The number of over-wintering, open water species is increasing slowly day by day with a minimum of 50 Red-breasted Merganser out in South Deep (near the inner harbour mouth) and a Common Scoter there too. The Brownsea Lagoon was looking good with 25 Spoonbill, c300 Avocet, c400 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Spotted Redshank and good numbers of the common duck and waders species. At Holton Lee 2 Marsh Tits are regular visitors to the feeding station there where they also had the first over-wintering Lesser Redpoll and a few Siskin. A Great White Egret was in the Wytch Channel and then moved to Middlebere mid morning. A Short-eared Owl posed nicely along the Arne Road on the edge of Slepe Heath. There was also possibly a second Short-eared Owl out in the Wareham Channel early morning. A total of 8 Marsh Harrier left the west Poole Harbour roost at dawn with a possible 2 more appearing from the east around the same time. The 2 ringtail Hen Harriers were active again throughout the day visiting Middlebere, Keysworth, Swineham and Shipstal. At Lytchett Fields 3 different Marsh Harrier were present as were 3 Water Pipit (2 on Lytchett Pools), 65 Dunlin, 154 Lapwing and 101 Redshank. From Middle Beach, Studland there were 3 Common Scoter and 5 Black-necked Grebe plus a Firecrest in Knoll beach woods.    

Short-eared Owl – Arne Road, Slepe Heath – Paul Morton