The adult Black Brant again paid a brief visit to Middlebere but coinciding a visit for when it is in view remains a lottery. From today’s School Bird Boat the Velvet Scoter, 2 Common Scoter, 3 Black-necked Grebe and a Great Northern Diver were all seen in Bramble Bush Bay. The resident Great Northern Diver remains in Poole Park now gaining local celebrity status. Spoonbill were in their usual haunts around the harbour with 20 on Shipstal Point, 2 on Brownsea Lagoon and 1 still on Lytchett Fields RSPB. The lone Purple Sandpiper was again on the groynes and small outcrops at North Haven with 25 Sanderling in attendance. At Holton Lee a couple of Woodlark were seen as well as 1 Common Crossbill, 5 Lesser Redpoll and 45 Siskin. The scrape there held singles of Green Sandpiper and Greenshank whilst a Marsh Harrier patrolled the reeds.

Purple Sandpiper – North Haven – Ian Ballam

Dunlin in amongst Sanderling – North Haven – Ian Ballam

It may have been a rather damp and miserable day but that didn’t deter the enthusiasm on today’s public bird boat and we were duly rewarded for our efforts. Undoubted highlights were a Red-necked Grebe out in the middle of the harbour and as we returned to the quay an adult Little Gull flew between the boat and Brownsea heading towards the Wareham Channel. At least 7 Great Northern Diver were dotted around the harbour but just 1 Black-necked Grebe was seen. Brownsea Lagoon was busy with 20+ Pintail and good numbers of Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal and Gadwall in addition to 70+ Bar-tailed Godwit including the breeding-plumaged bird. Other waders on the lagoon included a couple of Greenshank, 3 Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit and plenty of Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Curlew and Avocet. 3 Spoonbill were tucked up in the far corner of the lagoon and a further 15 birds were in their usual spot on Shipstal Point. A single Razorbill was bombing around between Brownsea and Brand’s Bay and 2 Guillemot were off Poole Quay. Rafts of Red-breasted Merganser were a delight to see so close to the boat and probably numbered around 150 with lesser numbers (c20) of Goldeneye. Lastly, a Peregrine was seen over the boat near the docks and c10 Ringed Plover were on the quay wall.

Starling – Baiter – Ian Ballam

Great Northern Diver – Central Harbour – Paul Morton

The Velvet Scoter and Common Scoter were off the houseboats again along with 1 Great Northern Diver and 3 Black-necked Grebe. Just around the corner in Shell Bay there were 2 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Great Northern Diver and 30 Sanderling and further along in Studland Bay were 4 Common Scoter, 1 Slavonian Grebe and 8 Black-necked Grebe off Knoll Beach car park. Two Spoonbill were in Lytchett Bay and in the west of the harbour there was an adult male Hen Harrier with two ringtails and 2 Merlin.

2 Egyptian Geese were again near East Holme from Holmebridge. The friendly Great Northern Diver was still in Poole Park with 3 more in Bramble Bush Bay and a further 3 in Middle Beach where there was also 3 Common Scoter and 2 Black-necked Grebe. Inside the harbour there was a Slavonian Grebe off Green Island and 6 Black-necked Grebe were seen from Shipstal Point first thing where there was also c20 Spoonbill, 1 Hen Harrier and 2 Common Crossbill. At North Haven there was just the 1 Purple Sandpiper with 5 Ringed Plover.

The Black Brant was seen again amongst 200 or so Brent Geese from the Coombe Heath Hide. Nearby 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-necked Grebe and 3 Black-necked Grebe were viewable in Arne Bay from Shipstal Point and the Poole Park Great Northern Diver is still in residence. The only report of Spoonbill today was of 1 in Brand’s Bay. Middlebere continues to be the most reliable site to see Hen Harrier in the habour where a ringtail was seen in the afternoon. Single Spotted Redshank were on Lytchett Fields and in Holes Bay. Lastly, 2 Water Pipit were on Lytchett Fields.

The current bitingly cold wind seems to be keeping people indoors as well as pushing birds into the more sheltered inaccessible parts of the harbour. 3 Spoonbill were again in Lytchett Bay near Otter Point. A Slavonian Grebe was seen off Middle Beach in Studland Bay where 47 Sanderling were counted on Knoll Beach. Nearby the Hooded Crow was still hanging around Manor Farm in Studland village.

The Black Brant was seen again at Middlebere associating with 380 (Dark-bellied) Brent Geese. Single Velvet Scoter and Common Scoter were still in Bramble Bush Bay where a Razorbill was just a bit further in to the west. Two Great Northern Diver were in Shell Bay plus 2 in Bramble Bush Bay, 1 in Arne Bay whilst the confiding individual was still present in Poole Park. A Red-necked Grebe was seen from Shipstal Point out in Arne Bay where there was also 10 Black-necked Grebe. c20 Spoonbill were on their usual roosting spot at Shipstal Point. A ringtail Hen Harrier was observed flying over the track between the Middlebere cottages and the farm buildings and the adult male continues to be seen at various spots in the west of the harbour. From the Avocet Hide a Peregrine was watched unsuccessfully chasing after the massed ranks (1,000+) of Avocet in the Middlebere Channel where there was also 5 Spotted Redshank. Shell Bay held 2 Black-necked Grebe, 43 Sanderling, 34 Grey Plover, 5 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Sandwich Tern and 20+ Linnet. In Holes Bay there was a good count of 14 Little Grebe as well as 1 Spotted Redshank and in the nearby PC World Drain there were 2 Grey Wagtail and a Water Rail. One lucky observer inadvertently disturbed a Jack Snipe from a small pool in the Studland area and you have to wonder just how many of these secretive little waders are lurking around the harbour? Arne RSPB car park is still proving to be a reliable site to see Firecrest with at least 1 being seen there today.

In very changeable conditions today observations were somewhat limited. Up to 5 Great Northern Diver were seen from the school bird boat between Brownsea and Brand’s Bay whilst c500 Brent Geese were along the foreshore between Ower and Fitzworth. Spoonbill were spread around the harbour with 10 at Shipstal Point, 4 at Fitzworth, 2 in Lytchett Bay and 1 on Brownsea Lagoon.

There was no news either way on the Poole Park Great Northern Diver but here are some lovely photos of the bird taken on 12^th January:

Great Northern Diver – Poole Park © Nick Mudge

Great Northern Diver – Poole Park © Nick Mudge

Great Northern Diver – Poole Park © Nick Mudge 

The Velvet Scoter was still in Bramble Bush Bay and is best viewed from near the House Boats. Also in that area were 3 Black-necked Grebe, 4 Great Northern Diver, 47 Sanderling and 8 Ringed Plover. The Great Northern Diver is still performing for the cameras in Poole Park, most of the time. A Great White Egret was in the Middlebere Channel in addition to 5 Spoonbill. The male Hen Harrier was hunting once more over Arne Moors. In Brand’s Bay there were 89 Grey Plover, 15 Knot and 249 Brent Geese. The Hooded Crow put in another appearance around Studland village.

The immature female Velvet Scoter was still in Bramble Bush Bay whilst the confiding 1^st winter Great Northern Diver continues in Poole Park with a further 3 in Shell Bay and 4 elsewhere around the harbour. 5 Black-necked Grebe were seen in the centre of the harbour with another 6 in Studland Bay where there was also 5 Common Scoter. 15 Spoonbill were roosting off Shipstal Point with 2 at Middlebere and 1 at Brand’s Bay. 2 ringtail Hen Harrier and a male Merlin were seen from the Avocet Hide at Middlebere late afternoon. A couple of Razorbill were around the harbour mouth and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was briefly off The House Boats. The Spotted Redshank was still in Holes Bay NE by the outflow. A single Hawfinch was seen in trees near Norden Station and at the nearby sewage works there were at least 12 Chiffchaff.