A frustrating afternoon when a small duck was found in Brands Bay which showed some good (partial?) credentials for Blue-winged Teal. A pale face crescent was just about visible and on the two very brief occasions it was seen (at distance) flapping its wings, a pastel blue wing panel was seen. Unfortunately it stayed hidden in the salt marsh for most the time and was only being viewed at distance in bad light. At best it could be a moulting 1st winter Blue-winged Teal, hence the poor plumage characteristics, which would be a first for Poole Harbour. However, no conclusion was reached on the poor views that were obtained, so more observations need to be made and photos taken to try and clinch what would be a great bird for the harbour, and Dorset. Of note, it looks very similar to the teal sp that was photographed yesterday at Silverlake.

Elsewhere, the harbour was still producing the goods with the Long-tailed Duck and Black-throated Diver off Jerry’s Point, off Baiter a tight group of 5 Great Northern Diver were loafing, and feeding together, with at least another 6 Great Northern Diver around South Deep and central harbour. Yesterdays 2 Eider were also in south deep and flew towards the harbour entrance, and 2 Black-necked Grebe were off Redhorn Quay with a Slavonian Grebe. A Red-throated Diver Female White-tailed Eagle G466 was hunting on the Brownsea Lagoon again and the male, G463 flew over Brands Bay. At Lytchett Bay there were 6 Spoonbill and a Water Pipit. A Spoonbill flew over Wareham Common. Oh yeah….and there were 2 Waxwing in Christchurch this morning!