There was no sign of the Tundra Bean Geese at Swineham today, no doubt tucked away having already found a new set of fields close by, waiting to be discovered by the next lucky birder. The strong winds dropped 2 Great Northern Diver off in Shell Bay, with 6 Black-necked Grebe off Middle Beach with 2 Slavonian Grebe and 8 Common Scoter. In Lytchett Bay there were 2 Marsh Harrier and 2 rintail Hen Harrier were logged around the Arne area. In Poole Park 4 Shoveler was a good count and there were also 4 Red-breasted Merganser. There were still c1000 Black-tailed Godwit in Holes Bay NE and counts of 150+ Brent Geese at Baiter and Whitley Lake. Along Middle Beach c30 Sanderling was also a decent total and c50 Med Gull were around Baiter Beach.

Eurasian Teal – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

As hoped, the 3 Tundra Bean Geese re-appeared at Swineham again today in the paddock fields to the west of the main house. They turned up mid-morning having been elsewhere at first light and for the early part of the morning, but they obviously seem to like the paddock fields and will hopefully remain faithful to that site for a while longer yet.

Elsewhere sightings were still few and far between, but the Brambling was still still at the Lytchett Bay feeders along Slough Lane, there was an amazing 150 Brent Geese on the Brownsea Lagoon (surely a lagoon record) and in Brands Bay there were 2 Black-necked Grebe and still 120 Pintail.

Adult male Brambling – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam

This afternoon, after a post storm visit, Adam Day re-found all three of the Tundra Bean Geese at Swineham GP fields. This is good for two reasons, 1) it shows they’re still here and b) that all three are all ok after only two were logged in lytchett Bay after a wildfowling session had taken place a couple of weeks ago.

Storm Eunice certainly caused some havoc across the harbour, with the Sandbanks Road closed as it was totally underwater, an event that now seems to be happening more and more. Despite the strong winds a Peregrine and Marsh Harrier were still hunting in Lytchett Bay and hardy waders including Turnstone, Dunlin and a couple of Ringed Plover were hunkered down on Baiter.

The Barclays Peregrines were on and off the main Barclays building throughout the day and in Poole Park, the water levels remain low, providing great views of Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Redshank and even a few Turnstone were on there.

Turnstone crossing what looks like the North Sea, but is actually Whitley Lake, Sandbanks – Mr Wilson

(Twitter – @00MrWilson00)

A nice hint at the crossover of seasons to come. Waterfowl numbers now beginning to clear-out at Holes Bay and notable raptors logged today included a Red Kite tracking west low over Lytchett Fields and a first-winter/female Merlin that paid an unexpected visit to Luscombe Valley! The latter is certainly not a typical sight for urban Poole and there cannot be many records for the site. The Corfe River Valley offered 2 Firecrest, a single Redpoll and an overwintering Red Admiral lapping up the morning sun. South Beach, Studland clocked up at least 100 Mediterranean Gulls. Numbers within the harbour will now begin increasing day-by-day and birds start acquiring their smart summer plumage, ready to set up territories on the Gull Islands and Brownsea Lagoon breeding grounds. Extending the visit to Old Harry and Shell Bay added 2 Little Egret, 10+ Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 20 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Sanderling, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Black-necked and 5 Great Crested Grebe. Meanwhile, the back of the Middle Beach car park briefly featured 3 Ring-necked Parakeets. Holes Bay is experiencing a drop in overwintering species, peak counts today hit 696 Wigeon, 137 Teal, 49 Pintail, 566 Black-tailed Godwit, 122 Avocet and smaller groups of Redshank, Curlew, Dunlin, 4 Turnstone, the long-staying Common Sandpiper and a couple of 2 Mediterranean Gulls. The south-west corner of the bay added 2 Snipe and 11 Dark-bellied Brent Goose to the day list. Both adult Peregrine made an appearance at Barclays, and there were a further 37 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 88 Mediterranean Gulls off Baiter Park.

Common Redshank (left) and Spotted Redshank (right) – Middlebere (yesterday) – Rusty Robin @BrandsbayBob

Plenty of signs of spring today with the Barclays male and female Peregrine soaring over the George Roundabout, semi-displaying and seen to be visiting the nesting ledge again which is great news. In mild, sheltered spots along the Frome and Piddle Valley, Snowdrops, Crocus’s and Daffodils are all now fully in flower and Mistle Thrush, several Firecrest, Goldcrest and Chaffinch now all refining their spring songs, and almost delivering fully crystallised renditions of their familiar sounds. The water levels in Poole park are currently quite low, attracting in plenty of Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, some Redshank and Turnstone too, as well as a few Red-breasted Merganser. In Middlebere there were 3 Spotted Redshank. A Lesser Redpoll was over Middlebere, 2 Marsh Harrier were off Swineham and a Great White Egret was on the main pit. Finally, we often visit the ‘Straight of Gibraltar Bird Observatory‘ website this time of year as it provides info on the latest raptor and migrant bird passage across the straights, and although not mentioned on their website (yet), we read on Twitter this AM that the first Osprey of the spring crossed from Africa over to Gibraltar. This could well have only been over-wintering in North Africa (as apposed to West Africa), but the fact it’s headed north in recent days with the first Black Kites and Short-toed Eagles of the spring highlights some Osprey are now on the move! With the first UK birds arriving in mid-March, it’s now only weeks away until the possible excitement of Spring 2022 can begin.

Snowdrops, Crocus’s and Daffodils in Frome Valley

Strong rain and wind set in early and it doesn’t look like showing much sign of easing over the coming days so birding largely restricted to looking out of the window! One lucky set of garden bird feeders received a visit from a Brambling, otherwise harbour sightings were very thin on the ground. The Lytchett Bay Brambling at the end f Slough Lane was also on the feeders too for a short while. The Common Sandpiper was again at the PCW Drain outflow, 12 Spoonbill were on Shipstal Point and on Brownsea 800+ Avocet were present with 4 Greenshank, c50 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Knot, c40 Grey Plover and a whole host of Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Dunlin and Bar-tailed Godwit. There was also a male Goosander on Swineham GP.

If looking for inspiration, with the prominent wind direction coming from the west, perhaps a late afternoon visit to Middle Beach, Studland could offer some shelter and yield a decent grebe roost before dusk…

Brambling – Poole Garden – Shazz Hooper @DorsetShazz

Curlew – Holes Bay – Mark Wright @markwright12002

Common Sandpiper – Holes Bay NE – Mark Wright @markwright12002

Nice for some respite from the wind and rain today, before it kicks off again tomorrow. Not many sightings, but a few highlights with 2 Green Sandpiper on the high tide in Lytchett Bay this morning, as well as the Brambling still being visible at the Lytchett Fields feeding station. A count at PCW Drain reported 5 Chiffchaff, 7 Teal, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Bullfinch and 1 Kingfisher. Also great to spend the morning with a team of volunteers laying out matting on the pathway to the viewpoints at Lytchett Fields… Hopefully the improvements will make the viewpoint easier to access, providing a path over the muddiest areas. Huge thank you to everyone that helped.

If anyone missed our talk last Thursday, featuring the results of The Big Poole Harbour Bird Count and discussion around some of the species highlights, you can find the full recording here.

Green Sandpiper – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam

Brambling – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Section of new path at Lytchett Fields

Insane scenes on our Winter Safari Cruise! Having already ticked off 2 Guillemot before departing Poole Quay, we set off on a route that took us into the Middlebere Channel with the idea of watching the roosting Spoonbill, but we weren’t expecting what happened next… The flock of 17 Spoonbill were feeding in the Middlebere Channel briefly on arrival but frantically lifted into the air as a female Peregrine bombed into action, quickly isolating one of the birds. After a close chase, the Spoonbill plunged into the water, narrowly avoiding the talons in close pursuit! The Peregrine then changed target and chased an Oystercatcher around the boat before giving up and moving on. A meander around the back of the islands then offered a Common Seal and numerous rafts of Red-breasted Merganser. Brownsea Lagoon was well attended with c.200 Avocet, c80 Bar-tailed Godwit, c300 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Greenshank single Spotted Redshank and a couple of Mediterranean Gulls among the roosting Black-headed Gulls. We concluded with a Great Northern Diver off the Baiter Park shoreline. Elsewhere, Holes Bay  clocked up a further 615+ Black-tailed Godwit, 147 Avocet, 100+ Dunlin and 68 Pintail, with numerous of Wigeon and Teal remaining strong.

Bar-tailed Godwit & Avocet – Brownsea Lagoon – Clive Hargrave

Spotted Redshank – Brownsea Lagoon – Clive Hargrave