We apologise for the late write up, but we’ve just started collating all the data from the Autumn Big Poole Harbour Bird Count and it’s already shaping up to have been a pretty incredible day. We don’t yet know the full species total as data is still coming in, but from initial reports it’s going to look like an excellent count, despite the frequent showers during the morning. Highlights from the day included an excellent range of early returning/passage winter visitors with 1 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Scaup, 1 Eider, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver, 5 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Goldeneye 6 Common Scoter and 11 Red-breasted Merganser in and around the Brands Bay, Jerry’s Point, South Deep (southern Brownsea shoreline) area and a Slavonian Grebe was reported off Knoll Beach too. There were a further 2 Black-necked Grebe and 5 Common Scoter in Studland Bay where 7 Kittiwake, 6 Razorbill and c15 Gannet were active/passing beyond Old Harry. All three egret species were logged with 2 Cattle Egret at Lytchett Bay, 1 Great White Egret on Goathorn and numerous Little Egret logged during WeBS. Birds of prey were also well represented with 6 different Marsh Harrier currently in the harbour mostly around the Swineham area, also the juv male Hen Harrier was seen several times in the lower Frome Valley and a/the Short-eared Owl was logged over the Wareham Channel, on Arne Moors and in Middlebere over the course of the day. Merlin were also seen at numerous sites including Hartland, the harbour mouth, Middlebere and Swineham and 2 Peregrine were on the Asda building. ‘Nocturnal species’ produced 1 Jack Snipe and 2 Woodcock at Lytchett Bay and 1 Jack Snipe at Sunnyside Farm and 3 Woodcock. Crossbill were logged in Rempstone and the Piddle Valley and there was 1 Water Pipit at Lytchett Fields. Both Redwing and to a lesser extent Fieldfare were seen during the morning and Firecrest were seen at Swineham, Knoll Beach, the Piddle Valley, Lytchett Bay and Arne. Sandwich Tern, Chiffchaff and Swallow were the only reminders of summer, each reported in small number across the harbour. At Challow Hill, Corfe, 3 Yellowhammer were located and good numbers of common waders and wildfowl were logged during the October WeBS count which took place at 11:30am, despite the tide barely receding at all. There currently seem to be lots of Rock Pipit around the harbour fringes with many birds calling on/around and over the saltmarsh, with some of them no-doubt being Water Pipit too. So, with all these exciting species having now arrived and passing through we’ve now got the job of bringing all this data together and interpreting it to produce an over-all harbour daily totals list. So, if you did a count for us, then please don’t forget to send us your data to HQmanager@birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk so we can include it in our final totals.

Also, DON’T MISS our exciting new opportunity to explore the harbour with our NEW Poole Harbour Reconnect Birding tours. These new trips in partnership with Greenslade’s Ferry Company offer a weekly 2-hour escape around the harbour which provides a relaxing and insightful tour either up the Wareham River or around the harbour on a low-tide to focus on our local rich heritage and forget about outside world. Our first is November 6^th and with so many good birds in the harbour, what a great way to spend a Friday morning. Plus, with a safe Covid secure framework in place, these trips are limited to only 30 people (minimum of 15), meaning you have peace of mind and space to really sit back and enjoy the birds and the view.

For more info and to book Info CLICK HERE

Dunlin – Ringed at Lytchett Bay

Jack Snipe – Ringed at Lytchett Bay

Peregrine – Asda building – Rene Goad

Shell Bay before the black clouds descended and the heavens opened