Today was the first day of the first ever Dorset Birdfair weekend and it was a great success. The day comprised of a great mixture of walks, talks and exhibitions and if you get a chance to make it over tomorrow then I highly recommend it. Plus lots of birds around too with stacks of Meadow Pipit, Swallow, Goldfinch, Siskin, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch and Skylark passing overhead.

Back to Poole Harbour news and a staggering 17 species of wader were out on the Brownsea Lagoon today. 1 Grey Phalarope, 3 Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 13 Spotted Redshank, 15 Greenshank, 18 Knot, 418 Avocet, 52 Curlew, 20 Bar-tailed Godwit along with decent sized roosts of Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher and Dunlin. Also present Snipe, Grey Plover, Ringed Plover and Redshank.

Out on Arne moors a Whinchat, 1 Wheatear, 3 Stonechat and a Kestrel were making use of the large hay bales.

An early visit to Hatch Pond produced 31 Gadwall, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Bunting and 2 Grey Heron. 

In the west of the harbour yesterday a raptor count of 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 sub-adult Hen Harrier, 2 Hobby and a Merlin was counted.

Finally, a quick survey at Lytchett Bay produced a group of 9 Greenshank, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Green Sandpiper and 20 Wigeon.