With the wind and the rain heaving down over night it was a pleasure to see the wind ease off at dawn for our School bird boat. It was one of the most productive of the year so far with 7 Great Northern Diver (2 off Baiter, 1 central harbour, 1 off Goathorn and 3 near the harbour mouth), the Red-necked Grebe at one point wasjust 10ft off the side of the boat at one point, next to the old flying boat control structure which would be visible from Baiter, also 4 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Eider, c15 Goldeneye, c75 Red-breasted Merganser, c15 Spoonbill and a good selection of waders on the Brownsea Lagoon. The Slavonian Grebe was still in Parkstone Bay and there were 3 Goldeneye and 2 Red-breasted Merganser on Poole Park boating lake. There were both adult male and female Hen Harrier in the harbour today sighted around the Swineham area.