What a cracking day to be out on the water, although it was an interesting atmosphere to start with for our Winter Safari Cruise with the cold heavy fog over the south of the harbour today. As the fog lifted, Brownsea Lagoon was mostly frozen, with the usual large flock of Black-tailed Godwit roosting elsewhere – likely contributing to the 2000+ Black-tailed Godwit seen in Holes Bay this morning, along with 200 Avocet. There were still plenty of birds using the lagoon, including around 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 200 Avocet, 50 Bar-tailed Godwit, 40 Oystercatcher, 20 Curlew, 6 Sanderling, 10 Turnstone, 30 Wigeon, 10 Teal and 2 Grey Plover present. Many of the open water birds had moved into the central harbour and Wareham Channel, with 120 Red-breasted Merganser and 40 Great Crested Grebe around. 1 Black-necked Grebe provided stunning views near Redhorn. A further 7 Black-necked Grebe were also reported from Middle Beach today. In the Wareham Channel, at least 2 Marsh Harrier were seen, along with the highlight of a ringtail Hen Harrier over Arne Moors. The recent clear skies and full moon has definitely seen a departure of some species, with notably low numbers of Goldeneye logged with just 6 in the Wareham Channel. Later in the afternoon, 3 White-tailed Eagle were active in the Wareham Channel which is frustrating to say the least considering we had a boat trip this morning and didn’t see them! There’s always next time. The Barclays Peregrines were up on the ledge again and seen dropping down onto the nesting tray.

Fog over Poole Harbour – Poole Quay – David White

There wasn’t a great deal to see for much of the morning, not even your hand in front of your face, but as the fog and gloom cleared it revealed a few bits and pieces. A cold and frosty start in Holes Bay produced 2500+ Black-tailed Godwit and 200+ Avocet with well over 1500 Wigeon and 750 Teal with 4 Common Snipe in the Creekmoor Channel. There were 3 White-tailed Eagle active around the Wareham Channel area with one footed male G463 seen in Lytchett Bay. There was also a male Merlin seen dashing through past Rock Lea view and a Cattle Egret flew over Wareham Common this evening heading to roost.

White-tailed Eagle – Lytchett Bay – Alison Copland

What a beaut of a day. Lots more of these please! The warmth has really triggered some breeding activity as well as the emergence of numerous insect species. Red Admiral and a Comma Butterfly were on the wing, ponds and ditches are already bustling with Common Frog and Common Toad wrestling for females and soon to be laying spawn. Crocus’s, Daffodils and Snowdrops are all in flower and bird song is ringing in the air. There has already been multiple courtship displays logged with Sparrowhawk and Goshawk now in full display mode, Common Buzzard were also out in force today and the Poole Peregrines have been busy dropping down to the nest ledge on the (ex) Barclays building, attending to their nest and no doubt prepping for another busy summer of parenthood. Although White-tailed Eagles have been ‘around’ in recent weeks, they’ve not been spending long periods of time in the harbour, however today 3 were very active around the Wareham Channel and Lytchett Bay area. In Middlebere this afternoon 2 Hen Harrier were buzzing about. At Norden Sewage Works there was a minimum of 10 Common Chiffchaff and 3 Firecrest. Off Middle Beach a Slavonian Grebe and a Great Northern Diver were seen and at Lytchett Fields there were 2 Water Pipit and 1 Spotted Redshank. At Hatch Pond the female Bearded Tit was seen again.

Ringtail Hen Harrier – Middlebere – Rob Morrison

A nice mix of reports today despite low coverage, with a Slavonian Grebe in Poole Bay, off Alum Chine. This morning 2 Eider flew in to the harbour and around lunchtime a White-tailed Eagle flew over Lytchett Bay. Shipstal Bay hosted 17 Spoonbill, there were 7 Common Scoter, 2 Slavonian Grebe and 10 Black-necked Grebe in Studland Bay. At Swineham 4 Marsh Harrier were active this afternoon, Raven were ‘cronking’ over the gravel pit and a Chiffchaff was even in song briefly at the eastern end of the main pit. In the PCW Drain 10+ Chiffchaff were along the ditch with a Firecrest again (opposite KFC).

Black Redstart – North Haven, Sandbanks – Ian ballam

Another early spring-like day brought welcome sunshine and periods of warmth triggering plenty of birdsong. Woodlark have begun finding their voice and many more familiar garden birds are in full plastic song. Highlights from across the harbour include a Black Redstart in a Carey garden. A watch from Shell Bay enjoyed 2 Great Northern Diver occupying Poole Bay, with 5 Eider and 12 Pintail picked up flying into the harbour. While a Firecrest was actively feeding behind Rock Lea View, Lytchett Bay.

Black Redstart – Carey Garden – Seb Haggett

A bit of a blustery one today. Not too much birding to be had, but a good clean sweep of the usuals with male White-tailed Eagle G463 low over Lytchett Fields heading north. The 5 Eider were seen near the harbour mouth at dawn, before entering the harbour mouth, with a Great Northern Diver on the sea in Shell Bay and a Slavonian Grebe off Jerry’s Point. A male and female Goosander headed down river, towards the harbour over Holmebridge and 2 Woodlark flew over. There was a Spotted Redshank at Lytchett Fields and another in Middlebere. In the mouth of the Frome/Piddle 6 Marsh Harrier were active, 5 Black-necked Grebe were in a choppy Studland Bay, at Shipstal just 11 Spoonbill were roosting, but for pure spectacle this afternoon, Holes Bay north was stacked with birds including c4000 Black-tailed Godwit, c3500 Wigeon and in the PCW drain lots of Chiffchaff again and 2 Kingfisher.

White-tailed Eagle G463 – Lytchett Fields – Colin Moyes

An interesting Winter Safari Cruise today, with a bit of a shift in gears for species that were seen to kick off the new month’s birding. As we moved around the harbour on the low tide, it was apparent that many of the open water birds that we’ve been picking up recently have moved on, with the lack of Great Northern Diver particularly of note. However, the low tide provided a stunning array of wader and wildfowl activity, with c.800 Brent Geese between Newton and Ower Bay, with around 150 Wigeon amongst them. 5 Spoonbill were feeding in Ower Bay, with Avocet, Curlew, Grey Plover and Redshank amongst the many birds making the most of the exposed mud. 2 Goldeneye were picked up near Goathorn, and there were around 85 Red-breasted Merganser across the harbour. Brownsea Lagoon offered views of around 200 Avocet and 400 Black-tailed Godwit, which were seen moving off high over Poole in large streams as we approached the Wareham Channel.

The channel provided excellent views of waders, with c250 Lapwing on the mud, as well as 30 Grey Plover, 1 Greenshank, 1 Spoonbill, 25 Curlew, around 175 Dunlin, and 30 Redshank with a few Avocet amongst them. Marsh Harrier activity was nice at the top end of the Wareham Channel, with at least 5 birds active, and 1 Peregrine was perched on a post on Arne Moors. Elsewhere, 8 Black-necked Grebe were counted in Studland Bay this morning. 4 Spoonbill were seen feeding in the Middlebere Channel, along with decent numbers of Avocet and 1 Marsh Harrier. At Lytchett Fields this morning, a very high total of 625 Lapwing were counted across the two main fields – the highest count since 2015. In Lytchett Bay, 4 Spoonbill and 3 Shoveler were reported this afternoon. In Holes Bay, over 1000 Black-tailed Godwit, 185 Avocet, 87 Dunlin, 20 Brent Geese and 6 Gadwall were seen this morning, as well as 50+ Redwing at Upton Country Park.

Lytchett Bay – Shaun Robson