Definite highlight of today’s harbour sightings is the first report of a Great Northern Diver for the winter. Usually arriving late October/early November, the numbers will build over the next few weeks and start to drop off again in February/March. This first arrival was seen at Studland from Middle Beach, along with 10 Common Scoter. Also at Studland, the Snow Bunting were showing well again on Redhorn Quay this morning. In Whitley Bay, 25 Turnstone were feeding on the high-tide shoreline, as well as 11 Brent Geese on the water. During a ringing session at Lytchett Fields this morning, 2 Water Pipit and 1 Rock Pipit were ringed, as well as 1 male Merlin and 1 ringtail Hen Harrier reported in the area.

Merlin – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

There’s been a lot of Fieldfare movement today with a flock of 96 on the track at Middlebere this morning, as well as a smaller flock of 10 seen over Holton Heath. Also at Middlebere, 1 Great White Egret flyover was reported. 1 Marsh Harrier reported at Lytchett Fields. At Baiter, 13 Turnstone, 7 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 6 Brent Geese and 3 Sandwich Tern were seen this morning. In Holes Bay, highlights from a count were 1100+ Wigeon, 100+ Avocet and a flock of 35 Dunlin. The Barnacle Goose was seen flying over Lytchett Fields amongst 500+ Canada Geese and low numbers of Greylag. The 2 Snow Bunting were still showing well at Redhorn Point.

Wigeon – Holes Bay – Martin Adams

A decent late autumn day, with winter slowly creeping up on us. The two Snow Bunting on Redhorn Quay were still present all day, but as is often the case, when several birders descend on a certain site, other good birds often get found, which is what happened to day when Phil Saunders found a 1st winter Caspian Gull on the exposed sand spit off Jerry’s Point this evening on the low-tide. Still a really tricky bird to catch up with in the harbour, more Caspian Gull are now being recorded in the harbour and should now certainly be on birders radars when out and about. At Lytchett Fields 3 un-ringed Water Pipit were on the wet fields and a Jack Snipe was flushed. Middlebere was flus with Redwing, Blackbird and Fieldfare feeding on berries along the main track with a Firecrest along there too, 3 different Marsh Harrier and a Merlin. On Poole Park lake a male Goldeneye, 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 7 Sandwich Tern were counted with 2 Kingfisher busy around the main lake. Brands Bay still had 4 Scaup and Middle Beach had 4 Black-necked Grebe.

1st winter Caspian Gull – Jerry’s Point – Phil Saunders

Both Snow Bunting were present around Redhorn, Studland for most of the day, showing well. Off Jerry’s Point, Brands Bay area there were 44 Great Crested Grebe, 34 Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Scaup. Off Middle Beach an evening roost count logged 8 Black-necked Grebe, 8 Common Scoter and 1 Red-breasted Merganser. At Arne there were 32 Spoonbill logged off Shipstal, at Middlebere 4 Spotted Redshank were in the channel with a ringtail Hen Harrier seen too and a Brambling was along the Middlebere track.

Snow Bunting – Redhorn, Studland – Chris Snook

Plenty of top birding to be had across the harbour today. The Poole Harbour Snow Bunting count doubled, with two showing well all afternoon around Redhorn Quay while a female-type Scaup remained offshore. Middlebere weighed in on the action with a smart trio of Ring Ouzel, Brambling and Goosander (logged flying west past hide at 10:35). High-speed action at Studland also logged a Merlin causing havoc beyond Jerry’s Point, chasing down Dunlin while a Spoonbill passed over west. On the Brownsea Lagoon a whopping c700 Cormorant left the roost and headed out to the harbour. A Red Kite drifted north of the harbour, observed from Bere Regis and a late Swallow dashed over Lytchett Fields, keen to avoid this morning’s harsh frost. Lytchett Bay also yielded a very successful pipit ringing session, colouring 10 new birds (3 Water Pipit & 7 Rock Pipit) this morning. Certainly worth keeping an eye out for these birds if birding locally (and wider area) over the coming weeks and months! Other notables included a Marsh Harrier hunting over Holton Pools, the male Hen Harrier quartering Hartland Moor again and RSPB Arne recording 37 Spoonbill and a Great White Egret.

Brambling – Middlebere – Gary Hayman

Ring Ouzel – Middlebere – Gary Hayman

Another blissful late autumn day with bright sunshine and autumnal tones to set the scene. Redwing were arriving at dawn, along with the first real passage of Fieldfare with several groups over Hartland, the Piddle Valley and Arne. The Snow Bunting was still near Redhorn Quay, Studland and a redhead Goosander was in Shell Bay. An incredible total of 8 Long-tailed Duck flew into the harbour at dawn which is we believe one of the highest totals for this species in several decades. They could be just be on passage but really hope they stay for the winter. At Lytchett Bay a ringtail Hen Harrier was logged and also at Middlebere where there were 3 Marsh Harrier. A dawn watch logged 11 different Marsh Harrier depart the west harbour roost and in Brands Bay the Scaup was still around with 2 Goldeneye and 9 Red-breasted Merganser. In Holes Bay NE there were 1094 Wigeon. Red Kite were seen over Fleetsbridge and Hartland. No sign of male White-tailed Eagle G461 today.

Goosander with Brent Geese – Shell Bay – @BirderOtbt on Twitter

White-tailed Eagle on Brownsea Lagoon yesterday from Bird boat – Stuart Pentland

Well, where do we start today? Plenty around the harbour to whet the appetite. Lets start early doors where someone seemed to order some Goosanders with a drake in Shell Bay which later moved into the harbour, another off Arne and one photographed over Lytchett Bay. At Sandbanks 13,750 Wood Pigeon passed over SW. Only one Hen Harrier was seen today which was a ringtail (young male) seen near Hartland and up to 7 different Marsh Harrier were logged around the Wareham Channel, Middlebere and Lytchett Bay. The Snow Bunting was off Redhorn Quay again, Studland as were 2 Great White Egret. At Lytchett Bay the late Whinchat was still in the Arable field and a Jack Snipe was flushed. A Common Sandpiper was in Holes Bay and in Middlebere there was a great range of species including 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Great White Egret, c200 Avocet, c50 Redshank, 100+ Black-tailed Godwit, c100 Lapwing, c10 Dunlin, 10+ Shelduck, 40+ Curlew, 100s Wigeon & Teal plus Shoveler, several Pintail. A Scaup was still present in Brands Bay and a Common Scoter was off the Houseboats.

Finally, the highlight of the day was the reappearance of male White-tailed Eagle G461. He was seen in the Wareham Channel this morning trying to take a Canada Goose off the water before later being seen over Middlebere and then over Arne. However, at 1pm our Low-tide cruise departed Poole Quay with 50 guests, hoping to see a whole range of waders and wildfowl across the harbour. With an initial stop off at the Brownsea Lagoon to have a sneaky peek in the lagoon before the tide dropped, we were thrilled to find that G461 had also decided to visit the lagoon at exactly the same, giving stunning views at he flew low across the water before then settling on a small post in the middle of the lagoon.

This was a very special moment, one we had never even considered just 5 years ago, and here we are now, being able to show big groups of people wild White-tailed Eagles in Poole Harbour……just amazing. A few weeks ago we wrote about these exciting changes, whilst also providing some context around how this new feature fits into a much wider, exciting narrative. You can read the article HERE.

Goosander – Arne – Mark Wright

White-tailed Eagle – Brownsea Lagoon – Alison Copland

Poole Town Eagle – Brownsea Lagoon – Alison Copland

White-tailed Eagle – Brownsea Lagoon – Alison Copland

White-tailed Eagle – Brownsea Lagoon – Alison Copland

Snow Bunting – Redhorn, Studland – Garry Hayman

Without doubt, the best day of the autumn so far weather-wise, just stunning. Frost and ice on the ground at dawn, followed by a blast of late autumn warmth by mid-afternoon prompting Common Darter dragonfly, singing grasshoppers, both Red Admiral and Peacock Butterfly to all appear and Common Chiffchaff to be in full song in a few places.

Wood Pigeon were on the move, possibly pre-empting a big push over the next couple of days? Flocks of several thousand were logged elsewhere in Dorset and with northerly winds and clear sky’s forecast for the next few mornings, there could be many more on the move. The Snow Bunting was again on Redhorn Point, Studland where 2 Scaup were on the water with 2 Goldeneye, 44 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Black-necked Grebe and a Great White Egret over Brands Bay. A Marsh Harrier was over Little Sea, Studland and both the ringtail Hen Harrier and the adult male were seen in Middlebere. Off Middle Beach, Studland there were 5 Common Scoter and a Black-necked Grebe. In Holes Bay the Barnacle Goose was still with the Canada Geese. Redwing were on the move this morning with birds arriving from the north and a couple of Brambling were heard over the Piddle Valley. A couple of ringing sessions were carried out at dawn at a couple of sites in the harbour with 13 Redwing ringed along with Cetti’s Warbler, Stonechat, 3 Blackcap and 3 Chiffchaff. At dusk 98 Magpie entered the Hatch Pond roost.

Redwing – Piddle Valley – Alison Copland

The highlight of today’s sightings was the Snow Bunting seen at Studland at Redhorn Point throughout the afternoon. The last Snow Bunting report in the harbour was in Feb/March of 2017 at Shell Bay, so we are long overdue another sighting! Studland continued to provide sightings today, with a count of Brands Bay from Redhorn providing 320 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 150 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 5 Pintail, 17 Turnstone, 20+ Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Knot and 1 Great White Egret and 1 Scaup. Later this afternoon, an increase with another 5 Scaup off Goathorn logged, meaning 6 in total.

Over in Holes Bay, a full wader count in the early afternoon reported 56 Avocet, 403 Black-tailed Godwit, 52 Curlew, 68 Dunlin, 1 Lapwing, 31 Oystercatcher and 207 Redshank, as well as the Barnacle Goose still being present. 13 Brent Geese were reported in Lytchett Bay, as well as the Whinchat still present in the arable field at Lytchett Fields. The Red-breasted Merganser was still present in Poole Park this morning. There have been plenty of harrier reports today, with Marsh Harrier sightings in Lytchett Bay, over Lytchett Fields and at Little Sea at Studland. A second ringtail Hen Harrier was present hunting over Arne Moors with the juvenile this morning, its slow and methodical hunting evidencing it was a female. 1 Hen Harrier was also reported in the Middlebere Channel this morning, as well as 3 Great White Egret. A scan of the Upton Allotments this morning provided no sightings of the Hoopoe, and with no further reports this afternoon, so it’s possible the bird has moved on.

Snow Bunting – Redhorn Point – @BirderOtbt on Twitter