As stated yesterday, the conditions looked favourable for a Wood Pigeon movement this morning and we certainly weren’t let down. An incredible 72,665 birds passed over the harbour between 7:00 –10am. Birds were moving in large flocks containing between 500-1500 individuals, with most passing west over the northern shores of the harbour. During the Wood Pigeon watch a Red Kite was also seen drifting over Brownsea Island, also heading west.

Today was also the November Poole Harbour WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey). This meant the whole harbour was being watched at 9:00am this morning with a stunning variety of birds being recorded. The Surf Scoter was still out in Brands Bay showing well off Redhorn Point. All 3 species of Diver were recorded with 5 Great Northern Diver spread across Brands Bay, Central Harbour and Studland Bay, a Red-throated Diver in Studland Bay and a Black-throated Diver off the southern shore of Brownsea. Also in Brands Bay 2 Slavonian Grebe and 2 Black-necked Grebe with another 21 Black-necked grebe in Studland Bay. Other open-water species reported included 100+ Great Crested Grebe, 100+ Red-breasted Merganser and 11 Goldeneye. An amazing 15 species of wader were recorded with Redshank, Greenshank, Spotted Redshank, Black and Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Sanderling, Dunlin, Knot, Grey Plover, Lapwing, and Avocet all recorded. There were some big duck counts too with Teal, Wigeon, Pintail and Shoveler all recorded in triple figures. At Arne 27 Spoonbill were still off Shipstal and 3 Firecrest were reported from the Studland area.

Finally some interesting ringing information with news that a Chiffchaff first ringed in January 2012 is back at a traditional over-wintering site in the harbour for its third year proving winter site fidelity for this species. And finally, thanks to Peter Moore for researching the incredible movements of a colour ringed Black-tailed Godwit seen on the flood meadows in Wareham on the 02/11/13, see the below history…Pretty amazing!

LG-RO 27.06.02 Langhús, Fljót, N Iceland

LG-RO 12.01.03 Avon Valley, Hampshire, S England


LG-RO 03.04.03 Poole Harbour, Dorset, S England


LG-RO 26.06.03 Langhús, Fljót, N Iceland
LG-RO 30.07.03 Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England


LG-RO 08.02.04 Poole Harbour, Dorset, S England


LG-RO 04.10.04 Poole Harbour, Dorset, S England


LG-RO 03.11.04 Humber estuary, Lincolnshire, E England


LG-RO 24.04.06 Lytchett Bay, Dorset, S England


LG-RO 26.11.06 Mont-Saint-Michel, Manche, W France


LG-RO 02.03.07 Avon Valley, Hampshire


LG-RO 06.04.07 Lytchett Bay, Dorset

LG-RO 10.10.07 Arne Bay – Poole Harbour – Dorset, 


LG-RO 10.11.07 Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Dorset


LG-RO 01.01.08 Tejo Estuary, Setúbal, W Portugal


LG-RO 06.04.08 Lytchett Bay, Dorset, S. England


LG-RO 08.04.08 Lytchett Bay, Dorset, S. England


LG-RO 30.04.08 Höfn, Hornafjörður, E Iceland


LG-RO 01.05.08 Stekká, Höfn, Hornafjörður, E Iceland


LG-RO 14.09.08 Middlebere, Poole Harbour, Dorset


LG-RO 01.02.09 Buckenham Marshes RSPB, Norfolk


LG-RO 19.02.09 Hucklesbrook, Avon Valley, Hampshire


LG-RO 01.10.09 Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Dorset

LG-RO 22.08.10 Middlebere, Poole Harbour, Dorset


LG-RO 16.07.11 Llanelli WWT, Carmarthenshire, Wales, UK


LG-RO 20.10.11 Pontorson(Ardevon), Normandy, NW France


LG-RO 30.08.12 Lytchett Bay, Dorset, S England


LG-RO 12.10.12 Wareham, Poole Harbour, Dorset


LG-RO 12.01.13 Bisterne, Avon Valley, Hampshire


LG-RO 08.08.13 Lytchett Bay, Dorset, S England


LG-RO 2.11.13 Wareham, Poole Harbour, Dorset, S England