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 29^th March, 3 days earlier than last year and in 2021, when the 1^st sighting / entry was the 1^st April.

The last Osprey sighting was on 11^th November, when Scottish ringed 511 hung around and enjoyed catching flat fish. The 11^th 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 17^th 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 11^th 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 12^th 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 20^th 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 (11^th 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 8^th 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 1^st Jan (highest count).

Barnacle Goose – 1 on 16^th July

Pochard – 17^th October

Nightjar – 18^th May (first heard from Coombe Heath) [24/6 in 2023]

Swift – 22^nd June (first sighting) [24/7 in 2023]

Cuckoo – 5^th May (first sighting) [14/4 in 2023]

Coot – 23^rd December

Little Grebe – 22^nd September

Whimbrel – 29^th April (first of Spring) [9/4 in 2023], 3 on 2^nd May and 19^th May (highest count)

Avocet – 900 on 20^th November (highest count) [350 in 2023]

Knot – 11 on 30^th November (highest count) [28 in 2023]

Ruff – 1 on 11^th October

Wood Sandpiper – 1 on 17^th August

Spotted Redshank – 30^th June (first of the Autumn) [23/6 in 2023], 9 on 3^rd August (highest count) [11 in 2023]

Kittiwake – 1 on 17^th September not looking well

Yellow-legged Gull – 1 on 27^th April, 2^nd June, 1^st August and 8^th December

FORSTER’S TERN – 1 on 6^th April

Spoonbill – 31 on 2^nd September (highest count) [59 in 2023]

Cattle Egret – 1 on 21^st August

Great White Egret – 3 on 15^th November (highest count) [3 in 2023]

Honey Buzzard – 1 dark morph on 17^th September

Woodlark – 1 on 2^nd May and 23^rd June

Swallow – 1 on 5^th April (first of the year)

Reed Warbler – 2^nd May (first of the year)

Ring Ouzel – 1 in Rowen along the Middlebere track from 12^th – 17^th October

Whinchat – 1 on 24^th August and 26^th September

Black Redstart – 1 on barn roof on 1^st November

Wheatear – 1 on 19^th March

Brambling – 1 in Rowen along the Middlebere track on 13^th 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