Temperatures now plummeting over night resulting in the Wareham Common floods to freeze over, leaving the 93 strong Black-tailed Godwit flock attempting of forage around the ice. A Shoveler and Great White Egret north of the railway also of note across the common. The cold snap also saw the arrival of a drake Goldeneye to Poole Park Lake yesterday morning and a Brambling over the Lower Piddle Valley this morning. A White-tailed Eagle was clocked heading north over Parkstone Cemetery early morning pursued by gulls. Both Poole Town Peregrine occupied the Barclays building again late morning.

We’ve just ‘doubled up’ on our Year-list Kick-starter Cruise on Saturday 14th January by adding a second (afternoon) trip! So there’s now a 3-hr cruise setting off from Poole Quay at 9am and 1pm to help get those 2023 year-list off to a flying start.

Can’t make that date? Don’t worry, we’ve also got kick-starter trips running on 7th and 13th January as well as a whole host of Winter Safari and Low Tide Cruises lined up! The harbour is really on form with a dazzling array of species being logged from every trip. Divers are having an excellent season with double figures of overwintering Great Northern Diver, record-breaking Marsh Harrier action, regular appearances from White-tailed Eagle and frequent sightings of Poole Harbour scarcities, notably Eider, Red-throated Diver, Common Scoter and Razorbill. Desperate to get out birding the harbour sooner?! No worries, we’ve still got spaces available on Winter Safari Cruises exploring the harbour on 14th and 18th December. Happy days – events details and bookings can be found here.

Goldeneye – Poole Park (yesterday) – Rene Goad