Stunningly clear and flat calm conditions for our Winter Safari boat this morning helped us pick up plenty of open water species, including a group of 5 Black-necked Grebe and a nearby Slavonian Grebe in South Deep, plus 12 Great Northern Diver spread across the whole harbour! We were also pleased to see the White-tailed Eagle pair active once again around their usual summer territory in the Wareham Channel, before they headed off over Lytchett Bay where they were enjoyed by several other watchers. We were also delighted to see the first two freshly returned Sandwich Terns on the Brownsea Lagoon, one of which flew ahead of our boat as we made our way back to Poole Quay. Watching it darting and diving in the warm sunshine made for a gloriously spring-like atmosphere!

In Lytchett Bay this morning a 1st winter Little Gull was seen briefly before departing towards the Wareham Channel, and in the afternoon there was a ringtail Hen Harrier over Otter Island, as well as another in the Middlebere Channel along with hunting Goshawk. And just north of the harbour there was a Great Grey Shrike in Wareham Forest, in the area south-west of Woolsbarrow Fort, along with a single Corn Bunting and 3 Lesser Redpoll. This afternoon there was a Great White Egret on the Keysworth shoreline in the Wareham Channel and there were some exciting developments when the new Poole Peregrine pair were seen carrying out a brief copulation attempt. It seems they like their new town centre real estate!

Ringtail Hen Harrier – Middlebere – @PlushieTumRs on Twitter