A quick look at next weeks forecast indicates a rather cold start to March, and by the feel of todays northerly wind the chill may already have started. Despite the cold, numerous White-tailed Eagles got moving with 4 circling high above Corfe Castle around midday which would indicate that some have arrived in from somewhere as there’s recently only been 2 in (semi) residence, female G466 and male G463. On Shipstal Point the winters last remaining 7 Spoonbill were roosting, off Middle Beach 5 Eider, 1 Great Northern Diver and 3 Black-necked Grebe were feeding and a Velvet Scoter was seen off South Beach with 4 Black-necked Grebe. There was also 2 Black-necked Grebe off Jerry’s Point. A Common Scoter was close in shore at Baiter and in Holes Bay c1200 Black-tailed Godwit were roosting including some stunning summer plumaged individuals, suggesting some southern arrivals have entered the harbour recently.

Massive low tide at Baiter – John Newman

Oystercatcher – Baiter – John Newman

An amazing Winter Safari Cruise this AM, highlighting that not only are a few birds already leaving, but some are arriving too. Out in the Wareham Channel, yesterdays 8 newly arrived Common Scoter were bobbing about off the Arne shoreline, and in central harbour 6 Eider, including a newly arrived adult male were loafing with c20 Red-breasted Merganser. The White-tailed Eagle ‘pair’ G466 and G463 were in an unusual place, sitting in trees on the Goathorn Peninsular, next to Brands Bay. The Brownsea Lagoon was busy with 1 Spoonbill, c500 Dunlin, c100 Grey Plover, c100 Bar-tailed Godwit, c300 Black-tailed Godwit, c100 Avocet, 1 Greenshank and small numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler and Wigeon. Around the mouth of the Frome/Swineham 4 different Marsh Harrier were active. Best of all today came later in the afternoon with 2 Common Crane flying over Lytchett Fields and towards the Bakers Arms roundabout. Also at Lytchett Fields was Water Pipit ‘1K’ again and 2 Spotted Redshank were in Holes Bay north.

White-tailed Eagle G466 – Goathorn

Eider – Central Harbour

Common Scoter – Wareham Channel

The Mediterranean Gull return passage is building even more with bigger numbers appearing in various areas including 78+ in Lytchett Bay this AM. There was also a Great White Egret at Lytchett Fields which is the first for the harbour this year surprisingly. Also at Lytchett Fields was 1 Water Pipit, 1 Spotted Redshank and 2 Marsh Harrier. Holes Bay had 1000+ Black-tailed Godwit, Middlebere saw 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, and 2 White-tailed Eagle were seen along the southern shore near Ower Bay. Off Arne a small flock of 8 Common Scoter were off Patchins Point and Brownsea had a great count of 157 Grey Plover.

Water Pipit ‘1k’ – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Amazing scenes today when the years first House Martin appeared, not quite in Poole Harbour, but just across the way off Perveril Point, Swanage. This is really early, but not uncommon, especially with yesterdays glorious weather and southerly airflow. If a House Martin can be deposited early, there’s no reason why Sand Martin and Wheatear can’t be too far behind. This evening 3 Cattle Egret flew over Lytchett Bay again, heading towards the Holes Bay roost. Off Jerry’s Point a single Black-necked Grebe was bobbing about and 5 were in Studland Bay. A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Swineham again and 3 Marsh Harrier were around Keysworth.

House Martin – Peveril Point, Swanage – Brian Edge

The building breeze made watching open areas of the harbour tricky today, but it was good to see a Great Northern Diver in Shell Bay seeing as numbers had dropped off in recent weeks. There were also 3 Black-necked Grebe in Shell Bay with another 5+ in Studland Bay along with 1 female Common Scoter. Brands Bay was full of Pintail again, and 2 Peregrine were actively hunting the c300 Black-tailed Godwit, c100 Dunlin and 20 Grey Plover that were also in the bay. There were 2 White-tailed Eagle seen around the Arne peninsular, 2 Marsh Harrier were at Swineham and a ringtail Hen Harrier was at Middlebere. There was also an odd report of a female Ring Ouzel in Poole Town near Tower Park. They can/do very rarely over-winter, so it’s not impossible, but it’s a tad too early for it to be an early spring migrant.

Reed Bunting and Greenfinch – Lytchett ‘Rock Lea’ view Feeders

It was a bit more ‘February’ today with murk and gloom over much of the harbour, brightened up slightly by a stunning adult male Marsh Harrier that currently frequenting the Middlebere, Swineham area. We rarely see full adult male plumage but this lad is the real deal, and would be a welcome resident to the harbour should he decide to stay into March and April. The 2 White-tailed Eagle that have been spending a lot of time togther, G466 and G463 were both out in the Wareham Channel mid-morning but soon drifted off into the murk, not to be seen again. At Shipstal Beach, RSPB Arne, 6 Spoonbill were roosting.

Blackbird brightening up a dull day

Sorry for the late post, we’ve literally only just got back in from hosting our final Sunnyside ringing demo of the season. It was a great final session with 1 Jack Snipe, 2 Common Snipe, 1 Woodcock and 2 Lapwing ringed. In total 4 Jack Snipe were seen along with c15 Woodcock and c10 Lapwing. It was another belter of a day too in terms of warm weather which saw White-tailed Eagles G463 and G466 active high above the Wareham Channel, with a Marsh Harrier displaying there too. It was good to hear of some semi-decent ‘Barwit’ and Sanderling totals from Whitley Lake yesterday which included 104 Bar-tailed Godwit and 35 Sanderling on the inner-Sandbanks shoreline. A pale-bellied Brent Goose was in Brands Bay. In Holes Bay SW 2 Spotted Redshank were hunkered up and off Middle Beach, Studland 5 Black-necked Grebe were just off shore. In Brands Bay this morning a clonking 444 Pintail were counted, which is a great February total. The mass-Black-tailed Godwit group now seems to be dispersing around the harbour with all c3500 having been tucked away in Holes Bay in recent months. Now flocks of c500-c600 are being counted back at sites like Lytchett Bay, Brands Bay and the Brownsea Lagoon. A Red Kite was over Upton.

Woodcock – Sunnyside Ringing Demo – Brittany Maxted

Lapwing – Sunnyside Ringing Demo – Brittany Maxted

This weather can stay please! By mid-afternoon, the temperature had reached 14 degrees in some areas and it truly felt like a spring day. There was lots going on today and this morning our Winter Safari Cruise was treated to a decent range of species. Male White-tailed Eagle G463 briefly had a minor dispute with a Raven out over the sores of the Wareham Channel before heading off up the Frome Valley. There were 2-3 Marsh Harrier touring the Swineham/Keysworth area and 3 Spotted Redshank in the mouth of the Frome along with c200 Lapwing and c300 Avocet. Central Harbour had c80 Red-breasted Merganser but there were only 4 Goldeneye in the Wareham Channel. Shipstal Point at Arne only had 6 Spoonbill. This evening 3 Cattle Egret flew past Rock Lea viewpoint at Lytchett Bay and 2 Spotted Redshank were on Lytchett Fields with at least 1 Water Pipit. There was a good count of 306 Pintail in Brands Bay along with 9 Knot (which have been scarce this winter).

White-tailed Eagle and Raven – Winter Safari Cruise this AM – Fiona Liddiard

River Frome – Winter Safari Cruise this AM – Fiona Liddiard