One of the great things about Poole Harbour is the numerous urban birding opportunities it provides during the winter. The whole of the northern shore of Poole Harbour is an urbanised and developed environment, which conveniently provides close access to shorelines, sheltered bays, freshwater bodies and great views out across central harbour. One of the real delights is Holes Bay, which starts to provide a true winter spectacle in early November and especially when colder weather sets in. This morning, true to form, just as the wind became a cold, biting inconvenience Holes Bay filled up with birds with the highlight being 7 Spoonbill that fed just meters off the cycle path in the NE corner of the bay, close to the outflow that channels down from behind PC World. This location has to be one of the best in the country to watch and observe Spoonbill at close quarters as they feed without fear as amazed birders and non-observant cycles stand and pass at times just meters away. Spoonbill aren’t the only show offs in Holes Bay north, there were around 50 Avocet feeding on the falling tide with, 50+ Dunlin, 200+ Redshank, 200+ Black-tailed Godwit, 700+ Wigeon, 200+ Teal and 3 Great Crested Grebe. All viewable within the center of town! Another great place to get close to harbour species is ‘the stone bench’ at Upton Country Park which is just on the NW outskirts of the park at the beginning of the cycle path which leads you around Holes Bay. This morning big numbers of Wigeon, Teal, a handful of Pintail, 110 Avocet, 97 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Grey Plover and 50 Curlew. At Middlebere a ringtail Hen Harrier passed the NT hide and out in Middlebere there is still a decent Avocet flock roosting at the top end on the high tide. 

Spoonbill feeding in Holes Bay NE – Filmed from the cycle path