for wheelchairs. Meet: Sherford Bridge lay-by, on the Wareham to Morden road (SY 919 927)

Wednesday 2 September, 2pm Birds of Woodland, Heath and Marsh A 2 – 3 mile bird-watching walk. Led by Rees Cox and Dick Burt. Suitable for children; public transport available; not suitable for wheelchairs. Meet: Greenland Farm turning, Ferry Road, Studland (SZ 025 843)

Thursday 3 September, 7am Seabirds and Migrants A 2 – 3 mile seawatch and migrant hunt in the Park. Led by Hamish Murray, Dorset Countryside Head Ranger. Suitable for older children; no public transport; for limited wheelchair access call 01929 424443 beforehand. Meet: Durlston Country Park Visitor Centre, near Swanage (SZ 032 773)

Thursday 3 September, 2pm Birds of the Coast Path A hilly, 3 - 4 mile walk to look for migrants of the Purbeck Coast. Led by Dick Burt. Suitable for older children; no public transport; not suitable for wheelchairs. Meet: Renscombe car park, Worth Matravers (SY 964 774)

Friday 4 September, 10am Wildfowl, Waders and Whinchats A 2 - 3 mile walk to explore a superb area for autumn goodies. Led by Dick Burt. Suitable for older children; no public transport; limited wheelchair access. Meet: Hartland Moor lay-by, near Wareham (SY 963 857)

Saturday 5 September, 10am The Autumn Birds of Holton Lee A 2 mile bird-watching walk. Led by Shaun Robson, Former Dorset County Bird Recorder. Suitable for children; no public transport; parts suitable for wheelchairs. BOOKINGS ONLY – call 01929 424443 (numbers restricted) Meet: Holton Lee car park, off the A351 just South of Bakers Arms Roundabout (SY 961 913)

Saturday 5 September, 2pm Migrants at Durlston A 2 mile walk around the Park to look for migrants. Led by Dick Burt. Suitable for children; no public transport; for limited wheelchair access call 01929 424443. Meet: Durlston Country Park Visitor Centre, near Swanage (SZ 031 773)

Sunday 6 September, 10am Birds of Ferrybridge A flat, 1.5 mile walk to look for terns, waders and migrants in a prime Dorset birding site. Led by Don Moxom. Suitable for children; public transport available; not suitable for wheelchairs. Meet: in car park, outside Visitor Centre, Ferrybridge, Weymouth (SY 668 753)

Sunday 6 September, 2pm Birds of the West Fleet and Swannery A 1.5 mile walk to see breeding terns, reedbed birds, migrants and, of course, Swans. Led by Steve Groves, Abbotsbury Swannery. Suitable for children; buses to Abbotsbury; not suitable for wheelchairs. NO DOGS PLEASE Meet: outside the Swannery shop, Abbotsbury (SY 576 847)