There’s no doubt Poole Harbour is easiest to bird than in winter with good numbers of a whole host of species dotted around various parts of the harbour. With yesterdays Long-tailed Duck and Scaup the winter vibe really picked up and it continued this morning too with a Velvet Scoter settled out in Brands Bay along with 9 Black-necked Grebe, 46 Red-breasted Merganser, 28 Great Crested Grebe and a Great Northern Diver was in Shell Bay. Around the Groynes of North Haven 3 Rock Pipit were feeding on cast seaweed and a few Meadow Pipit were moving overhead. Out in Whitley Lake, Sandbanks there were 108 Brent Geese, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit and 11 Turnstone. Off Branksome Chine 3 Sandwich Tern were feeding along the shoreline and 3 Common Scoter were settled on the water at the end of the day before alighting and headed into the harbour where they settled off Jerry’s Point with 2 Great Northern Diver which also flew in at dusk whilst 23 Shag left. At Lytchett Fields there were 4 Avocet, 6 Greenshank, 8 Dunlin, c70 Redshank, 1 Water Pipit and 1 Rock Pipit and out in Lytchett Bay 49 Brent Geese, c100 Cormorant, 3 Little Grebe and 1 Red-breasted Merganser were on the water with 2 Bearded Tit in the reedbed. The Sunnyside Scrape was pretty flooded but held good numbers of Lapwing, Teal, Gadwall and Mallard and in Poole Park there was no sign of the Scaup but 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Little Grebe were logged.

Rock Pipit – North Haven – Sandbanks

With the worst of yesterday’s winds passed there were strong winter vibes out in the Harbour today. Early morning saw a summer plumage Great-northern Diver enter through the harbour mouth, along with a Velvet Scoter heading towards South Deep and Brands Bay where it joined c50-60 Red-breasted Merganser. Meanwhile Bramble Bush Bay sheltered 4 Greenshank, 2 Sanderling, 19 Turnstone, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver and 3 Great-crested Grebes. Also a Peregrine passing over Studland. Over the other side of the peninsula there was a nice surprise of c12 Bottlenose Dolphin just outside the harbour mouth off Pilots Point at Shell Bay, along with 1 Common Scoter and a female Long-tailed Duck which settled briefly before being disturbed by jet skis.

On the North Haven side a Black Redstart was found on Sandbanks Pavilion roof, plus c15 Brent Geese in Whitley Lake. Further round at Poole Park there was a 1st-winter Scaup in south-east corner of boating lake just 3 feet off the duck feeding area!

Lytchett Fields was still half flooded this morning holding only 34 Lapwing, Black Headed Gulls and a Little Egret. These were later joined by 94 Avocet, 10 Dunlin and 2 Red-breasted Merganser.

At Middlebere the channel held good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets, Lapwing, Teal & Wigeon, plus 3 Pintail, 7 Brent Geese, 27 Grey Plover & 6 Spotted Redshank. Raptor wise a Peregrine was making the most of the vacant Osprey pole, whilst a Sparrowhawk and a female Marsh Harrier and also made appearances. Further up the track on Hartland moor there was a Male Merlin eating breakfast early morning and later a female at the end of the tramway. Finally, a late Hobby over the Arne Road this afternoon, and 6 Marsh Harrier in west of the harbour around Swineham/Wareham Channel area.

The winds were howling this morning, making the afternoon winds of 36 mph seem positively light! Conditions limited time spent in the field. However, scanning a blustery Brownsea Lagoon from the comfort of our HQ revealed c220 Dunlin, 21 Avocet, c20 Grey Plover and c60Black-tailed Godwit amongst reasonable numbers of Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Redshank, Greenshank, Teal, Gadwall, and Shoveler.

There were no signs of yesterday’s Hen Harriers over at Middlebere but the conditions were far from ideal. Compensation came in the form of several Marsh Harrier showing well as they battled the strong winds including a stunning adult male which are incredibly rare plumage type and age of Marsh Harrier in Poole Harbour. 

A visit to South Haven early afternoon as the winds eased prodiced 1 Red-throated Diver, 125+ Brent Goose, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 10 Sanderling. Brands Bay held 2 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and 17 Turnstone.

Amazingly, an evening visit to Swineham produced a really late Wood Sandpiper on one of the new scrapes which is probably one of the latest Dorset records. Also on the scrapes were c200 Black-tailed Godwit, 24 Lapwing, 53 Curlew and 2 different Marsh Harrier flew over. On the main gravel pit at Swineham was a single Goldeneye (rare here) and 4 Great Crested Grebe. A Black Redstart was in a private garden on the housing estate opposite Purbeck Sports Centre.

Around Studland there was a Red-throated Diver, 125 + Brent Goose, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 10 Sanderling and in Brands Bay 2 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and 17 Turnstone.

Marsh Harrier – Middlebere – Simon Kidner

A busy scene on Brownsea Lagoon

Black-tailed Godwit – Brownsea Lagoon

The winds were howling this morning, making the afternoon winds of 36 mph seem positively light! Conditions limited time spent in the field. However, scanning a blustery Brownsea Lagoon from the comfort of our HQ revealed c220 Dunlin, 21 Avocet, c20 Grey Plover and c60Black-tailed Godwit amongst reasonable numbers of Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Redshank, Greenshank, Teal, Gadwall, and Shoveler.

There were no signs of yesterday’s Hen Harriers over at Middlebere but the conditions were far from ideal. Compensation came in the form of several Marsh Harrier showing well as they battled the strong winds including a stunning adult male which are incredibly rare plumage type and age of Marsh Harrier in Poole Harbour.

A visit to South Haven early afternoon as the winds eased produced 1 Red-throated Diver, 125+ Brent Goose, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 10 Sanderling. Brands Bay held 2 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and 17 Turnstone.

Amazingly, an evening visit to Swineham produced a really late Wood Sandpiper on one of the new scrapes which is probably one of the latest Dorset records. Also on the scrapes were c200 Black-tailed Godwit, 24 Lapwing, 53 Curlew and 2 different Marsh Harrier flew over. On the main gravel pit at Swineham was a single Goldeneye (rare here) and 4 Great Crested Grebe. A Black Redstart was in a private garden on the housing estate opposite Purbeck Sports Centre.

Around Studland there was a Red-throated Diver, 125 + Brent Goose, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 10 Sanderling and in Brands Bay 2 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and 17 Turnstone.

Marsh Harrier – Middlebere – Simon Kidner

A busy scene on Brownsea Lagoon

Black-tailed Godwit – Brownsea Lagoon

Finally, 2 Hen Harrier in the harbour today – sighted in and around Middlebere! And it turned out to be a fine day on the raptor front as 4 Marsh Harrier were observed between Arne Moors and Keysworth shore, a female Merlin was perched in birches below Great Knoll on Hartland and at least one (possibly two) Short-eared Owl were seen from Lytchett Bay View during a watch this morning.

An impressive 56 species were recorded during the Lytchett Bay View watch including a sub adult male Marsh Harrier, 375 Wigeon, 328 Teal, 5 Brent Goose, 185 Canada Goose, 9 Mute Swan, 2 Gadwall, 58 Shelduck, 6 Mallard, 1 Red-breasted Merganser (first of the winter in the Bay), 2 Great Crested Grebe, 104 Avocet, 78 Oystercatcher, 46 Lapwing, 28 Curlew, 253 Black-tailed Godwit, 31 Dunlin, 4 Snipe, 2 Greenshank and 132 Redshank. Crikey! Lytchett Fields also held 2 Water Pipit.

A Great Bustard flew over Studland towards Old Harry earlier this afternoon.

A short stint at the Raptor screen, Arne rewarded views of Marsh Harrier and Kingfisher and Fieldfare. Brownsea Lagoon was teeming with activity and the webcams provided views of abundant Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Brent Goose and various wildfowl.

Lytchett Fields held 7 Water Pipit, 4 Spotted Redshank, 3 Dunlin, 3 Greenshank and 40 Redshank. Brownsealagoon webcams offered views of c50 Avocet, c100 Dunlin, c20 Curlew, Grey Plover and numerous wildfowl. A morning along Holes Bay NE and NW produced c500 Black-tailed Godwit, c600 Wigeon, 29 Avocet, 84 Dunlin, c120 Redshank, c60 Curlew, c60 Oystercatcher, c50 Shoveler, c20 Pintail, 3 Kingfisher and 1 Brent Goose. Baiter Park featured singles Sandwich Tern and female Goldeneye.