Bitterly cold again today with more evidence of movement/arrivals with 4 Goldeneye in the harbour (2 south shore and 2 off Redhorn Point), and out off Middle Beach there were 16 newly arrived Common Scoter in Studland Bay along with 2 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Great Northern Diver, 8 Great Crested Grebe and 5 Red-breasted Merganser. In between Jerry’s Point and Furzey 2 Slavonian Grebe were feeding and there were 2 Red-throated Diver, one close to Jerry’s Point and the other off the SW Brownsea south shore. Off Fitzworth 18 Spoonbill were roosting and 4 more Black-necked Grebe were off Gold Point, RSPB Arne. Down at Swineham a Great White Egret was feeding on the edge of the gravel pit, 4-5 Marsh Harrier were floating around (on the breeze) and c200 Avocet were feeding near the mouth of the Frome. The Brownsea Lagoon was busy and saw another c500 Avocet, c30 Bar-tailed Godwit, c800 Dunlin, c50 Grey Plover, 4 Knot, 1 Sanderling, c30 Ringed Plover and 5 Greenshank. Bird of the day goes to a lone Purple Sandpiper which was on one of the first groyne along from North Haven Hotel. At Lytchett Bay a Spoonbill was roosting on Otter Island and a Spotted Redshank was out in the bay and in Holes Bay numbers were still high and saw 1097 Wigeon, 72 Pintail and 1200+ Black-tailed Godwit. Brands Bay had a good count of 287 Pintail and a Red Kite was over Middlebere.

Marsh Harrier – Swineham from Winter Safari this AM – Sue Ketteridge

Great White Egret – Swineham from Winter Safari this AM – Sue Ketteridge

Great Crested Grebe – Wareham Channel from Winter Safari this AM – Sue Ketteridge

Red-throated Diver – South Deep from Winter Safari this AM – Sue Ketteridge