A very changeable day meaning some shelter was needed when birding the harbour. This didn’t stop our Studland ID course from being a success with highlights of c30 Sanderling in Shell Bay, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Great Northern Diver off Jerry’s Point and c30 Grey Plover, 10 Mediterranean Gull, c400 Dunlin, c30 Knot 6 Bar-tailed Godwit and c200 Pintail from Redhorn Quay. Just at the end a flyover from female White-tailed Eagle G801 was a nice surprise coming in from the coast and then heading slowly over Brownsea as well as 1 Peregrine shortly after.

Elsewhere in the Harbour there were 13 Spoonbill and 2 Sandwich Tern at Shipstal Point, Arne and 1 ringtail and 1 adult male Hen Harrier around Middlebere. In Lytchett Fields 1 Water Pipit was still on Pools Field as well as 3 Spotted Redshank and 1 Goshawk from Rock Lea Viewpoint. The 8 Waxwing were still present today, seen at both Dacombe Drive, Upton and Asda, Canford Heath. 1 Bittern was also seen at dusk over Swineham Gravel Pit. The Black-throated Diver flew out of the harbour this evening and roosted in Poole Bay and there was a single Black-necked Grebe off Middle Beach, Studland.

A count of 4200 Black-tailed Godwit was made in the Avon Valley today, probably enjoying all the floodwater, providing lots of feeding areas locally and explaining why they have been so thin on the ground in the harbour recently.

Jerry’s Point, Studland on today’s Winter Birds ID Course