With a ridge of high pressure reaching us on Sunday (well, thats what it says at the moment) we could be in for a nice week next week, and potentially the first decent arrival of early spring migrants with the harbour (and Dorset) still to record it’s first Wheatear, Sand Martin or Little Ringed Plover. The wind was still whipping across the harbour today (like it has been for most of the winter) but there were still some good birds to be had. One of the Siberian Chiffchaff was singing at the PC World Drain conveniently in time with a Common Chiffchaff which offered a good comparison of their song. Also present were several other Common Chiffchaff including some with sticky pollen on their bills and foreheads indicating that they’re newly arrived migrants from further south. On the tall section of the Asda building there were 2 Peregrine Falcon which consisted of the male ‘HF’, a male which hatched from the Bournemouth clocktower nest back in 2016, and a newly arrived female who seems very interested in ‘HF”s urban pad. We’re watching carefully and noting their behaviour and hoping we may see a first Poole Town nesting attempt of Peregrines for many many years.

Also today a Great Northern Diver was off Baiter with 6 Great Crested Grebe, c20 Med Gulls and 6 Turnstone. In Holes Bay SE a further c50 Med Gull came in late afternoon on the massive low tide and began to feed on the mud. At Holton Pools there were 5 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper and at Lytchett Fields 1 Spotted Redshank, 76 Redshank and 1 Peregrine.

We’ve also just published info on the new Osprey feeding platform we’ve installed on Pergins Island, Holes Bay which you can read about HERE.

Male Peregrine ‘HF’ being ringed as a chick – June 2017 – Jason Fathers

Male Peregrine ‘HF’ now a full adult – Asda Poole – Paul Morton