The Black Guillemot was again off the Brownsea SE corner mid morning, viewed on a School bird boat. If anyone wishes to try and see it, it is ‘scopable’ from the Sandbanks Quay looking towards Brownsea, also from the Studland side too, but calm water is pretty helpful. It was also questioned as to whether it was a different bird to the one seen back on December 12^th 2015, and looking at photos taken of the birds, they do seem to look different. However, after closer inspection thaks to Weymouth birder Brett Spencer, a tiny detail which can be seen in both photos (a small white hook on the white wing patch) indicates its almost certainly the same bird, its just that todays bird had its white patch covered by flank feathers.

Black Guillemot – Brownsea SE 12/12/15 

Black Guillemot Brownsea SE 08/01/16

There was a minimum of 7 Great Northern Diver out in central harbour, with the Baiter bird also still giving close views. A Common Scoter was out in South Deep and there were 4 Spoonbill on Brownsea with another 30 at Shipstal, Arne. A Razorbill was off the Brownsea seawall and a Guillemot off Poole Quay. The female Scaup was in Holes Bay north along with the Smew. At Studland there were 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 fly by’s in Studland Bay, and one in Brands Bay. Also at Studland 5 Great Northern Diver, 14 Black-necked Grebe, 3 Common Scoter and in Brands Bay on the low tide, 10 Knot and a few Bar-tailed Godwit with 16 Sanderling in Shell Bay.