A nice still morning, but sadly the drizzle and ‘dank’ made birding a bit trickier. Still, calm waters made viewing birds easier. Off shore at Studland there was a single Great Northern Diver, 4 Black-necked Grebe, 8 Great Crested Grebe and 6+ Med Gulls. In the woods behind Knoll Beach 20+ Lesser Redpoll was a good count for what’s been a pretty scarce species this winter. At Middle Beach car park there was a single Firecrest and off Fort Henry, Studland there were 2 Great Northern Diver, 4 Ring-necked Parakeet and c10 Black-necked Grebe, most in transitional summer plumage. The 4 Waxwing were still using the large tree at the end of Hanham Road, but venturing off throughout the day. At Lytchett Fields the Lesser Yellowlegs and Green-winged Teal was on French’s Pools and a Firecrest was along Slough Lane. In the Holes Bay area a Sandwich Tern was in the NE corner, the Ruff and leucistic Black-tailed Godwit were feeding in the fields north of the cycle path and a Woodcock flew over Fleets Corner at dawn. At dusk a raft of 4 Red-throated Diver and 12 Great Crested Grebe were out in Poole Bay.

Ruff and leucistic Black-tailed Godwit – Upton CP  & Holes Bay cycle way – Ian Ballam