Much brighter and calmer conditions in the harbour today which made for good views of one of the juvenile White-tailed Eagles on our School Bird Boat in the Wareham Channel. Also in the Wareham Channel were 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Marsh Harrier and c200 Avocet this morning. Brands Bay was still teeming with birds, including c100 Pintail, c800 Dunlin, 19 Knot, 2 Spoonbill and 1 Peregrine interested in the waders out on the mud. While at Jerry’s Point the Long-tailed Duck was still present alongside 3 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Black-necked Grebe and 3 Great Northern Diver. Off Middle Beach, Studland were 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Great Northern Diver. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were c100 Avocet, c50 Grey Plover and c400 Dunlin. The Snow Bunting was still present on Hamworthy Beach and 1 Water Pipit was reported at Arne RSPB.
Poole Harbour sightings blog
A record of all interesting and notable sightings from around the harbour throughout the year.
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Archive for January, 2025
Harbour Update – 14/01/25
Harbour Update – 13/01/25
Despite a light/moderate wind during the course of the day, it had settled down by this afternoon allowing for some decent coverage of open water areas. From Jerry’s Point this afternoon 3 Slavonian Grebe were just off the point, along with the Long-tailed Duck, 2 Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Goldeneye and 20+ each of Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebe. Shell Bay had 1 Great Northern Diver just off shore and 25 Sanderling on the beach and off Middle Beach this evening 11 Black-necked Grebe went into the roost along with 7 Common Scoter. In Brands Bay 1 Spoonbill was feeding, there were excellent totals of Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover and 34 Knot. Yesterday 23 Goldeneye were counted at dusk roosting off Fitzworth. A drake Goosander was out in Arne Bay this afternoon, the Snow Bunting was still on Hamworthy Beach, a ringtail Hen Harrier was on a post out from Middlebere this afternoon, 3 Sandwich Tern passed out in Shell Bay and a Spotted Redshank and 3 Spoonbill were in Lytchett Bay.
Mediterranean Gull – Shell Bay, Studland
Kingfisher on the Houseboats – Bramble Bush Bay, Studland
Spoonbill – Brands Bay, Studland
Slavonian Grebes – Jerry’s Point, Studland
Harbour Update – 12/01/25
Today was one of those perfect days where the harbour produced the goods, the weather behaved and the birds performed. From our Winter Safari Cruise this AM we managed to log 3 Black-throated Diver, which were loafing all together out in the main channel between Brownsea and Baiter. In total there were c12 Great Northern Diver with the majority located between the northern urban shore and across to South Deep/Goat Horn. Male White-tailed Eagle G463 came in low over Evening Hill, Sandbanks and passed right over our boat as he flew off towards Brownsea/Arne. There were 2 Black-necked Grebe out off Jerry’s Point, 4 Spoonbill on the Gull Islands and 4 Marsh Harrier at Swineham. The Brownsea Lagoon was fairly busy and saw c300 Avocet, c50 Bar-tailed Godwit, c500 Dunlin and smaller numbers of Sanderling and Turnstone. A small Lapwing flock over Keysworth contained 3 Golden Plover this morning and later this afternoon the Short-eared Owl was reported again over Arne Moors with a ringtail Hen Harrier seen at sunset. The Snow Bunting was still pleasing the crowds at Hamworthy Beach, off Middle Beach this evening 8 Black-necked Grebe went into the roost and 3 Slavonian Grebe were off Jerry’s Point with the Long-tailed Duck this afternoon. Finally, a random check of a wet field near the Bakers Arms pub on the way home after WeBS yielded a rather confiding Jack Snipe.
Jack Snipe – Field just West of Bakers Arms pub
Harbour Update – 11/01/25
Despite near perfect conditions, unfortunately there was no sign of any giant white falcons bombing around Ballard or the Purbeck coast today. Shame, as it would have been a rather good start to the year! There’s always tomorrow.
The harbour was flat calm all day, making the finding of birds easy and pleasurable. There were 2 Black-throated Diver out on the sea together at Sandbanks this morning and out off Middle Beach this morning another Black-throated Diver and 1 Red-throated Diver. This evening off Middle beach there were 9 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Great Northern Diver and 12 Common Scoter. Off Jerry’s Point today the Long-tailed Duck was showing well, along with 5 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Goldeneye and 2 Great Northern Diver. A Water Pipit was at Lytchett Bay along with 1 Spotted Redshank. The Snow Bunting was still showing well at Hamworthy Beach, a male and female Hen Harrier were seen in Middlebere this morning.
Harbour Update – 10/01/24
Although there isn’t much snow left, there was a glimmer of pale beauty just outside the harbour recording area today when a pale morph Gyr Falcon was photographed at Durlston CP this afternoon. We haven’t seen the photo yet, but we don’t need to. The words ‘Gyr Falcon’ instantaneously form an image of power, strength and wonder in to any birders imagination. Apparently it flew west towards Seacombe and Winspit this afternoon, so no doubt the Purbeck coast will be an ‘area of interest’ for many birders tomorrow morning. Who knows….maybe it u-tuned and decided to roost on top of Ballard Down. We can all but dream.
Meanwhile, back down here on planet earth, the Snow Bunting was still at Hamworthy Beach, a Black-throated Diver was in Parkstone Bay and c20 Common Chiffchaff were in the PCW Drain this afternoon. This evening there was a Spoonbill and Great White Egret on the Stilt Pools at Swineham and 27 Cattle Egret went into roost at Swineham where a drake Pochard was on the gravel pit. On Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne 18 Spoonbill were on the spit, a lone Spotted Redshank was in the Lower Piddle Valley and there wasn’t much reported from the Studland area today other than 2 Great Northern Diver and 2 Black-necked Grebe off Jerry’s Point.
Great Northern Diver – Jerry’s Point
Black-necked Grebe – Jerry’s Point
Harbour Update – 09/01/25
What a contrast to yesterday. The ‘Golden Hour’ at sunrise and sunset today produced a beautifully crisp setting right across the harbour. It was back to form again today with the Snow Bunting back showing again at Hamworthy Beach. Maybe it was just camouflaged by the snow yesterday? Both Black-throated Divers were seen in Parkstone Bay this morning. Off Jerry’s Point this afternoon the Long-tailed Duck was bobbing about between ‘Jerry’s and Redhorn Quay, along with 2 Slavonian Grebe, 3 Black-necked Grebe and 3 Great Northern Diver. This afternoon from our Winter Safari cruise, both adult White-tailed Eagles were sat in trees on the Goathorn peninsular, a Guillemot was off Poole Quay and there were 8 Great Northern Diver spread around. Also 3-4 Marsh Harrier came into roost at Swineham. An adult male Hen Harrier went through Lytchett Bay this afternoon and one (the same?) went through Middlebere this evening. This morning 3 Spoonbill and a Spotted Redshank were in Middlebere.
Bar-tailed Godwit – Shore Road
Sanderling & Turnstone – Shore Road
Harbour Update – 08/01/25
Snow…..well, wet snow, but northern parts of the harbour saw a light smattering. Ironic that on the day we see some snow, there was no sign of the Snow Bunting!! It was all about open water species today with 10 Common Scoter and 2 Black-necked Grebe in Studland Bay, 2 Great Northern Diver in Brands Bay and 3 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Slavonian Grebe off Jerry’s Point. There was at least 1 Black-throated Diver still in Parkstone Bay 2 Great Northern Diver off Hamworty Beach. There was a single Spoonbill in Lytchett Bay this morning. A few Mediterranean Gulls are now starting to arrive into the harbour now for their pre-spring visit, and can be found feeding on the northern urban shorelines during the low tides.
If you have time, local birder Peter Moore has written an excellent blog entry of the joys of birding in Urban Poole over the years which you can read here:
https://petermooreblog.blogspot.com/2025/01/urban-birding-by-bike.html?m=1
Mediterranean Gull – Baiter Park – Peter Moore
Harbour Update – 07/01/25
With such a clear evening, it was a welcome sight for it to still be light(ish) at 17:00, when 2 Woodcock were seen bombing across the Arne road this evening. It was much of the same today with 2 Black-throated Diver in Parkstone Bay, 31 Cattle Egret on the north side of Wareham Common, the Snow Bunting was at Hamworthy Beach, 2 Spotted Redshank in the Wareham Channel and 2 in Middlebere as well as 5 Spoonbill in Middlebere with another 4 in Holes Bay NW. A Slavonian Grebe was off Middle Beach, and 1 more was off Jerry’s Point with the Eider still in Shell Bay.
Brent Geese – Baiter Park
Harbour Update – 06/01/25
Still pretty cold, but at least we don’t have a covering of the white stuff….yet? It was all much of the same today with the Snow Bunting still showing well at Hamworthy Beach, the Black-throated Diver was still in Parkstone Bay off Whitecliff, in Shell Bay, Studland the Eider and 2 Great Northern Diver were still about and off Middle Beach, Studland was 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2-3 Great Northern Diver and 2 Black-necked Grebe. This evening a Short-eared Owl was hunting out on Arne Moors and this morning the remains of a Golden Plover was found under the Asda flats, assumed to have been Peregrine grub at some point….unless Asda have got a deal on?
Many visitors to the harbour, and locals will know what a great site Middlebere is over the course of the year and for several decades there has been a bird diary/log placed in the hide for visitors to report and note their sightings. Garry Hayman has kindly retrieved the 2024 diary and placed a new 2025 one in the hide, and over the New Year, extracted the highlights which have been presented in the report below……
In 2024, there was a total of 122 species recorded, compared to 127 in 2023, 121 in 2022 and 105 in 2021.
Osprey
The first entry of an Osprey sighting was on 29th March, 3 days earlier than last year and in 2021, when the 1st sighting / entry was the 1st April.
The last Osprey sighting was on 11th November, when Scottish ringed 511 hung around and enjoyed catching flat fish. The 11th November was 26 days later than the last sighting in 2023 (16th October) and a massive 31 days later than the last one seen / recorded in 2022.
The highest record of different Ospreys seen at once was 5 individuals on the 17th August. This compares to 4 in the previous 2 years on the 4th September in 2023 and respectively on 26th August in 2022.
The total number of days that an Osprey was seen in 2024 was 90 (61 days in 2023, 45 days in 2022 & 41 days in 2021). This demonstrates the success of the Birds of Poole Harbour / Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation Osprey reintroduction project leading to the success of breeding pair female CJ7 and male 022.
March – 3 days (0 in 2023 & 2022)
April – 10 days (5 in 2023 & 19 in 2022)
May – 1 day (5 days in 2023 & 2 in 2022)
June – 2 days (1 day in 2023 & 0 in 2022)
July – 9 days (2 days in 2023 & 1 in 2022)
August – 29 days (24 days in 2023 & 20 in 2022)
Sept – 18 days (16 days in 2023 & 10 in 2022)
Oct – 8 days (8 in 2023 & 1 in 2022)
Nov – 10 days (0 in 2023 and 2022) The last sighting of the year was 11th Nov.
In addition to the above, there were sightings of multiple Osprey at the same time:
April – 2 days (0 in 2023)
May – 1 day (0 in 2023)
July – 3 days (0 in 2023)
August – 11 days (7 in 2023)
Sept – 4 days (13 in 2023)
Oct – 1 day (0 in 2023)
|
|
2 Osprey |
3 Osprey |
4 Osprey |
5 Osprey |
|
April |
2 days |
– |
– |
– |
|
May |
1 day |
– |
– |
– |
|
July |
2 days |
1 day (022, 1H1 & 374) |
– |
– |
|
August |
7 days |
2 days |
1 day |
1 day |
|
Sept |
4 days |
– |
– |
– |
|
Oct |
1 day |
– |
– |
– |
White-tailed Eagle
There were 14 days on which 1 or more White-tailed Eagles were seen, compared to 27 days in 2023 and 10 days in 2022. There were only 2 days on which 2 WTEs were seen, which is a decrease from 2023 when there were 8 days with 2 different WTEs and 2 days with 3 different WTEs seen.
Goshawk
There were 43 days on which 1 or more Goshawks were seen, compared to 32 days in 2023 and 14 days in 2022. There were 2 different Goshawks seen on 10 days (2 days in 2023), which reflects the success of local breeding and Goshawk numbers.
Merlin
There were 15 days on which a Merlin was seen, compared to 19 days in 2023 & 24 days in 2022. A worrying decline of 26% on last year and a massive 60% on 2022. The first returning Merlin of the autumn was recorded in the diary on the 12th October (13th October in 2023 & 15th Oct in 2022).
Hen Harrier
There were 53 days on which a Hen Harrier was seen, compared to 54 days in 2023 and 59 days in 2022. In 2024 the seasonal split was 33 days at the start of the year (23 days in 2023 & 27 days in 2022) and 20 days at the end of the year (31 in 2023 & 32 in 2022).
On 10 days there were 2 different Hen Harriers seen (13 in 2023 and no days in which 3 different Hen Harriers were seen (2 days in 2023).
The first returning Hen Harrier of the autumn / winter was recorded on the 20th November (1st September in 2023 & 6th Oct in 2022).
Marsh Harrier
There were 80 days on which 1 or more Marsh Harriers were seen, compared to 111 days in 2023 and 84 days in 2022.
On 7 of those 80 days there were 2 Marsh Harries seen, which is a decrease from 2023 when there were 13 days with 2 different Marsh Harriers and 2 days on which 3 different ones were seen.
Red Kite
There were 6 days on which a Red Kite was seen, compared to 9 days in 2023 & 3 days in 2022. There was just 1 day (11th Jan) on which 2 different Red Kites were seen (1 day in 2023).
Peregrine
There were 30 days on which a Peregrine was seen (30 days also in 2023).
Hobby
The were 8 days on which a Hobby was seen, with the first sighting of the year on 8th May.
Other significant entries / records & high counts (Please note, these are not necessarily confirmed sightings):
Brent Goose – Seen on 6 different days, but none in winter 24/25. 50 on 1st Jan (highest count).
Barnacle Goose – 1 on 16th July
Pochard – 17th October
Nightjar – 18th May (first heard from Coombe Heath) [24/6 in 2023]
Swift – 22nd June (first sighting) [24/7 in 2023]
Cuckoo – 5th May (first sighting) [14/4 in 2023]
Coot – 23rd December
Little Grebe – 22nd September
Whimbrel – 29th April (first of Spring) [9/4 in 2023], 3 on 2nd May and 19th May (highest count)
Avocet – 900 on 20th November (highest count) [350 in 2023]
Knot – 11 on 30th November (highest count) [28 in 2023]
Ruff – 1 on 11th October
Wood Sandpiper – 1 on 17th August
Spotted Redshank – 30th June (first of the Autumn) [23/6 in 2023], 9 on 3rd August (highest count) [11 in 2023]
Kittiwake – 1 on 17th September not looking well
Yellow-legged Gull – 1 on 27th April, 2nd June, 1st August and 8th December
FORSTER’S TERN – 1 on 6th April
Spoonbill – 31 on 2nd September (highest count) [59 in 2023]
Cattle Egret – 1 on 21st August
Great White Egret – 3 on 15th November (highest count) [3 in 2023]
Honey Buzzard – 1 dark morph on 17th September
Woodlark – 1 on 2nd May and 23rd June
Swallow – 1 on 5th April (first of the year)
Reed Warbler – 2nd May (first of the year)
Ring Ouzel – 1 in Rowen along the Middlebere track from 12th – 17th October
Whinchat – 1 on 24th August and 26th September
Black Redstart – 1 on barn roof on 1st November
Wheatear – 1 on 19th March
Brambling – 1 in Rowen along the Middlebere track on 13th October
Full list of species recorded in 2024
1. Pheasant Phasianus colchicus
2. Brent Goose Branta bernicla
3. Canada Goose Branta canadensis
4. Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis
5. Greylag Goose Anser anser
6. Mute Swan Cygnus olor
7. Shelduck Tadorna tadorna
8. Shoveler Spatula clypeata
9. Gadwall Mareca strepera
10. Wigeon Mareca penelope
11. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
12. Pintail Anas acuta
13. Teal Anas crecca
14. Pochard Aythya ferina
15. Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula
16. Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator
17. Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus
18. Swift Apus apus
19. Cuckoo Cuculus canorus
20. Stock Dove Columba oenas
21. Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
22. Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
23. Coot Fulica atra
24. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
25. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
26. Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
27. Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta
28. Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
29. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
30. Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
31. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
32. Curlew Numenius arquata
33. Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa
34. Knot Calidris canutus
35. Ruff Calidris pugnax
36. Dunlin Calidris alpina
37. Snipe Gallinago gallinago
38. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
39. Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
40. Redshank Tringa totanus
41. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
42. Spotted Redshank Tringa erythropus
43. Greenshank Tringa nebularia
44. Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
45. Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus
46. Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
47. Common Gull Larus canus
48. Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus
49. Herring Gull Larus argentatus
50. Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis
51. Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis
52. Common Tern Sterna hirundo
53. Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri
54. Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
55. Spoonbill Platalea leucorodia
56. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
57. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
58. Great White Egret Ardea alba
59. Little Egret Egretta garzetta
60. Osprey Pandion haliaetus
61. Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus
62. Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus
63. Goshawk Accipiter gentilis
64. Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus
65. Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus
66. Red Kite Milvus milvus
67. White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla
68. Buzzard Buteo buteo
69. Barn Owl Tyto alba
70. Tawny Owl Strix aluco
71. Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
72. Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
73. Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
74. Merlin Falco columbarius
75. Hobby Falco subbuteo
76. Peregrine Falco peregrinus
77. Jay Garrulus glandarius
78. Magpie Pica pica
79. Jackdaw Coloeus monedula
80. Rook Corvus frugilegus
81. Carrion Crow Corvus corone
82. Raven Corvus corax
83. Coal Tit Periparus ater
84. Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
85. Great Tit Parus major
86. Woodlark Lullula arborea
87. Skylark Alauda arvensis
88. Sand Martin Riparia riparia
89. Swallow Hirundo rustica
90. House Martin Delichon urbicum
91. Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
92. Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita
93. Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
94. Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla
95. Whitethroat Curruca communis
96. Dartford Warbler Curruca undata
97. Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla
98. Goldcrest Regulus regulus
99. Wren Troglodytes troglodytes
100. Starling Sturnus vulgaris
101. Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus
102. Blackbird Turdus merula
103. Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
104. Redwing Turdus iliacus
105. Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
106. Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus
107. Robin Erithacus rubecula
108. Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros
109. Whinchat Saxicola rubetra
110. Stonechat Saxicola rubicola
111. Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe
112. House Sparrow Passer domesticus
113. Dunnock Prunella modularis
114. Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
115. Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba
116. Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
117. Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
118. Brambling Fringilla montifringilla
119. Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
120. Greenfinch Chloris chloris
121. Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
122. Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus
Harbour Update – 05/01/25
Pretty difficult birding weather in the harbour today but that didn’t stop us for our second Kickstarter Boat Trip of the year. And it was well worth going out, showing again, never be put off by the weather! 3 White-tailed Eagle were in the Wareham Channel this morning with one showing well early on in the trip. We then had the interesting sight of 9 Spoonbill feeding together on the north side of Arne Moors in a shallow pool as we went up the river Frome. Not a usual site for them to feed at which was likely because of the tide being 40cm higher than predicted, leaving little feeding time in the harbour for Spoonbills and waders. With the ongoing Arne Moors Project, in the years to come, it will hopefully become a more regular occurrence.
There were 3 Marsh Harrier in and around Swineham and 1 Knot dropped in with c50 Dunlin on the saltmarsh off Swineham. A further 11 Spoonbill were roosting in Shipstal Bay, Arne and 1 Black-throated Diver was in central harbour. Interestingly, the Black-throated Diver was in Parkstone Bay too, so there are at least 2 individuals in the harbour still. A total of 9 Great Northern Diver were spread evenly around the rest of the harbour with 4 in South Deep/Brands Bay area. Also off Jerry’s Point were 1 Slavonian Grebe and 1 Black-necked Grebe. The high tide made for a very full Brownsea Lagoon with c50 Grey Plover, c1000 Dunlin, c200 Avocet, c200 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank and 1 Kingfisher.
Not many other reports in the harbour with the poor weather today but the Snow Bunting was still showing on Hamworthy Beach and 17 Cattle Egret were present at Holmebridge. The Long-tailed Duck flew from Goathhorn to Brands Bay this morning.
The murk from our Year-List Kickstarter Trip – 56(!) species – David White
Call 01202 641 003
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