Temperatures have really dropped today, resulting in higher numbers of Redwing been seen. A flock of c.150 were feeding in Poole Park, adjacent to Copse Close, with several Mistle Thrush and Goldfinch amongst them. Higher numbers of Redwing were also recorded at Holes Bay, along with a nice report of male Pintail starting to display. A count at Whitley Lake produced 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Greenshank, 23 Dunlin, c.100 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Curlew and 4 Sanderling. Another report from Redhorn and Jerry’s Point over at Studland recored 14 Goldeneye, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 7 Red-breasted Merganser, as well as 8 Lesser Redpoll on the Greenlands Farm track. 1 Cattle Egret was also at Swineham and a possible Yellow-browed Warbler was reported at Broadwater View road in Poole.

Pintail – Holes Bay – Ian Ballam

Despite the cold there was excitement today for a number of reasons. Firstly, at dawn 2 Russian White-fronted Geese arrived in at Holes Bay and settled just off the Stone Bench at Upton CP. Hopefully this is just the start of a mini influx that could occur over the next week as snow persists in the east of the country and just across the North Sea. Redwing numbers definitely seemed to increase but no mass passage was observed (yet). The second sighting of interest (which wasn’t actually sighted by anyone) was that one of the White-tailed Sea Eagles from the Isle of Wight project arrived into the harbour just after 8am having roosted in the Avon Valley. It flew in over Sandbanks just after 9am drifting SW, flying over Brownsea and Rempstone and arriving near Kimmeridge at 9am. It then tracked north and flew of Hartland, Slepe Heath and Swineham before settling at Morden Bog for a while before then flying off SW again and settling at Abbotsbury to roost. This is the second Sea Eagle from the project that’s ventured over the harbour in the last year and we hope that many more will follow suit over the coming years. Although it would be nice if one stopped every once in a while. Other sightings today included the Glaucous Gull again on the Brownsea Lagoon, found using the webcam. Plus the first ‘migrant’ Red Kites of the year passed high over Lytchett Bay with 3 together, and another over Slepe Heath plus a male Merlin was also around Lytchett Bay. 5 Slavonian Grebe were off Jerry’s Point with 1 Great Northern Diver and 3 Black-necked Grebe. At Hatch Pond 171 Magpie went into the communal roost.

This evening we also launched the second podcast in our Reintroduction and Rewilding series which focus’s on the White stork Project.

Podcast 2 – The White Stork Project

Join Charlie as he chats with Lucy Groves, a project officer for The White Stork Project. Discover the motivations behind the project, the progress already made and what we can hope to see by 2030, as well as the impacts they have already had in engaging the public with the wildlife…

Rock Pipit – Whitley Lake, Sandbanks

Kingfisher – Holes Bay – Rene Goad

A gorgeous late winter (dare we say it….early spring) day, once the fog had lifted. It seems a few people were out getting their daily exercise today before the ‘Beast from east’ arrives….if it ever arrives? There were signs of an early cold weather movement wit 2 Pochard in Lytchett Bay with 4 Pintail. Up on Ballard 5 Rock Pipit were apparently displaying in full parachute mode on the cliff face highlighting how mild it was in the sun and 2 Fulmar were seen settled on the cliffs too. In Studland Bay there were 9 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver, 11 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Shoveler. Off Jerry’s Point there were 5 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Long-tailed Duck, 4 Black-necked Grebe, 4 Common Scoter and on Little Sea the Great White Egret was roosting. At Wareham Common the first Reed Bunting was back on territory singing and both Mistle and Song Thrush were really going for it at different sites right across the harbour providing a wonderfully tranquil calm before the (snow) storm? The Siberian Chiffchaff was still at the PCW Drain with 2 Firecrest. In Brands Bay the pale-bellied Brent Goose was still present and Egyptian Geese were at Lytchett Fields and Swineham.

Footage of Caspian Gull from Brownsea webcam (05/02/21)

Sanderling & Turnstone – Whitley Lake, Sandbanks

Dunnock were in full song right across the harbour today – Upton CP

Without doubt, todays highlight was a Caspian Gull found on the Brownsea lagoon webcam whilst searching for the Glaucous Gull which also appeared. Caspian Gull are exceptionally rare in Poole harbour despite their building presence elsewhere along the south coast. In fact todays was only the 3rd confirmed record for the recording area. Other nice highlights today included 6 Red-throated Diver west at Branksome Chine this AM and 51 Great Crested Grebe sat on the water. At Whitley Lake, Sandbanks there were 2 Sandwich Tern, 11 Sanderling, c30 Dunlin, c50 Bar-tailed Godwit and 1 Great Northern Diver.  A quick scout around Baiter produced 66 Oystercatcher, 57 Brent Brent, 10 Turnstone, 2 Redshank with  Goldeneye offshore. A German colour-ringed Common Gull was was observed from Stone Bench, Upton Country Park. Both Peregrine were seen again on the ASDA highrise. Two Slavonian Grebe still towards Brand’s Bay early afternoon. Upton Country Park featured 3 Firecrest along the path that runs between Grove Pond and Lambs Leas Field, a pair as you enter from Back Drive and the other on it’s own at the other end of the path.

Caspian Gull – Brownsea Lagoon – screen grab from webcam

Common Buzzard – Upton CP – Ian Ballam

Firecrest – Upton CP – Ian Ballam

(Dark-bellied) Brent Goose – Baiter – Martin Adams

Join us on an online twitch this eve as we try & locate the Glaucous Gull again on our Brownsea Lagoon webcam. It’s been in the last two evenings so a good chance it could re-appear! We’ll start scanning from 5pm.

A Great White Egret made a welcome appearance at Redhorn Point, adding some variety to the old reliable Scaup, Slavonian Grebe,  Long-tailed Duck, Goldeneye and more. At least 380 Dunlin, 141 Avocet, 124 Redshank, 50 Curlew, 24 Oystercatcher on the low tide. Most notable was a sharp drop in Black-tailed Godwit numbers saw only 119 individuals recorded today! At least 106 Redwing on east field of Upton Country Park. A rising tide at Lytchett Fields held 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 230 Dunlin, 70 Redshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 94 Lapwing and 65 Teal. A female Sparrowhawk and Marsh Harrier made an appearance throughout the day, and a flock of 30 Linnet passed over.

Great White Egret – Redhorn Point – Garry Hayman

All eyes on the Brownsea Lagoon webcams this evening to stream the gull roost. With a first winter Glaucous Gull seen yesterday, it’s likely to appear again this evening. The familiar Jerry’s Point crew continue to impress, with 4 Long-tailed Duck, 5 Common Scoter, 4 Scaup, 3 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Black-necked Grebe, 14 Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser present. Whitecliff shoreline featured 2 Goldeneye, 17 Turnstone, 5 Oystercatcher and a single Dark-bellied Brent Goose that separated from the large flock feeding on Baiter playing fields. Numerous observers spotted the Peregrine on the ADSA high-rise building. Another Peregrine was logged around Old Harry, perched on the cliffs with several Rock Pipit around. The surrounding fields held a minimum of 8 Yellowhammer and c.10 displaying Skylark. South Beach clocked up c.100 Mediterranean Gulls, c.70 Common Gulls, 1 Great Northern Diver. Plus there was 1 Slavonian and 1 Black-necked Grebe. On the return leg there was a Great Northern Diver and close views of Shag. The woods leading to Old Harry held a Firecrest.

Finally, highlight of the day was a 1st winter Glaucous Gull that appeared on the Brownsea Lagoon webcam at 17:20. We’ll be scanning again each evening to try and re-find it, so make sure to tune into the Mac Hide webcam from 5pm to help us search!

Glaucous Gull – Screen grab from Brownsea Lagoon webcam

Peregrine – ASDA highrise – Shazz Hooper

Male Pintail – Holes Bay – Rene Goad

It was nice to squint a little today as the sun broke from the clouds late morning. The welcome warmth prompted some activity and we encountered our first butterfly of the year on the wing – a Peacock. It terms of bird records, an unringed Water Pipit was observed at Holton Pools and 3 Spotted Redshank were feeding in Middlebere Channel. A search for the Sandbanks Purple Sandpiper returned 3 Black-necked Grebe, Great Northern Diver and a Kittiwake. Moving south of the Ferry Terminal, Shell Bay clocked up a further 2 Black-necked and 2 Slavonian Grebes, 1 Great Northern Diver and a handful of Gannets feeding offshore. Jerry’s Point and Redhorn Quay totals included 4 Long-Tail Duck, 3 Common Scoter, 4 Great Northern Diver, 3 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Scaup, 4 Black-necked Grebe and good numbers of Goldeneye. Knoll Beach produced 26 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Common Scoter, a single Black-necked Grebe and several Great Crested Grebe. Turnstone were very prominent with good counts across the northern side of the harbour, various counts observed feeding flocks at Hamworthy (22), Poole and Baiter Parks (21), Whitley Lake (34) and Sandbanks (30).

Peacock Butterfly – Piddle Valley

Mediterranean Gull – Knoll Beach – Garry Hayman

The Holes Bay Common Sandpiper continues to show well, today being photographed through the foliage from the cycle path while 2 Water Pipit were recorded at Lytchett Fields. Jerry’s Point continues to delight with 7 Black-necked Grebe, 6 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Great Northern Diver and the Pale-bellied Brent Goose. Four Long-tailed Duck remained distant offshore and the regular 4 Scaup were still off Redhorn Point.

Comparison of Black-necked (left) and Slavonian Grebe (right) – Jerry’s Point – Garry Hayman

Common Sandpiper – Holes Bay – Ian Ballam