Another decent bird arrived today in the shape of a Snow Bunting which was on Shell Bay beach, originally seen feeding in the bird/wader protection area that was recently installed, but later in the afternoon it relocated further up the beach towards South Haven. Within the harbour the juvenile Eider was still out in central harbour and there was a minimum of 3 Great Northern Diver, with 2 off Jerry’s Point and 1 in central harbour with 2 Red-throated Diver also seen near the harbour mouth. A White-tailed Eagle was seen crossing the Wareham Channel and a whopping harbour record of 23 (possibly 24) Marsh Harrier came out of the west harbour roost. A ringtail Hen Harrier was off Coombe Heath with a Merlin and an amazing 1000+ Jackdaws went into roost on Pergins Island, Holes Bay where 2 Spotted Redshank had been earlier in the SW sector. On Brownsea, 30+ Spoonbill were roosting.

Snow Bunting – Shell Bay, Studland – Twitter – OTBTbirder (@BirderOtbt)

At this time of year, our nocturnal ringing really picks up, using thermal imaging equipment to aid the process, making identifying and finding birds in the field much easier. We haven’t been successful in trialling this technique during the day before, but after accidentally flushing a Jack Snipe in the lower Piddle Valley earlier in the week, we returned to see if we could re-find it today using the thermal imaging scope. We had success, catching our first daytime Jack Snipe, which we then processed. We’re looking forward to getting started with our Nocturnal Ringing Demos later this month.

Otherwise, sightings have been quiet so far today, with the highlight of a Gannet flying into the harbour, headed between Brownsea and Furzey this afternoon. Peregrine activity has been reported throughout the day from Poole Town, Holes Bay and in the lower Piddle Valley.

Jack Snipe – Lower Piddle Valley

It was blowing like crazy today, especially this morning, but that didn’t stop 20+ Marsh Harriers coming out of the West Harbour roost this morning. Also a very flooded Middlebere this saw 1 Kingfisher, 5 Spotted Redshanks, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 late Swallows past the hide. This afternoon was one of our winter low-tide cruises which seemed a bit extreme to begin with, however after 15 mins we were in more sheltered areas and well into the birds with more than enough on show. There were multiple highlights but 8+ Marsh Harrier flying around Swineham in almost constant view was a real treat. Out in central harbour a juv Eider was bobbing around on its own and there were 2 Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Northern Diver along with only 7 Red-breasted Merganser and 5+ Great Crested Grebe. Up on the Swineham floods/scrapes there were c200 Canada and Greylag Geese with 2 Egyptian Geese mixed in as well as a few Shoveler and Gadwall. In the Wareham Channel 4 Spoonbill were feeding in the sheltered bay off Arne and on the Brownsea Lagoon 1000’s of Herring Gulls were coming into roost along with 100’s of Common, Great Black-backed and Black Headed Gull as we passed by. A Great White Egret was on Swineham GP and a second flew over the Wareham Channel heading towards Keysworth. On the Brownsea Lagoon c250 Avocet were feeding and there’s been a definite arrival of dark-bellied Brent Geese with c200 in the Newton/Ower Bay area. A Barn Owl was hunting in the approach field at Lytchett Fields this evening and a ringtail Hen Harrier flew past the Middlebere hide this afternoon too. We also forgot to add that on Saturday there was an excellent November record of a Whinchat on Hartland Moor mid-morning.

Finally, news broke today that a Waxwing has already made it to Dorset (Overcombe, Weymouth), so if you know of any Rowan or berry laden trees/shrubs in your local area then keep a close eye on them over the next few weeks. And most importantly, learn their call, as you often hear them before you see them. Below is a recording we made back in February 2017 of 3 individuals sat in a small tree next to a main road in Corfe Mullen.

This morning was shaping up nicely to be a Wood Pigeon morning, and in a way it was, but just without the intensity of previous years. The duration of the migration is what was spectacular about this mornings movement, with passage often drying up by 10:30am. However, today long lines of Wood Pigeon continued to arrive in high over Poole Harbour airspace, from the east, over Sandbanks, over Brownsea and then out over Nine Barrow Down. In total, our 7am – 1pm watch logged 29,989 Wood Pigeon, far short of the Dorset record count of 140k+ in November 2010. But hey, it was still great to watch and experience and a whole range of other species were logged. The count was carried out from near the Sea View viewpoint in North Poole, looking out south across the harbour where 3 Hawfinch, 1 Brambling, 129 Redwing, 27 Skylark, 52 Siskin, 7 Fieldfare, 1 Golden Plover, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 different Sparrowhawk sightings and 3 different Peregrine sightings were also logged, as well as smaller totals of other passage migrants such as Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtails and Greenfinch. Also logged was what we think is a Poole Harbour record count of 928 Cormorant which moved across the harbour at dawn from the Wareham Channel area towards Whitley Lake, Sandbanks. Migration was evident elsewhere around the harbour with another Hawfinch logged over Stoborough with 2 Woodlark, 2 Brambling, 163 Redwing, 48 Fieldfare, 1 Red Kite, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 White-tailed Eagle also counted. At Lytchett fields another Golden Plover went over and a Marsh Tit was in Chads Copse, Lytchett Bay next to Lytchett Bay viewpoint. A Water Pipit was also right in front of the new screen at Rock Lea view. Off the Sandbanks Quay and north Haven there was a single Red-throated Diver and 2 Black-necked Grebe in Shell Bay. There were 2 White-tailed Eagles over Middlebere including 4 year old G318, a female we hope sticks around as she’ll soon be thinking about potential breeding sites and mates! There was also 1 Curlew Sandpiper at Lytchett Fields and a minimum of 50 Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon. A vis-mig session at South Haven, Studland produced 1 late Swallow, 5 Brambling, 18 Lesser Redpoll and 120 Chaffinch. 

Wood Pigeons Migrating over Poole Harbour

On the falling tide at Lytchett Fields this morning, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 1 Grey Plover and 1 Spotted Redshank were present. The highest count of Avocet in Lytchett Bay so far this season was logged this morning with 41 present, as well as 18 Brent Geese. 2 Black-necked Grebe were reported today, one visible in Brands Bay, and another between Goathorn and Brownsea Island.

With the mixed weather today it’s been a quiet day for sightings, though we anticipate tomorrow to be a more interesting morning, with clear skies and conditions that look ideal for strong Wood Pigeon movement. With movements of 62,000+ logged further along the Purbeck coastline yesterday, they are definitely on the move. We recommend an early start tomorrow, positioning yourself at key spots like Baiter Point or Evening Hill will hopefully prove fruitful in awaiting the large flocks of the pigeons passing through – keep your eyes on the skies!

Rock Lea Viewpoint – Lytchett Bay – Liz Woodford

Although fleeting, clearer skies in the morning saw a minor movement of Wood Pigeon across the harbour with 200 shifted over Stoborough. Further along the Purbeck coastline witnessed 62,000+(!). Impressive numbers considering the conditions were more suitable for a seawatch. And a stint from Branksome Chine beach huts doing exactly that produced a group of 7 Kittiwake, 1 Common Scoter, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Gannet. Over at Lytchett Bay, French’s Island logged Curlew Sandpiper and Mediterranean Gull while the Ruff occupied Sherford Pools. Poole Park featured 150+ Cormorants again this morning, accompanied by 7 Sandwich Tern, 7 Greylag, a single Little Grebe and 35 Oystercatcher, with 70 more of the latter on Baiter.

Marsh Harrier – Wareham Channel – Steve’s Wildlife Moments @hopefulseb

Various deluges today hampered any serious birding attempts, especially in between the violent thunder claps and flashes of lightening. Although when the sun did peak out, the warmth did return….briefly.

A watch from Rock Lea viewpoint produced 2 Marsh Harrier and Lytchett Fields still had 2 Curlew Sandpiper, with 1 Spotted Redshank and 1 Jack Snipe was flushed along the approach path to the viewpoints. There were also 2 Cattle Egret in with the cows on Lytchett Fields. A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Middlebere, where 3 Spotted Redshank were feeding. A White-tailed Eagle was seen briefly in the Wareham Channel.

Cormorant flock – Poole Park – Martin Adams