Status

Passage Migrant & Winter Visitor

Site And Records Information

No longer a guaranteed over winterer but definitely a regular passage migrant in October and early November again from ‘Vis Mig’ sites like South Haven, Ballard and Glebelands. Quite often found in amongst over wintering Chaffinch flocks at sites like Arne, Middlebere and Greenlands Farm. An impressive 300-500 birds over wintered at Arne in 2003/04.

Status

Vagrant

Site And Records Information

A rare transatlantic vagrant which would normally be looked for in autumn, but with only two Poole Harbour records, one of which being in mid June, it just goes to show you should be prepared to see/find odd birds at odd times of years in odd places.

1 on 12th Sep 2011 on Brownsea Lagoon (N.Hopper)
1 on 15th June 2017 on Lytchett Fields (I.Ballam)

Status

Resident

Site And Records Information

Breeds in urban and rural areas of the harbour favouring areas with thick hedge rows and fruit trees. Frequent at Upton House, Lytchett Bay, Holton Lee, Studland and Swineham. Movements and birds in odd places are also detected at times of passage and are usually mainly local birds dispersing, however in some years genuine migration does occur. This was most noticeable in 1987 when a flock of 40-60 birds were recorded at Studland coinciding with an autumn influx of birds into the county the previous October. Other notable counts have been 30 at Parkstone in Dec 1974 and 40 at Holton Heath on 18th Nov 1984.

Status

Resident

Site And Records Information

Buzzards are commonly seen and heard all around the harbour area. They are most likely to be seen over the farmland, wetlands, the heaths and the conifer plantations but can appear even above urban conurbations to the north and east, perhaps thermalling individually or in groups on warm days or in transit low over the roofs.

Tony Wise said “apparently bred on Brownsea in the 1950’s.” In 1967 F R Clafton wrote excitedly in the Bird Report “In the Rempstone area near Corfe Castle, S P W Corbett thought a pair were possibly nesting and Elizabeth Ollivant reported frequent sightings at nearby Bushey”

During spring up to 20 Buzzards may be seen soaring over open areas from a high vantage point and display often then occurs over suitable nesting sites. They become less conspicuous during the nesting season though can still be encountered soaring singly or carrying prey to young in the nest. In late summer and autumn juveniles can be located by their loud food-soliciting squeals. In winter, the species is often seen on roadside perches such as telegraph poles, presumably waiting for road kill. They also ‘worm’ in fields for long periods during the winter.