What a great day to be out around the harbour, which although was hampered by fog first thing, it soon cleared giving way to another picture perfect day. There was plenty of coverage today as we led the commentary of an RSPB/NT bird boat, plus it was the Poole Harbour WeBS in the afternoon too. Starting with off with the bird boat where highlights included 23 Spoonbill (15 on Brownsea and 8 on Shipstal), 4 Common Scoter, 5 Great Northern Diver, 3 Black-necked Grebe, c100 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Common Seals, 1 Goosander (in Fishermans dock Poole Quay), 2 Spotted Redshank and 4 Greenshank on the Brownsea (Full species list for the trip can be FOUND HERE). Off Middle Beach, Studland there were 35 Black-necked Grebe and off Jerry’s Point 2 Great Northern Diver and 22 Sanderling with 1 Sandwich Tern in Brands Bay and a Merlin near the hide. In Holes Bay south-east, 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese were a surprise. At Swineham the 22 Barnacle Geese were back on the main pit again with 244 Canada Geese and 17 Greylag Geese. Also around the Swineham area was a Jack Snipe off the point with 14 Common Snipe, 2 Bearded Tit and 11 Skylark. At Swineham Farm there is an over-wintering Chiffchaff and on the pit 104 Gadwall, 198 Coot and 25 Shoveler with 2 Marsh Harrier in the Frome Valley. At Lytchett Bay the Lesser Yellowlegs was recorded in the WeBS count for a 4^th month in a row, also a ringtail Hen Harrier there too. Along the southern shore there were a minimum of 1330 Avocet in the mouth of both Wytch Lake and the Middlebere Channel, mostly viewable from the Arne side, also a ringtail Hen Harrier over and 2 Marsh Harrier over Wytch Lake with several Water Pipit present. Along Shore Road, Sandbanks there were 71 Bar-tailed Godwit and in Blue Lagoon 48 Ringed Plover and 19 Turnstone. Off Fitzworth Point the over-wintering Whimbrel was seen again and there were 71 Red-breasted Merganser, 60 Great Crested Grebe and 33 Goldeneye and on the Wytch Causeway 6 Water Pipit. On Poole Park Lake there were 8 Goldeneye including 6 drakes. Finally, two night ringing sessions in the lower Frome Valley produced 2 Woodcock and 2 Jack Snipe.  

Jack Snipe – Lower Frome Valley – Terry Elborn