This evening the winds turn easterly which could be interesting and should get migration underway a bit more. That was in evidence today when at South Haven a total of 155 Meadow Pipit came in off the sea during an hours watch at South Haven along with 3 newly arrived singing Chiffchaff and the Snow Bunting putting in a few appearances for good measure along Shell Beach, but it was also seen south of Pilots Point too where 3 Black-necked Grebe were just off the beach. At Arne 9 Spoonbill were on Shipstal and on Lytchett Fields the Green-winged Teal was still present. 

Well, the spring migrants are still working their way up through Europe and although the UK has already seen its first few Ring Ouzel, Garganey and Little Ringed Plover, things won’t really get going for at least another week yet which is good as the winter birds keep on coming. Today a female Scaup was photographed at close quarters in Poole Park as it hung out with the now shrinking Tufted Duck raft. At 18:35 another Bittern was seen/heard departing from the Swineham area as it lifted from the back end of the gravel pits, calling as it circled high before disappearing off NE. Also noted at Swineham were 2 ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Jack Snipe flushed from Swineham Point, 11 Barnacle Geese were still on the pit and both Chiffchaff and Reed Bunting were singing. A Barn Owl was also heard calling near Swineham Farm. At Studland, the Snow Bunting still showed well up near Pilots Point and the Eider, 8 Black-necked Grebe and 3 Great Crested Grebe were all in the Shell/Studland Bay area. On Hartland Moor the Great Grey Shrike was still hanging around out on central Moor and on Lytchett Fields the Green-winged Teal was still on Sherford Pools. A Red Kite passed over Upton CP nad Poole Town centre. A night sound recording session at Holton Lee produced 114 Redwing calls plus single fly overs of Green Sandpiper, Water Rail, Little Grebe, Moorhen and Common Snipe along with plenty of background calls of locally moving Redshank, Oystercatcher, Wigeon, Teal and Shelduck with a few Tawny Owl calls thrown in for good measure. 

Scaup – Poole Park Boating Lake – Sharon Eden

After a bit of discussion with a few locals we think we may have come to a conclusion to the 2 Snow Bunting at Studland theory. On the 6^th another bird was feeding with the Snow Bunting and at long range was ID’d as a second bird. However, it now looks upon closer inspection that the second bird was in fact a Linnet. Oh well, still good to hear the single Snow Bunting is still performing well, showing down to a few tens of meters today. The Studland faithful of  Eider, 2 Black-necked Grebe and a Sandwich Tern all stayed put. At Swineham there were 2 Sand Martin struggling in the wind and rain at dawn and the 11 Barnacle Geese were still on the pit. Despite the crud weather, Cetti’s Warbler were really getting going in the Frome Valley and a walk at Swineham or along the Frome public footpath can reward you with great listening experience. Along Holme Lane a large finch flock is forming in the first cattle field on your right consisting of mainly Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch but could easily draw in a Brambling (or better?) over the next few weeks. On Lytchett Fields the Green-winged Teal was still feeding with Teal and at Arne 8 Spoonbill were on Shipstal where a Whimbrel was also reported. 

We’ve also just put on 2 BRAND NEW SPRING BOAT TOURS. Click the link below for full details…

Birds of Poole Harbour – DAWN DISCOVERY BOAT TOUR

Snow Bunting – Shell Beach – Andy Copleston

There is still confusion as to whether there are 2 Snow Bunting or not on Pilots Point, Studland. Can anyone that’s actually seen them together (and even better, has photos) let us know so we can put a lid on this mystery! Otherwise, it was much of the same as yesterday with the Eider, 4 Black-necked Grebe and a Sandwich Tern in Shell Bay, 3 Hen Harrier and 2 Merlin in Poole Harbour west and the 4 Waxwing were still on Hanham Road, Corfe Mullun. At Holton Lee, several Linnet were back on territory and Woodlark were again singing on heathland sites in Poole Harbour north. 

Black-necked Grebe – Shell Bay – Simon Kidner

Snow Bunting – Shell Bay – Nick Mudge

Today saw a good mixture of spring and winter birds rubbing shoulders as some arrive whilst others leave. The highlight was not one, but now 2 Snow Bunting are residing on Pilots Point, Studland with both seen feeding together briefly at 2pm. There was a good supporting cast of birds at Studland too with a 1^st winter drake Eider very close in shore, up to 5 Black-necked Grebe, some in near full pristine summer plumage, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Razorbill, 46 Sanderling, 3 Common Scoter, several Meadow Pipit coming in off the sea, 15+ Med Gulls and a Sandwich Tern feeding in Shell Bay. The first 2 Sand Martins of the spring were feeding over Swineham GP as they flew low over the heads of the 11 Barnacle Geese and the first Northern Wheatear was near Ower Bay (Greenland’s Farm area). At Poole Park 2 Goldeneye remained with 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Little Grebe and a single poorly Dunlin feeding just 1m from the footpath. The 4 Corfe Mullun Waxwing were still feeding around the Hanham Road area on and off throughout the day.  In Poole Harbour west there are still 3 ringtail Hen Harrier, one of which has been present all winter, the other two being fairly recent arrivals and they were joined by a male Merlin. 

Snow Bunting – Shell Beach, Studland – Ian Ballam

Black-necked Grebe – Shell Beach – Paul Morton

Eider – Shell Beach – Paul Morton

The statement ‘a mixture of sunshine and showers’ has never been so true with heavy down pours and bright sunshine battling it for most of the day. A strong stiff SW wind made things quite tricky too. The Snow Bunting was again present on Shell Beach, feeding on beach cast seaweed with 2 Stonechat, up near Pilots Point with the imm drake Eider just off Pilots Point and a Sandwich Tern fishing in the bay. Also 30 Sanderling were feeding on the beach. The Lesser Yellowlegs and Green-winged Teal were both still on Lytchett Fields with 2 Water Pipit, 23 Gadwall (where have they come from)? And both Marsh Harrier and Peregrine over. A Scaup was again reported from the main Poole Park boating lake and on the Brownsea Lagoon 9 Pintail, 127 Grey Plover, 42 Knot, 7 Greenshank, 5 Spotted Redshank and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. On Shipstal 15 Spoonbill were roosting. The 4 Waxwing were still in Corfe Mullen at Hanham Road.

We’ve also just put on 2 BRAND NEW SPRING BOAT TOURS. Click the link below for full details…

Birds of Poole Harbour – DAWN DISCOVERY BOAT TOUR

What started off as a fairly calm morning, actually finished off breezy and wet. On Friday night a night lamping session in the Lower Frome Valley produced 2 newly ringed Jack Snipe with another 4 seen, plus 4 Woodcock seen too. The wandering Snow Bunting was pinned down again today ay Shell Bay beach, up near Pilots Point, although it did seem to go missing at the end of the day and also in Shell Bay 2 Sandwich Tern and 3 Black-necked Grebe . The 4 Corfe Mullun Waxwing were still pleasing crowds on Hanham Road. At Lytchett Fields both the Lesser Yellowlegs and Green-winged Teal were still present. An evening vigil at Lytchett Bay/Fields saw 9 Spoonbill come on the fields to feed a Merlin dashed over in the darkness and 5 Fieldfare went over.

We’ve also just put on 2 BRAND NEW SPRING BOAT TOURS. Click the link below for full details…

Birds of Poole Harbour – DAWN DISCOVERY BOAT TOUR

Green-winged Teal – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Just a few of the usuals around today with both Green-winged Teal and Lesser Yellowlegs on Lytchett Fields and the Hartland Great Grey Shrike. The 4 Waxwing in Corfe Mullun were still on Hanahm Road too. On Hatch pond, 4 Med Gulls was notable and the Great Crested Grebe were in full display mode.

We’ve also just put on 2 BRAND NEW SPRING BOAT TOURS. Click the link below for full details…

Birds of Poole Harbour – DAWN DISCOVERY BOAT TOUR

Early March can see the arrival of our first Sand Martins and Wheatear, but although we’re still waiting for those to arrive, there are also magical departures you can witness if you situate your self at the right place at the right time. Bittern are an annual winter visitor to the harbour but are tricky to locate in the deep dense reedbeds. Sadly, they don’t breed in the harbour (yet, or not that we currently know of), but each March over-wintering birds depart back to their breeding grounds, but in a manner that if experienced, you’ll never forget. On calm March evenings when the conditions are crisp, perfect and still, Bittern up and leave their reedbed hide aways at dusk and take to the air. What makes the experience even more memorable is that when gaining height they call a soft gentle bark-type call, which carry’s across the stillness of the fading light as the birds circle higher and higher before you eventually lose them in the darkness. Last night local surveyor Nick Hopper was lucky enough to witness this event at Swineham as a Bittern circled above his head calling before gaining height and disappearing north. Elsewhere in the harbour it was still busy with winter birds as 11 Barnacle Geese were on the Swineham GP, the Great Grey Shrike was still along Soldiers Road, Hen Harriers, Merlin and Peregrine were all busy in the Poole Harbour west area and in the Wareham Channel 7 sightings of at least 5 different Marsh Harrier was encouraging as the breeding season approaches. Off Swineham point 2 Spoonbill and a Spotted Redshank were feeding. The Lesser Yellowlegs was still on Lytchett Fields. The 4 Waxwing were still up in Corfe Mullen on the end of Hanahm Road, dropping down to feed on berry’s occasionally in Bakers View. At Arne, 16 Spoonbill were on Shipstal. In the Wareham Channel good numbers of Red-breasted Merganser are still about and numerous pairs of Raven took advantage of the bright sunshine and windy conditions to perform and display their elaborate tumbling displays to one another.

A nice still morning, but sadly the drizzle and ‘dank’ made birding a bit trickier. Still, calm waters made viewing birds easier. Off shore at Studland there was a single Great Northern Diver, 4 Black-necked Grebe, 8 Great Crested Grebe and 6+ Med Gulls. In the woods behind Knoll Beach 20+ Lesser Redpoll was a good count for what’s been a pretty scarce species this winter. At Middle Beach car park there was a single Firecrest and off Fort Henry, Studland there were 2 Great Northern Diver, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet and c10 Black-necked Grebe, most in transitional summer plumage. The 4 Waxwing were still using the large tree at the end of Hanham Road, but venturing off throughout the day. At Lytchett Fields the Lesser Yellowlegs and Green-winged Teal was on French’s Pools and a Firecrest was along Slough Lane. In the Holes Bay area a Sandwich Tern was in the NE corner, the Ruff and leucistic Black-tailed Godwit were feeding in the fields north of the cycle path and a Woodcock flew over Fleets Corner at dawn. At dusk a raft of 4 Red-throated Diver and 12 Great Crested Grebe were out in Poole Bay.

Ruff and leucistic Black-tailed Godwit – Upton CP  & Holes Bay cycle way – Ian Ballam