Upton Country Park is owned and managed by the Borough of Poole in conjunction with the Friends of Upton CP and offers another unique birding opportunity right on the outskirts of Poole. At around 140 acres it hosts a wide variety of habitats and includes a good-sized pay & display car park.

New and improved walkways and cycle paths across the whole site allow for easy access to just about every corner of the park. The deciduous woodlands host species such as Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Jay whilst the newly opened SANGS (Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space) in the north of the park can see migrants such as Stonechat, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, Spotted Flycatcher and Firecrest which all pass through. The SE section of the park borders an intertidal section of Holes Bay, meaning that waders and wildfowl can often be found during the winter months.

Standing at the Stone Bench or on the wooden bridge on the SE outskirts of the park will provide good close views of species such as Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shelduck, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Redshank and occasionally Knot and Avocet. From Upton CP there is a cycle path heading east around Holes Bay, leading to Holes Bay NE, which is another extremely productive site.

Birding Info

The salt marsh close to the south-east boundary of the park holds good numbers of waders and wildfowl in winter on the high tide giving good close views of species such as Pintail, Shoveler, Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank especially from ‘The Stone Bench’. The mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland hold common woodland species and in autumn common passage migrants occur in small numbers around the park. The large grazing fields on the eastern boundary of the park sees a large over-wintering flock of Black-tailed Godwit utilise the fields for feeding during the winter.

Facilities

Upton Country Park is excellent for cycling around and leads on to the Holes Bay cycle path towards Holes Bay north-east and south-each, both of which are also excellent birding sites, especially in winter. The park has public toilets and a good café. There are currently no bird hides or viewing screens but good open views of Holes Bay can be had along the southern boundary of the park.

Parking

There is a large pay and display car park at Upton Country Park located at BH16 5LW.

Spring

Wigeon, Teal, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Curlew, Redshank, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow, House Martin, Wheatear, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch and Treecreeper

Summer

Stock Dove, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting

Autumn

Shelduck, Wigeon, Teal, Osprey, Peregrine, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Knot, Dunlin, Whimbrel, Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wheatear, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Firecrest and Meadow Pipit

Winter

Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler, Little Egret, Peregrine, Oystercatcher, Avocet, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Kingfisher, Fieldfare, Redwing, Firecrest and Reed Bunting

Upton Heath sits at the most northerly part of our Poole Harbour boundary and is sandwiched between Upton, Creekmoor and Corfe Mullen, meaning that several easy and convenient access points and parking areas can be found. The area comprises mostly of open dry and wet heath habitat with small sections of mixed deciduous and coniferous woodland interspersed with several small lakes and grazed farm fields on the western edge.

Despite being classed as an “urban heathland” it boasts good numbers of iconic heathland species such as Dartford Warbler and Nightjar whilst in spring and autumn good numbers of passage migrants such as Redstart, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher and Wheatear all filter through the area. Winter thrushes use the farm fields to the west and in the woodlands Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch and Treecreeper can be found.

From the high northern part of Upton Heath at Corfe Mullen, incredible views can be had looking out south across the harbour and in the spring and summer it’s well worth keeping an eye out for Hobby and Red Kite whilst on warm early summer’s evenings Nightjar and Cuckoo calls overlap as the daylight fades away. Upton Heath is also great for reptile watching with all six native species present on the heathland and a visit in April and May can reward the visitor with sightings of the emerald green male Sand Lizard basking on sheltered patches of pale heathland sand in amongst the heather.

Birding Info

Upton Heath is one of the largest remaining pieces of heathland within the Poole Harbour basin and offers the chance to engage with all typical Dorset heathland species. It’s a large vast area and is probably worth exploring over a couple days. In autumn it can see a good number of passage migrants passing through.

Facilities

There are no facilities out across Upton Heath but a network of well maintained and managed foot and cycle paths allow access to many areas of the heath. Please stick to all foot and cycle paths and avoid deviating onto the heathland.

Parking

There are several access points on to Upton Heath with parking at the north of the heath along Springdale Road BH21 3QN. You can also access from the south of the heath via Heights Road BH16 5QW or on the east of the heath on the corner of Longmeadow Lane and Beechbank Avenue at BH17 7YL.

Spring

Red Kite, Cuckoo, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stonechat, Blackcap, Dartford Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Nuthatch and Linnet

Summer

Shelduck, Hobby, Cuckoo, Nightjar, Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Blackcap, Dartford Warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Linnet

Autumn

Redstart, Stonechat, Wheatear, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Dartford Warbler, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Treecreeper, Jay, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll

Winter

Meadow Pipit, Stonechat, Fieldfare, Redwing, Dartford Warbler, Siskin and Lesser Redpoll