There were loads of decent open water species spread out across South Deep, Brownsea shore and Brands Bay this afternoon, mostly viewable from Jerry’s Point and Redhorn Quay at Studland. Combined totals in this area included 7 Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Eider, 5 Goldeneye, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 3 Black-necked Grebe, c40 Great Crested Grebe and 17 Red-breasted Merganser. Out in Studland Bay there were 3 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver and 5 Common Scoter and in Shell Bay another (sum plum) Great Northern Diver and 12 Sanderling were on the beach. A grey male Hen Harrier was at RSPB Arne, a ringtail Hen Harrier was at Lytchett Bay this AM.

Long-tailed Duck – Jerry’s Point 

Yet again it was a tale of two halves today, with not even the ducks wanting to venture out this morning in the torrid weather. Then, as if someone had flicked a light switch we had crystal blue sky’s and bright sunshine. The open water was still a bit choppy, but still good enough to log 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Eider, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 22 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Goldeneye and 21 Great Crested Grebe between Jerry’s Point and Redhorn Quay. At Lytchett Bay the male Brambling was at the feeder station again and there was a Spotted Redshank on the fields, this morning an adult male Hen Harrier was hunting around the bay and 2 Spoonbill were in the bay. An adult female Peregrine was hunting and causing mayhem between Middlebere and Wytch Lake and there were decent numbers of Fieldfare moving around the south of the harbour, especially between Studland and Middlebere with flocks of c100 birds dotted around. Off Middle Beach, Studland there were 3 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Common Scoter and the Long-tailed Duck was seen briefly off Jerry’s Point late this afternoon. A Great White Egret was in Middlebere and there was a good count of 34 Knot in Holes Bay.

Brambling – Lytchett Bay – Peter Moore

An excellent Winter Safari around the harbour today with stunning views of male White-tailed Eagle G463 giving several flybys past the boat, appearing to be hunting waders on the mud. Still impressive numbers of Great Northern Diver with 20 spread across the whole harbour, including North Channel, South Deep, Central Harbour and Wareham Channel. Also 1 Red-throated Diver off South Deep, 2 female Eider off Jerry’s Point, 4 Goldeneye, 1 Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harrier, a very brief Goshawk, c300 Avocet, 2 Spoonbill and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit along with ‘the usual’.

The 1 Long-tailed Duck was also seen again today from the harbour mouth as well as 12 Bar-tailed Godwit in Whitley Lake. In Holes Bay there were 34 Knot, 5 Spoonbill, 2000+ Black-tailed Godwit, 1000+ Wigeon, 300+ Dunlin, 150 Avocet and 80 Pintail. An adult male Hen Harrier was at Arne RSPB. Seen today in Lytchett Bay, from the Rock Lea Viewpoint were 80 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank, 6 Spoonbill, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Brambling.

Male White-tailed Eagle G463 – Birds of Poole Harbour Winter Safari – Seb Elwood

A much brighter day allowed for some more sightings in the harbour today. Lots of areas underwater at the moment after all the heavy rain and on the flooded fields at Holmebridge today were 10 Cattle Egret as well as 1 Marsh Harrier. 1 adult male Hen Harrier headed over Arne Moors this morning. Off Jerry’s Point, Studland were 2 Slavonian Grebe, 2 female Eider and 2 Black-necked Grebe and between Jerry’s Point and Redhorn Quay were 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver, 31 Great-crested Grebe, 4 Goldeneye and the 1 female Long-tailed Duck again. In Brands Bay, the highest count of the Autumn/Winter so far for Lapwing of 74 as well as 18 Knot and 5 Common Snipe. Also at Studland, off Middle Beach were 3 Black-necked Grebe. Holes Bay is still holding huge numbers of birds including, c1840 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Knot, 700 Wigeon, 300 Teal, 200 Dunlin, 80 Redshank and 90 Pintail. Lastly, as the light faded, 15 Woodcock came out of roost around Wareham Common late this afternoon as well as 1 Barn Owl.

Slavonian Grebe – Jerry’s Point, Studland – Clive Hargrave

Red-breasted Merganser – Jerry’s Point, Studland – Clive Hargrave

A very murky, rainy day making sightings few and far between. An adult Little Gull was in the Whimbrel Fields at Lytchett Fields today along with a Spotted Redshank. 117 Avocet were also roosting on French’s Field and a Jack Snipe was flushed from approach fields. In Brands Bay the possible Blue-winged Teal could not be refound but conditions did not help in this. There was a new juvenile Long-tailed Duck in Brands Bay as well as 1 Slavonian Grebe still.

Adult Little Gull – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Thankfully yesterdays rain cleared away over night, and with the breeze easing off and swinging to the north, it was actually a calm, settled morning across the harbour. Great conditions for this mornings Winter Safari Cruise which saw multiple highlights. In total 11 Great Northern Diver were logged including a near summer plumaged bird in between Hamworthy Beach and RSPB Arne with 3 in South Deep, 4 in central harbour, 1 off Brownsea north shore and 2 in Wareham Channel. There was also a Black-throated Diver off the houseboats at Bramble Bush Bay, Studland and a Red-throated Diver off the Furzey Island slipway. The Long-tailed Duck was off Jerry’s Point and 2 new Eider were off Redhorn Quay. On Swineham GP there were 8 Pochard, at Shipstal, RSPB Arne 7 Spoonbill, 8 Goldeneye in central harbour, 4 Marsh Harrier at Swineham and a Goshawk was hunting Wood Pigeon in the trees on Green Island and a Great White Egret was on Swineham GP. There still aren’t masses of Red-breasted Merganser back with only c50 logged across the open water but Great Crested Grebe are certainly back in good numbers. A decent flock of c200 Fieldfare were also flying over the Studland peninsular. Elsewhere, the White-tailed Eagle pair were active again on the Brownsea Lagoon this morning hunting and in Middlebere there was 1 Great White Egret, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Spotted Redshank. At Lytchett Fields there were also 2 Spotted Redshank. In Holes Bay there were still good numbers of Pintail present with c70 in the NW section, plus c200 Avocet spread across the northern bays. Also logged off Jerry’s point later this afternoon were 2 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Slavonian Grebe a fly over male Hen Harrier and off Knoll Beach there were 4 Black-necked Grebe. Finally, there were 20 Waxwing just 23km NE of the harbour today in Fordingbridge. Everyone be on the look out!

Black-throated Diver – Bramble Bush Bay, from Winter Safari Cruise – Mark Wright

Red-throated Diver – South Deep, from Winter Safari Cruise – Mark Wright

Partial summer plumage Great Northern Diver – Off Hamworthy Beach, from Winter Safari Cruise – Mark Wright

Long-tailed Duck – South Deep, from Winter Safari Cruise – Mark Wright

A drizzly day in the harbour today, meaning sightings were minimal. However, there were 2 reports of Little Gull today with one being seen in Lytchett Bay and a 1st winter at the South Haven Houseboats. A new record total of Pintail were counted in Holes Bay this afternoon with 108 being seen. 1 Great Northern Diver was also off Baiter Park and the Long-tailed Duck was still in Brands Bay off Redhorn Quay.

The poor weather didn’t stop our School Bird Boat from going ahead this morning and the kids stayed mostly dry! Some good sightings while on the boat including 2 Great Northern Diver in the Wareham Channel, 40+ Red-breasted Merganser, 10 flyover Pintail, c70 Lapwing and 4 Marsh Harrier. On the Brownsea Lagoon c200 Dunlin and 3 Greenshank were present but the large numbers of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit must have been elsewhere in the harbour with only c60 and c100 of each respectively.

1st Winter Little Gull – Bramble Bush Bay, Studland – Rob Johnson

It was such a shame the fog never really cleared, as the harbour was like a mirror all day, which would have provided perfect viewing conditions right around the harbour. Situations with zero wind are rare, and the fact we were due to host a bird boat today held so much promise. Unfortunately we had to cancel the boat (despite postponing it for two hours) meaning reports were few and far between. In the gloom off Jerry’s Point the Long-tailed Duck did just about show it’s self and there were also 2 Great Northern Diver off there too. Best bird of the day was a newly found ‘eastern’ Lesser Whitethroat sp along the promenade at Canford Cliffs. Other than that….today will just be classed as ‘a whiteout’! Hopefully conditions will improve in due course.

Long-tailed Duck in the gloom – Jerry’s Point – Peter Moore