The forecast looks a bit mixed for the next few weeks, suggesting we need to make the most of the breaks in the weather when we can. It was amazingly mild this morning, so much so that Redwing were singing at Carey Secret Garden. There were also 2 Mandarin Duck that flew over the Lower Piddle Valley this morning, over the heads of the 24 Cattle Egret that were on Wareham Common. The Mandarins headed up river towards Trigon, just as a Merlin bombed down and headed towards Wareham. This afternoon there were 5 Spoonbill at Shipstal, RSPB Arne and 1 dropped into Holes Bay briefly. The White-tailed Eagle pair were in the south of the harbour briefly before heading off in different directions. A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Middlebere and what was probably the same was in Lytchett Bay this morning. The 8 Waxwing were at Dacombe Drive, Upton this morning. In the blustery conditions there were still good numbers of wildfowl in Holes Bay north this morning with Wigeon, Teal, Pintail and Shoveler all present in good numbers.

Shoveler, Pintail, Wigeon and Teal – Holes Bay north.