The gloom set in early today, but the daylight hours are slowly lengthening. A rising tide at Lytchett Fields this afternoon saw singles of Spotted Redshank, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper, as well as 32 Dunlin, 35 Redshank and 28 Shelduck. Middlebere channel produced 57 Grey Plover, 225 Dunlin, 2 Spotted Redshank, 31 Redshank, 23 Oystercatcher, 31 Curlew, 1 Greenshank, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, 200 Avocet, 1 Peregrine, 3 Little Egret and large flocks of Teal and Wigeon. A Firecrest occupied the sewage plant nearby.

Dunlin – Middlebere – Gary Hayman

Only a few sightings reported today, inlcuding the Siberian Chiffchaff still at PC World Drain off Holes Bay. 4 Scaup, 3 females and adult drake, remain in Holes Bay South East, just south of the railway bridge. A Sandwich Tern was also reported at Holes Bay. 1 Red-Breasted Merganser and low numbers of Goldeneye were seen at Poole Park today. Birds of Poole Harbour are hosting another guided Poole Town Walk on Wednesday 5th of February from 10am-1pm, birding through Poole Quay, around Baiter and Poole Park. Head to our bookings site for more info.

There was some good coverage today with a decent range of species logged. At Middlebere the ringtail Hen Harrier flew by the hide and on the mud there were c250 Avocet, c150 Lapwing, 31 Curlew, 110 Dunlin, 27 Grey Plover, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank and 2 Firecrest were around the cottages. In the Frome Valley a Great White Egret was with a few Little Egret, but for some reason this winter we’re totally devoid of Cattle Egret. Our Poole Town walk came up trumps with a Slavonian Grebe in Parkstone Bay along with 2 Great Northern Diver off Baiter and on Poole Park Lake 4 Goldeneye and 1 Red-breasted Merganser were present. Off Jerry’s point there were 3 Great Northern Diver, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 39 Red-breasted Merganser, 12 Sanderling and 25 Turnstone and in Brands Bay 2 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, c600 Black-tailed Godwit and good numbers of Pintail. In the Wareham Channel only 3 Marsh Harrier have been present in the last few days and the Merlin was on its roosting post this evening. Finally the 4 Scaup were still in Holes Bay SE this morning.

Red-breasted Merganser – Poole Park – Rene Goad

Sightings from Middlebere include 3 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 3 Grey Plover, 62 Black-Tailed Godwit, 280 Avocet, a Peregrine and a Merlin. Also reported high numbers of Grey Plover and Dunlin, as well as 6 Greenshank and 1 Spotted Redshank on Brownsea Lagoon. Also of note was a distant Gannet off Sandbanks beach, as well as the lone Water Pipit at Lytchett Fields.

Brownsea Lagoon, Martin Adams

This morning we had a school bird boat that headed out, and we missed the torrid weather by the skin of our teeth, but still plenty of good birds were logged. A minimum of 5 Great Northern Diver were still dotted around the harbour including a very territorial individual that kept seeing of any Red-breasted Mergansers that dared swim too close. On Shipstal c20 Spoonbill were roosting and 3 Black-necked Grebe, 3 Slavonian Grebe, 27 Red-breasted Merganser and 13 Goldeneye were off Jerry’s Point. The 2 Long-tailed Duck were in Brands Bay along with 1 Great Northern Diver, 71 Shelduck and a decent spread of Pintail. At Middlebere the rain heaved down so most stuff was in hiding but a brave Firecrest was around the hide and c350 Avocet were in the channel. At Lytchett Fields there were 4 Green Sandpiper and at Holton Pools a ringtail Hen Harrier. Sunnyside Farm hosted a record count for the site of 233 Lapwing. A single female Scaup was still present in Holes Bay and there were 2 Water Pipit on Lytchett Fields.

Great Northern Diver – Poole Harbour Central – Paul Morton

Pretty bleak weather out there today. But despite the gloom, Swineham Point offered c250 Lapwing sent up by a female Marsh Harrier, as well as 14 Redshank, 2 Reed Bunting and a Cetti’s Warbler. Nearby, the Swineham Gravel Pits featured c140 Coot, 53 Gadwall, 27 Shoveler, 20 Tufted Duck, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Teal and 46 Canada Geese. A Kingfisher was perched by floodgate as a Long-tailed Tit flock went by. The new scrape at Swineham held a further c210 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag Goose, 38 Curlew, 16 Shelduck and a single Lapwing. The 4 Scaup continue to occupy just south of Holes Bay railway bridge.

Scaup – Holes Bay – Rene Goad

A fresh and breezy Knoll Beach ‘pop up’ this morning rewarded visitors with 5 female Common Scoter, 6 Black-necked Grebe, 7 Mediterranean Gull, a pair of Red-breasted Merganser and small flocks of Brent Goose and Curlew passing south. Large gull flocks were feeding offshore, but no sign of a Gannet or Fulmar in Studland Bay this morning. The slightly more sheltered Jerry’s Point continues to remain the open water species hotspot boasting 4 Slavonian Grebe, 5 Black-necked Grebe, 10 Great Crested Grebe, 12 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Great Northern Diver and 5 Goldeneye. A female Marsh Harrier was recorded over Bog Lane and the Morden Bog Great Grey Shrike was observed around Decoy Pool.

Bearded Tit – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam