Plenty around the last couple of days but best of all was news that a different White-tailed Eagle from the Isle of Wight project paid a visit to the harbour, albeit only briefly. This time, a female, known as G814 spent a bit of time in Brands Bay on Saturday afternoon before heading off west. It seemed to have passed over Christchurch Harbour earlier in the afternoon. There were Great Northern Divers in Studland Bay (2), Shell Bay (1), Jerry’s Point (2) and Shipstal Beach (1). There are 7 Scaup now off Jerry’s Point including a new 1st winter individual. The Slavonian Grebe was still off Jerry’s Point along with 6 Goldeneye and 2 Black-necked Grebe. The 19 Common Scoter were off Middle Beach again and the Velvet Scoter was seen and the Red-necked Grebe was in Bramble Bush Bay. On Shipstal only 22 Spoonbill were counted and a Water Pipit was again at Lytchett Fields. Up to two Merlin were bombing around the Middlebere area and a ringtail Hen Harrier seen over Swineham. In Holes Bay, the Common Sandpiper was near the outflow and there were 5 Common Chiffchaff in the PCW Drain.

Common Sandpiper – Holes Bay outflow – Mark Wright (@markwright12002)

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