It was another cold one today. Although don’t worry, because by Sunday we’ll be back to balmy 15 degrees, strong wind and heavy rain. Just what we’re all used to! So, if you like the cold, crisp weather you’ve only got a couple of days to soak it up. There are still signs of a minor cold weather movement with lots and lots of Lapwing in the river valleys and surrounding fields. Plus, the Golden Plover was still in Brands Bay this morning. There was also a huge count of c1200 Teal (typical in c400) on Holme Lane GP and 122 Gadwall, all suggesting recent arrivals.  It was an absolute thrill this morning to be able to show our school group, out on their bird boat trip, one of the White-tailed Eagles which was initially over RSPB Arne and then settled on Shipstal. This morning both Hen Harrier and Merlin were active at the top end of Middlebere and there were 16 Cattle Egret in the Frome Valley and 7 in the Piddle Valley. At Lytchett Fields there were singles of Water Pipit and Spotted Redshank. Holes Bay north was looking great again with a massive c2700 Black-tailed Godwit plus big numbers of Dunlin, Wigeon, Avocet, Redshank etc. In the PCW drain up to 10+ Chiffchaff were doing their best to survive by catching insects off the surface of the channel. Off Jerrys Point the Slavonian Grebe was still there and there were 4 Goldeneye and between Arne and Brownsea there was a minimum of 12 Great Northern Diver

Cattle Egret – Frome Valley

One of the highlights from a chilly Winter Safari Cruise this AM was a Peregrine hunting over the Swineham Gravel Pit, before eventually giving up it’s attempt at catching a Little Grebe. There were at least 5 Marsh Harrier active across the Swineham and Keysworth reedbeds, and a Scaup in amongst a group of 10 Red-breasted Merganser at the mouth of the Wareham Channel. The c.20 Spoonbill were roosting again near Ower Bay. Great Northern Diver numbers were high across the harbour, with at least 16 seen from our boat trip. There were 3 Black-necked Grebe in Bramble Bush Bay, and later this afternoon 2 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Slavonian Grebe and 3 Great Northern Diver were seen from Jerry’s Point. On the Brownsea Lagoon were numbers of c.400 Black-tailed Godwit, 800 Dunlin, 80 Avocet, 30 Bar-tailed Godwit, 30 Sanderling, 30 Ringed Plover, 60 Redshank and 2 Greenshank. It was a good raptor morning from Coombe Heath with 4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier and 1 Peregrine reported. 14 Cattle Egret were also reported in the farm fields at Worgret, viewed from the Bog Lane SANG. The Black-throated Diver was in Holes Bay again this afternoon, seen near the railway embankment before flying south, and interestingly one was reported dropping into Studland Bay this evening – perhaps the same bird?

Male Hen Harrier – Middlebere Channel from Coombe Heath – Kate Plater

A crisp morning and stunning sunrise for our Winter Safari Cruise this morning which started off well with a flock of 14 Barnacle Geese flying over Poole Quay and heading towards the Wareham Channel. This is a good record as a rare winter visitor to Poole Harbour. A flock of 10 was later picked up in a field to the west of Swineham gravel pit. Still very good numbers of Great Northern Diver around the harbour with 15 logged on the trip and probably more lurking in other parts of the harbour. We also had 11 Spoonbill off Fitzworth, 2 Marsh Harrier, 12+ Goldeneye, 1 Great White Egret and 1 Pochard at Swineham.

Elsewhere in the harbour the first Scaup of the winter turned up with a female in Brands Bay. Also in Brands Bay were 1 Golden Plover and 1 Slavonian Grebe. In Holes Bay, there were 5 Knot in the NW along with 1 Greenshank and 500+ of both Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit and the 1 Black-throated Diver was still in the South.

Female Scaup – Brands Bay – @birderOtbt on twitter

Another freezing day which made for a chilly ringing demonstration this evening, but it was still a success with 6 Woodcock, 2 Common Snipe and 1 Jack Snipe caught and ringed at Sunnyside Farm. The Black Redstart was still at Studland at The Pig this morning. Also reported at Studland from Jerry’s Point was 1 Great Northern Diver and several distant Goldeneye. The Black-throated Diver is also still in Holes Bay not far from the shore opposite Premier Inn, with a count of 21 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 500 Black-tailed Godwit, 750 Wigeon and 95 Oystercatcher in the SE. Reports from Lytchett Bay included 2 Green Sandpiper, 90 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 10 Snipe, 1 Spoonbill and 1 Peregrine. At RSPB Arne highlights from Coombe Heath were 2 White-tailed Eagle, 12 Spoonbill and 1 male Hen Harrier during the morning.

Spoonbill – Coombe Heath – Kate Plater.