An official account of all species that have been recorded and reported by birdwatchers and naturalists in the Poole Harbour area since records began.
The data for this list has been extracted from various sources, but George Greens 'The Birds of Dorset', Mansel-Pleydell's Birds of Dorsetshire, Naylor’s reference manual of rare birds and the back catalogue of Dorset bird reports have provided most information. Data is currently still being researched and records will be updated accordingly.
You can view this information in two different ways. Our alphabetical list provides information on the status of each species within the harbour, finder dates and names, photos and favoured locations. By clicking on the Systematic List button you will be presented the full Poole Harbour systematic list which includes status of species, pending records and historical accounts.
To date, 333 species have occurred and have been accepted within the Birds of Poole Harbour boundaries. A further 11 distinct subspecies have also been seen. In addition, we have two species/subspecies which have been recorded, but are awaiting acceptance by the appropriate records panel.
There are a handful of historical records, for which there is currently insufficient information to allow their inclusion onto the Poole Harbour list, but are believed to be genuine records. They are listed at the end of the list.
Finally, there are a number of feral or escaped species that have been recorded within the Birds of Poole Harbour boundaries. They are included for completeness, but are not included on the Poole Harbour list.
We would be interested in hearing details of any species that do not appeared on this list.
The Birds of Poole Harbour systematic list is a PDF which you can view by clicking on the button below. It was last updated on December 2019.
Full Poole Harbour Systematic List
Shelduck
Latin Name
Tadorna tadorna
Status
Resident
Site And Records Information
Shelduck were ‘so disgracefully common‘ that in the 1930’s the harbour was being described as Shelduck headquarters and since more of the land was being managed for wildlife it attracted even more from other wetlands in the south of England. This has given Poole internationally important status for wintering numbers of this species.
Various estimates have been attempted for the full harbour breeding population . In the 70’s Prendergast and Boyes estimated between 50 – 70 pairs and in 1975 Collins came to the same conclusion. The peak summer number for adults in summer was 274 on 10th July 1994 and they have bred on Brownsea (up to thirty pairs 2004), Arne (up to 30 pairs), Lytchett Bay, Hatch Pond, Canford Heath, Green Island, Brands Bay, Upton Country Park, Goathorn and Newtons Bay, Fitzworth and Studland (up to 50 pairs throughout the area). The amounts in brackets were estimates made by full time wardens of the three main reserves.
Once breeding is over in July local crèches build up and the balance of adults leave the harbour for communal moult in the German Waddensea. In June and July its worth looking out for crèches of around 25 different aged young with 2 adults. In the survey in 10th July 1994 five crèches containing 169 juveniles were found. The record number of juveniles was 197 in July 1992. Among other environmental pressures, it’s possible that the increase in recreational disturbance in the breeding season could be affecting their numbers. In October the adults return probably accompanied by birds from Scandinavia and the Baltic making up a regular aspect of a sea watch from Branksome and numbers in the harbour start to build. The maximum count of 4650 in January 1997 came after easterlies and north-easterlies froze the harbour for a week and included 1230 at Keysworth.
Alan Bromby in Birds of Dorset points out that “The Poole gunners had local names for most species of wildfowl which have now largely died out. Shelduck were known as “Burrow Ducks”, Pochards as “Redheads” and Tufted Ducks as “Curre” whilst the term “Ginger Curre” was reserved for Goldeneye”. Notorious ex RSPB Arne warden Bryan Pickess in his days wardening at Arne would only ever guarantee Shelduck and Meadow Pipit on any guided walk on the reserve!
“The worrying decline in Poole Harbours wintering population continued with a maximum of only 1,754 in 2000/2001. Winter maxima throughout the 1990’s were over 2000 birds, but recent winter counts show maximums of just 976 in February 2020.
Despite their decline, they’re one of the easiest birds to find on the southern sides of the harbour, and is evident in most areas with exposed mud on the low tide.
Shore Lark
Latin Name
Eremophila alpestris
Status
Vagrant
Site And Records Information
The first Poole Harbour record was at Whitley Bay on 2nd December 1940.
The only other records relate to series of sightings in 1973 and 1974.
One seen at Studland beach area was first spotted on 18th February 1973 (Dr D Godfrey). It was still present on 18th March (Dr D Godfrey, P Hawkins, JR Cox).
The following winter two were seen at Brownsea Lagoon (A Wise) on 15th December 1973. Mr and Mrs Moore saw one at Studland on 15th December and it was seen again on 29th December (BJ Frampton). On 2nd January 1974 it was found feeding with four Snow Buntings (P R Knight) and was watched by at least 10 observers until 23rd February when it was seen in company with five Reed Buntings, to which it was aggressive and drove them off with open bill.
A more recent addition to the list would be most welcome!
Short-eared Owl
Latin Name
Asio flammeus
Status
Passage Migrant & Winter Visitor
Site And Records Information
Although autumn and winter are the traditional months for recording Short eared Owls there are many records from March and April which would indicate a certain amount of spring passage occurs through the harbour. Middlebere, Swineham, Bestwall, Slepe Heath and Hartland Moor have all held birds in the last few winters. Studland Heath, Godlingston are also traditional hot spots. Numbers vary each year with some winters seeing none and others up to four or five. In winter 2016 a roost of 3 birds was found on Slepe Heath.
Short-toed Eagle
Latin Name
Circaetus gallicus
Status
Vagrant
Site And Records Information
An incredible encounter of 1 over Coombe Heath, Arne RSPB reserve on May 31st 2014 (J Hunt), ten minutes after it had originally been discovered at Morden Bog, Wareham Forest. This is only the 3rd ever for Britain and a very welcome addition to the Poole Harbour list.
Amazingly, a second record occurred when what was initially thought to be a Short-toed Eagle flew over Old Harry on October 4th 2020, heading towards Christchurch over Poole Bay. The bird was getting hammered by the local gulls, however, based on the views the observer discredited the sighting as he felt he couldn’t confirm the ID. However, later in the day a Short-toed Eagle was rescued from Hengistbury Beach having been found on the shoreline by walkers. The bird was still alive but in a bad way and it sadly later died in care the following day. Despite the sad outcome, the original finder (Jol Mitchell) was able to to confirm his original ID and rest easy that he wasn’t hallucinating on the sunny but cold October afternoon!
Shoveler
Latin Name
Anas clypeata
Status
Resident - scarce breeder
Site And Records Information
Poole harbour is a nationally important wintering area for this species with over a third of the counties birds historically on Little Sea. Sadly, very few Shoveler (if any) use Little Sea any more. Other good spots for them nowadays are the Brownsea Lagoon, Holes Bay NW and Hatch Pond. They arrive in October and stay often displaying until early April.
They first bred in 1926 and occasionally until 1952. A pair and two juveniles were in Poole Harbour 26th June 1955 and young were seen in 1956 then nothing until 1982 when 10 eggs were laid on Brownsea but were deserted by the female. Then on Salterns Marsh at Arne in 1987 where a pair raised seven young. Breeding occurred again in the harbour in 1995 and most recently again on Brownsea in 2018. Numbers have fluctuated over the past sixty years with an average of around 100-200 each winter with the maximum winter count of 276 in December 2019. The average 5-year winter total population is 140 per winter.
Siberian Chiffchaff
Latin Name
Phylloscopus collybita tristis
Status
Scarce Winter Visitor
Site And Records Information
As Common Chiffchaff have increased as a winter visitor to Dorset so has the occurrence of Siberian Chiffchaff. The first was found at Studland on 22nd Nov 1998 and remained there for the winter (S Robson et al). Gradually during the last 30 years this race has now been found to be a scarce but regular winter visitor. Identification of some has been proven by analysis of sound recordings and DNA analysis. Birds can occur anywhere but locations that are close to water and are sheltered seem to be favoured.
The PC World drainage channel at Holes Bay, Lytchett Bay, Norden sewage works and Swineham are the favoured locations. Three have been seen together on several occasions. Listen out for the flatter piping note as opposed to the Common Chiffchaff ascending note.
Siskin
Latin Name
Carduelis spinus
Status
Resident
Site And Records Information
No longer do you have to put out red netted bags of peanuts to get siskin in your garden. Breeds across the harbor in moderate numbers with areas of pine woodland being even more popular. The ever increasing breeding status of Siskin has made it easy to see them in summer as well as winter with adults bringing their young to niger seed feeders around the harbour. Large numbers of up to 500+ can be counted on passage during the autumn from South Haven passing the harbour mouth in the early morning.
Skylark
Latin Name
Alauda arvensis
Status
Resident
Site And Records Information
Breeds at Godlingston, Arne Moors, Wareham Water meadows, Hartland Moor and some of the other heathland sites. Can be encountered in large numbers during cold weather with records of over 200 birds passing over Brownsea, Arne, Studland and a whopping 10,000 seen flying west over Poole Bay on December 31st 1961. Passage birds occur fairly frequently from suitable vantage spots like South Haven, Ballard and Glebeland’s in October and November.
Slavonian Grebe
Latin Name
Podiceps auritus
Status
Winter Visitor
Site And Records Information
Poole Harbour hosted nationally important numbers of this species until the late 90’s. The maximum count is 42 on 15th Feb 1981 in Studland Bay. Whilst the number of birds wintering in the UK is broadly stable in the range 100-125, the number visiting the harbour have reduced significantly in recent years. Currently it is quite a hard bird to find.
Maximum winter counts: *exceptional number significantly above decade average.
1950’s – 1 to 23*
1960’s – 1 to 16
1970’s – 9 to 30*
1980’s – 16 to 42*
1990’s – 9 to 20
2000’s – 3 to 8
2010’s – 2 to 12*
Away from the favoured areas around Studland there have been frequent records from Swineham GP’s and occasional records from other parts of the open harbour.
The earliest record is 16th Aug 1998 at Brands Bay and the latest come from late April when birds have frequently been seen in full breeding plumage.
Smew
Latin Name
Mergellus albellus
Status
Scarce Winter Visitor
Site And Records Information
Massive decline in wintering numbers with the Wareham Channel often hosting 60-80 birds in the 1950’s. However regular wintering stopped after 1962/3 and numbers declined rapidly. Now it seems only extreme cold weather brings birds to the harbour with Swineham GP, Holes Bay and the Wareham Channel being good places to look. Also possible at Poole Park. The best time to find to try and find Smew is between December and March and the earliest date for the harbour is the 7th November 1976 and the latest on 16th March 1958. A redhead Smew had been present for three winter periods (2013/14, 14/15, 15/16) with one in Lytchett Bay and on Lytchett Fields during 2013/14, one in Holes Bay during 2014/15 and another in Holes Bay during Dec 2015. These could possibly all relate to the same bird. Records from the open parts of the harbour are possible too with an adult male off Baiter on the evening of Dec 31st 2008.
To show how much things have changed here’s a nice account of a (semi) historic record where 3 redheads and a white nun were present in Holes Bay along with a male Goosander, a Red-throated Diver, 1 Scaup and 350 Pochard on the 5th January 1997. We don’t even get 4 Pochard each winter these days, let alone 4 Smew!
Recent Records
Lytchett Bay – 1 from 3rd – 22nd Jan 2014
Holes bay – 1 from Jan 4th – Feb 25th 2015. Plus again on 7th Dec into 2016
Furzey Island/South Deep – 2 ‘redheads’ on February 2nd 2015
2016
Holes Bay 1 female present 1st Jan-23rd Feb (from 2015).
Studland Bay 1 female on 25th Feb off Knoll Beach was presumably the same individual as above.
2017
Holes Bay 1 redhead 10th Jan to 26th Feb, occasionally seen from Upton CP.
Snipe
Latin Name
Gallinago gallinago
Status
Resident
Site And Records Information
Any of the wet heathland and water meadows bordering the harbour hold Snipe in the winter. Large flocks of up to 200-300 used to be frequent but now most sites hold around 10-30 birds with numbers rising in extreme cold weather. Sunnyside Farm, Wareham Water Meadows, Lytchett Fields, Middlebere and the Frome Valley all hold good numbers in the winter. Migrants begin to appear back in mid August with peaks occurring in December and January. Breeding may still occur on Hartland Moor with drumming last heard in spring 2015.
Snow Bunting
Latin Name
Emberiza citrinella
Status
Scarce Passage Migrant & Winter Visitor
Site And Records Information
By far the best chance of seeing Snow Bunting is in and around the dune systems of Studland during cold winters. Birds have been recorded elsewhere in the harbour at Arne, Lytchett Bay, Poole Quay, Parkstone and Brownsea.
Studland Records…..
3 from 17th Dec-3rd Feb 1961-62
4 from 28th Dec-16th March 1968/9
3 31st Dec -14th March 1970/71
4 from 25th Nov-14th March 1973/74
2 -3 on 10th Nov –14th Dec 1975/6
4 from 8th Nov – 19th Feb 1991/92
1 from 19th to 20th November 2001
1 on 23rd October 2005
1 on 5th November 2005
1 on 5th November 2008
1 on 24th October 2009
1 between 1st – 3rd March 2010
1 on October 1st 2015 over South Haven, Studland
1 between 1st February – 12th March 2017 at Shell Bay, Studland
Other Sites
2 on 17th October 1971 on the Brownsea sea wall
1 on 11th April 1976 at Swineham
1 on the 23rd December 1993 at Lytchett Bay
1 on 26th October 1996 over Ballard Down
1 on 24th November 2000 at Middlebere associating with Chaffinch
1 on 22nd November 2001 at Arne
1 on 6th January 2003 at the Rockley viewpoint car park
1 from late Dec 2009 until 25th March 2010 at Poole Docks
1 on 5th November 2012 at Swineham
1 on 21st November 2015 at Arne
1 on 22nd October 2016 on Poole Docks
1 on 22nd Jan and on 16th & 17th Feb 2017 at Old Harry, possibly the same bird.
1 between South Haven, Shell Bay and Pilot’s Point between 4th & 11th March 2018
1 on 1st of Nov 2021 was joined by a second from 5th – 9th Nov with a single staying until the 11th
Sociable Plover
Latin Name
Vanellus gregarius
Status
Vagrant
Site And Records Information
1 on 18th October 1995 in Brands Bay. A stunning record considering this is a critically endangered species. The bird was originally found at Warmwell with a flock of Lapwing and was witnessed by most Dorset birders. However it was only observed by two people in Poole Harbour, gripping off many die hard Poole Harbour listers.
Song Thrush
Latin Name
Turdus philomelos
Status
Resident
Site And Records Information
Fairly common in most habitats around the harbour with large cold weather movements sometimes occurring, noticeably 6205 birds dropping in to South Haven on the 16th October 2005. Song Thrush are a regular and common night migrant over the harbour during October and November when their ‘tic’ call can be heard in amongst the Redwing and Fieldfare.
Sooty Shearwater
Latin Name
Puffinus griseus
Status
Vagrant
Site And Records Information
There’s historical record of one caught alive in Poole Harbour 8th June 1877 was the first record and there were no further sightings for 133 years.
2 on 28th Oct 2000 from Branksome Chine (J Lidster). These were part of what was, at the time, a record year for Dorset.
1 on 7th Oct 2008 from Branksome Chine (I Prophet)
1 on 23rd September 2019 from Branksome Chine (P.Morton)
1 on October 2nd 2020 west across Poole Bay (M.Constantine)
Sparrowhawk
Latin Name
Accipiter nisus
Status
Resident
Site And Records Information
A steady, perhaps increasing breeding resident, they can be encountered in most places around the harbour. Potentially 10-15 pairs regularly hunt and display throughout the whole harbour area, which compared to 1962 when only 6 pairs could be suspected of breeding in Dorset! Sparrowhawk are frequently viewed at point blank range taking small birds off the feeders at Arne. Lytchett Bay, Middlebere, Holton Lee, Upton Heath and the urban areas of Poole are all regular sites.
Spoonbill
Latin Name
Platalea leucorodia
Status
Resident
Site And Records Information
Between 2016 and 2018 we commissioned Nick Hopper to survey all Spoonbill activity and behaviour in Poole Harbour. Below are extracts from his full survey titled “The Ciconiiformes of Poole Harbour”
History of Eurasian Spoonbill in Poole Harbour
Formerly bred in Southern Britain in the 16th Century, known then as the shovelard. It is assumed that at this time all brackish estuaries were occupied by breeding Spoonbills. Quite possibly including Poole Harbour. Writing in 1799, Richard Pulteney described Spoonbill as an accidental visitor, being seen ‘a few years ago near Poole’. Although in his 1888 work Mansel Pleydell quotes Pulteney as saying that in his day, ‘it was not infrequently to be seen in the neighbourhood of Poole’. Whatever the situation, there were only three documented records during the 1800’s. One was shot in Lytchett Bay in June 1841, one in Poole Harbour in November 1848 and an immature bird shot at Poole in October 1881.
Perhaps in reality there were more occurrences; Mr Pike for example mentioned he had seen Spoonbills ‘several times in autumn about Poole Harbour and the Corfe division of the estuary and were also occasionally observed in spring’. Three more birds in 1906, four in 1917 and apparently five birds on December 25th 1938, followed by a few more records in the 50’s and 60’s. An increase in records in the late 70’s and early 80’s, followed by four blank years at the end of the 80’s until two birds wintered in 1989, since when records have been annual. The same bird is thought to have been responsible for a series of winter records through the early 90’s, until two birds wintered in 1995.
Numbers then pottered along with one to three birds being seen each year, until a remarkable count of 17 birds at Bestwall on 9th October 2006 heralded the start of something big! The following year saw 27 birds, then a bit of a retracement with numbers dropping to 14 in 2010 but rising back to 28 birds in 2011. Thirty-four birds in 2013 were then followed by an even more remarkable run of recorded breaking counts year on year rising to 75 in October 2017 and then 80 in 2018!
Without a doubt the best places to see Spoonbill is on the Brownsea Lagoon (Aug – Oct), Shipstal Point, Arne (Oct – Mar), the Wareham Channel (low-tides Oct – Mar) and in the Middlebere Channel depending on the tide (Aug – April). The sand spit out in front of the Shipstal hide is always a good spot along with the warmer waters of Holes Bay in severe cold weather. They also frequent Brands Bay occasionally and Lytchett Bay/Fields.
The big question is though……when are they going to breed?
Spotted Crake
Latin Name
Porzana porzana
Status
Scarce Passage Migrant
Site And Records Information
A nest was found near Wareham in 1868 and this the only record of breeding in the harbour.
1 on 3rd Jan 1954 at South Haven, Studland (H Brotherton). The notes read…“at close range and in good light” when her dog flushed it from a ditch alongside the ferry road at South Haven, “it disappeared into gorse at the waters edge and could not be flushed again”
1 on 12th February 1961 at Round Island (H Brotherton)
1 – 2 intermittently between on 25th September 1969 and 5th January 1970 on Brownsea
1 on 26th May 1971 at Little Sea, Studland ( P Hawkins)
2 on March 5th 1972 on Brownsea
1 singing on 3rd July 1973 at Arne Moors (SPW Corbett)
1 on 27th August 1974 on Brownsea
1 on 27th October 1979 on Brownsea
1 on 22nd October 1983 at Lytchett Bay (G Dutson)
1 on 10th September 1988 on Brownsea
1 trapped on 18th Aug 1991 at Keysworth . Another present 22nd August – 14th September, trapped on first date (per SRG)
1 on 19th April 1992 at Lytchett Bay (G Armstrong)
1 singing on 31st July 1994 at Keysworth (S Robson et al)
1 on 28th August – 6th September 1994 at Keysworth, trapped on both dates (per SRG)
1 on 27th August 1996 at Keysworth, trapped (DS Dicker, R Gifford)
1 singing 11th – 14th May 2006 at Arne Moors (Ma Constantine, N Hopper, M Robb et al) sound recorded.
1 singing 25th – 27th May 2009 at Brownsea (N Hopper, C Thain)
1 singing and sound recorded on 5th – 6th May 2014 in the area of Bestwall (P Morton and N Hopper)
1 from 20th July to 1st August 2014 at Lytchett Bay (I Ballam et al)
1 on 19th September 2016 at Lytchett Bay (I Ballam, S Robson)
Spotted Flycatcher
Latin Name
Muscicapa striata
Status
Summer Visitor & Passage Migrant
Site And Records Information
A late(ish) spring migrant with birds being recorded from late April as they breed sporadically around the harbour with 5-10 pairs in total. Most recently at Arne, Ridge, Slepe and Middlebere. More evident in autumn, from mid-August with Ballard, Sunnyside Farm, Slepe, Middlebere, Lytchett Fields, and the Greenland’s area being notable hot spots. During August and September can found in small groups of 2-10 birds.
Spotted Redshank
Latin Name
Tringa erythropus
Status
Passage Migrant & Winter Visitor
Site And Records Information
The north-east corner of Holes Bay used to be an almost traditional wintering site with at least two each winter, but sadly none seem to visit there any more. The Brownsea Island lagoon from October through to March can hold between 5-15 birds. Birds on passage can turn up anywhere with Middlebere being a particular hot spot from July-Sept, Brands Bay and Arne Bay holding stunning summer plumaged individuals. Lytchett Bay used to be another Spotted Redshank mega spot but numbers from this site have dwindled down but regularly sees several during autumn passage on RSPB Lytchett Fields.
Spotted Sandpiper
Latin Name
Actitis macularius
Status
Vagrant
Site And Records Information
A fantastic find with a juv moulting into winter plumage found in Bramble Bush Bay on Nov 5th 2023 which stayed for the day feeding in the corner of the bay with Dunlin, Turnstone a few Redshank and a Knot! This was the first record for Poole Harbour and the 6th Dorset record.
1 on Nov 5th 2023 in Bramble Bush Bay (M.Wright)
Squacco Heron
Latin Name
Ardeola ralloides
Status
Vagrant
Site And Records Information
Another much sought after bird in Poole Harbour. There was 1 present for a very short time on 21st September 2011 at Little Sea, Studland. Only one observer saw the bird and thankfully it was photographed. A real gripper of a bird and surely another is due soon?
There are also a couple of historical records too with 1 ‘at Wareham’ on 5th May 1855 and another at Brands Bay 17th January 1905
1 present for a very short time on 21st Septemeber 2011 at Little Sea, Studland
Starling
Latin Name
Sturnus vulgaris
Status
Resident
Site And Records Information
Breeds right across the harbour, but by far the most recent spectacular occurrence was during the hard winter when up to 80,000 birds could be seen wheeling above the Holes Bay/Sterte area of Poole. This flock consisted of post breeding local birds, mainly juveniles and then as the autumn/winter progresses these birds are joined by larger flocks off the continent. However winter flock sizes do seem to vary greatly each year with another murmuration forming at South Haven, Studland during the winter of 2016/17 where a flock of c15,000 Starling attracted a crowd nearly 1000 people by the end of the winter.
Stilt Sandpiper
Latin Name
Calidris himantopus
Status
Vagrant
Site And Records Information
A rare vagrant from the Nearctic, which has seen only 35 British records up to the end of 2016. There have only been 2 Poole Harbour records, however one spent almost two and a half months in the harbour having origiannly being found at Lytchett Fields before spending some time at Middlebere before finally ending up on Brownsea until it left on Dec 6th 2017 only to then be found at Christchurch harbour.
Ad on 12th – 21st Aug 2006 at Brownsea Lagoon (G Armstrong et al). The first Dorset record.
Juv on 21st Sept 2017 at Lytchett Fields (I Ballam, S Robson et al). This bird was discovered during an incredible run of rare waders across Dorset. Seen subsequently on 2nd and 7th Oct at same site.
Juv on 24th Sep 2017 – 2nd Nov 2017 at Middlebere Same as above
Juv on 24th Nov – 6th Dec 2017 (at least) at Brownsea (MJ Lawson et al). Same as above.
Stock Dove
Latin Name
Columba oenas
Status
Resident
Site And Records Information
Although quite shy, they are fairly regular around most of the harbour where they breed in open, rural areas. A large flock of around 40-50 birds historically spent the winter in and around the Arne/Middlebere area, but has not been for around ten years. The pools field at Lytchett Bay recently has up to 8 birds in late summer, with Upton Country Park, Studland and Hatch Pond having regular reports. Swineham GP and Holton Lee have also become very good for this species in recent years and in early November large numbers migrate across the harbour, often in tow of even larger numbers of Woodpigeon.
Stone Curlew
Latin Name
Burhinus oedicnemus
Status
Vagrant
Site And Records Information
A very difficult bird to catch up with in the harbour with most records consisting mainly of historic sightings, but there are some nice recent records too. With a good population breeding just north of Dorset in Wiltshire it’s amazing this species isn’t encountered more.
1 shot 10th Dec 1873 at Sandbanks
1 on 31st October 1948 on Newton Heath
1 on 3rd August 1958 over Ower and then landed on the heath
1 on 12th May 1985 over Brands Bog and towards Greenland’s Farm
2 on on 29th of October 1997 at Greenlands Farm flying in with Curlew
1 on 3rd May 1998 heard calling on the Arne approach road
1 on the 26th April 2004 on Broadstone Golf Course (T.Elborn)
1 on the 18th June 2019 flying north over Lytchett Heath – (S.Robson)
Stonechat
Latin Name
Saxicola torquatus
Status
Resident
Site And Records Information
More than 50% of the counties breeding birds used to be based in the harbour. Breeding sites include Studland Heath, Stoborough Heath , Arne, Upton Heath, Canford Heath, Hartland Moor, Holton Lee, Grange Heath and Godlingston. Passage birds occur from September onwards as birds move from various heathland sites further afield. In October small groups of between 2-10 Stonechat can be found together in rough scrub habitats with Hartland Moor, Slepe Heath, Arne the Frome Valley seeing recent feeding groups.
Storm Petrel
Latin Name
Hydrobates pelagicus
Status
Scarce Summer Visitor & Passage Migrant
Site And Records Information
South-easterly storms during May and July are best for driving European Storm Petrels into Poole Bay, and occasionally into the harbour itself. Mostly recorded from Branksome Chine, out in Poole Bay where birds can be watched lingering offshore, in high seas viewing is best achieved from Branksome Dene Chine which has a higher elevation. High counts from Branksome include 7 west on 23rd May 1996, 10 on 12th July 1998. In 2000 the record may have been broken with 16 noted between 30th Oct and 2nd Nov. Tony Wise mentions one on Brownsea in September 1964 and another was found feeding between Sandbanks and Brownsea Island on 25th Oct 1998.
Recent Records
2017
Branksome Chine 1 on 8th Jun.
2020
Bournemouth 1 W at Alum Chine on 25th Aug.
2021
Old Harry Rocks, 1 west 8th May
Subalpine Warbler
Latin Name
Sylvia cantillans
Status
Vagrant
Site And Records Information
Mostly reported during the spring, Subalpine Warbler are almost annual nowadays up on Portland Bill. However, they’re an exceptionally rare vagrant in Poole Harbour with only 1 incredible record of one in the PC World drain, behind Wessex Gate retail Park in the centre of Poole in April 2013.
1 on 19th April 2013 at the PC World outflow drain, eastern end.
Surf Scoter
Latin Name
Melanitta perspicillata
Status
Vagrant
Site And Records Information
An extreme vagrant to the harbour with only 2 records, this rare open sea duck could appear in any winter, especially after a stormy period with more now being disovered at sites further north in the UK.
2 present in Studland Bay Dec 2008 (N.Hopper)
1 female/1st year – Brands Bay on 07/11/13 then over-wintered until 5th April 2014 (P.Morton et al)
Call 01202 641 003
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