Poole Harbour sightings blog

A record of all interesting and notable sightings from around the harbour throughout the year.

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Archive for April, 2024

Harbour Update – posted 20/04/24

Posted on: April 20th, 2024 by Birds of Poole Harbour

This northerly wind doesn’t seem to be letting up anytime soon, although some birds seem to still be getting through when a Nightjar (the years first) was seen flying in off the sea at Ballard Down. There was also a Cirl Bunting heard again on Ballard with a Tree Pipit over there too and 2 Wheatear on the deck. The Bonaparte’s Gull was on Wareham Common at dawn, but there was no sign later in the day. There were 2 White-tailed Eagle in the Wareham Channel, male Osprey 022 was hunting off Round Island this afternoon, a Common Swift was back in Upper Parkstone and there was a light passage of Swallow moving through all day. A Cuckoo was calling on Hartland Moor this morning. A smattering of Whimbrel were in various bays on the low tide.


Harbour Update – posted 19/04/24

Posted on: April 19th, 2024 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Plenty going on today across the harbour, despite it being a chilly NW wind. The Bonaparte’s Gull was still showing nicely on Wareham Common, coming and going during the course of the day. A Great White Egret was also on Wareham Common and there was a decent passage of Swallow up both the Piddle and Frome River Valleys. Around the harbour an Osprey flew in high from the SE over central harbour, heading towards Lytchett Bay. On Poole Quay 2 Common Sandpiper were on the marina sea wall and a Peregrine flew over the Quay. There was a single Wheatear on the Sunseeker factory roofs with another on the Brownsea sea wall and 1 atr Lytchett Fields. The Brownsea Lagoon had c30 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Common Tern, 8 Avocet, 2 Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel and 3 Sanderling. A White-tailed Eagle was in Brands Bay, in Ower bay c50 Dunlin, 26 Knot and 8 Grey Plover were in a single flock and 5+ Whimbrel were settled on the mud. A Hobby was over Keysworth, 2 Marsh Harrier were at Swineham and 2 Red Kite were over Ham Common viewpoint. Holes Bay saw some wader passage too with c30 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover and 1 Whimbrel. In central harbour there were 2 Great Northern Diver and 1 Red-breasted Merganser still. The Barnacle Goose was still at Holme Lane GP.

Bonaparte’s Gull – Wareham Common – James Leaver

Grey Seal – Middlebere Channel – Nick Hopper


Harbour Update – posted 18/04/24

Posted on: April 18th, 2024 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Some more fantastic Osprey news, with our male 374 from the translocation project returning again safely from migration and being seen landing on one of the nest platforms late last night. This is a bird that returned successfully for the first time last year, having been translocated in 2021. This means he’s old enough to breed this year so we could be in with a chance of a second pair nesting in the harbour, if he can find a roaming female! We’ll certainly be keeping everything crossed! He may well have been the third Osprey that was seen over the nesting pair yesterday. We also watched eagerly as CJ7 laid her second egg today at 12:21pm which is fantastic news and we would expect the third egg on Sunday! You can watch the live webcams here.

The 2nd calendar year Bonaparte’s Gull was the highlight of today with lots of people getting on to it as it was refound this morning in the same place on Wareham Common, just below the surgery. 2 Common Sandpiper were also feeding on the same floods close by. The 2 White-tailed Eagle took advantage of the warm weather with multiple sightings of the local pair including from our School Bird Boat and Lytchett Fields. 2 Whimbrel were still in Holes Bay south-west. At least 2 Great Northern Diver were still in the harbour, one in the Wareham Channel and one on the north shore of Brownsea. 1 Spoonbill was on the Brownsea Lagoon this morning and 1 Arctic Tern was reported. The Forster’s Tern was seen flying between Shipstal Point and Round island and this evening 6 Whimbrel were on Bestwall floods, near Swineham.

Bonaparte’s Gull – Wareham Common Floods – @LytchettBirder on X

Male Osprey 374 appearing yesterday evening on a nest platform in the harbour

2 Osprey eggs freshly laid by CJ7


Harbour Update – posted 17/04/24

Posted on: April 17th, 2024 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Much calmer weather and some sunshine made for good conditions for birds of prey soaring in the harbour today. Plenty of Osprey activity in different parts of the harbour with a third Osprey flying over the nesting pair at least twice today. From our Spring Safari Cruise this afternoon we also had 2 Osprey, 1 hunting over the Wareham Channel and then heading to Lytchett Bay and 1 in Shipstal Bay. We also had 1 Red Kite over the Wareham Channel, 1 male Marsh Harrier and 1 Hobby hunting over Swineham. We had stunning views of a first winter Little Gull on the mud of the Wareham Channel, just off Swineham. 2 Great Northern Diver were still using the harbour with 1 off Ham Common and 1 in Ball’s Lake.

The Forster’s Tern has been reported throughout the harbour today being at Shipstal, Holes Bay and Lytchett Fields, so clearly travelling far and wide. Also at Lytchett Fields was the first singing Sedge Warbler of the year for the site, 3 Reed Warbler, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and a good record for the site of 1 female Goosander from Rock Lea View. At Holes Bay there was 1 Whimbrel in the south-west and 1 Common Sandpiper in the north-east. A good record from South Haven of a singing Lesser Whitethroat at the Studland car park this morning. There were lots of Red Kite moving around today with at least 7 seen from our Osprey viewing session this afternoon. There was a redhead Goosander in Lytchett Bay

This evening what looked good for a 2nd cal year Bonaparte’s Gull was found on Wareham Common, just below the hospital. It didn’t hang around though and seemed to head towards Swineham.

 

1st winter Little Gull from this afternoon’s Spring Safari – Mudflats off Swineham Point – Julie Ryde


Harbour Update – posted 16/04/24

Posted on: April 16th, 2024 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Still pretty windy, and from the NW too, which seems to have knocked last weeks decent migration on the head. At least much of the wind is due to die off over the next few days, and all being well things will pick up again. There was late news of a Grasshopper Warbler at Wareham Rugby Club on Sunday morning, there was a Lesser Whitethroat at Middlebere yesterday evening. The Forster’s Tern was on Brownsea this morning, there were 3 Spotted Redshank and 5 passage Ringed Plover at Lytchett Fields and a couple of Reed Warbler back in Holes Bay north, with 1 Whimbrel and a Red Kite there too. A Little Gull was on the Bestwall floods this afternoon. Female White-tailed Eagle G801 was still hanging around in the Wareham Channel and female G466 weirdly didn’t seem to mind?!

Great Northern Diver with Flounder – Central Harbour. (Sunday) – John Thorpe

 


Harbour Update – posted 15/04/24

Posted on: April 15th, 2024 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Some good news today in that our Osprey pair laid their first egg of the season. This is six days earlier than last year, and the earliest they’ve laid in the three years since they established. The hope is that CJ7 will lay another two (possibly 3?) over the coming week meaning we should see the first egg hatch around the 22nd or 23rd of May. Now the long incubation period begins, so lets hope that like last year, it’s smooth sailing to the hatching phase. It was quite a surprise to us that she decided to lay right in the middle of a gale, but hey…why not?

It was a return of the wind and rain today, making it feel like late October rather than mid-April, however a Tree Pipit powered through over Lytchett Bay, where another Little Gull appeared (the sites 7th of the year). Just after CJ7 laid her egg, a wandering Osprey came and inspected the goings on, but was soon seen off by the pair. In Brands Bay there were 2 Whimbrel, there was a visit from younger White-tailed Eagle G801 who spent the day in the Wareham Channel area and there was late news of a dead Bee-eater found dead in a Swanage garden yesterday. Although this isn’t Poole Harbour, the fact we’ve already recorded Hoopoe and Purple Heron this spring, Bee-eater should be on everyones radar over the next month or two, so learn their calls!

Female Osprey CJ7 with her first egg

Female Osprey CJ7 laying her first egg at 15:40 today


Harbour Update – posted 14/04/24

Posted on: April 14th, 2024 by Birds of Poole Harbour

A singing Cirl Bunting at Glebelands above Studland was the major highlight from today: a scarce species for the harbour and one we certainly hope to see increasing in the coming years! Just over the other side of the ridge at Ballard Down the first Whitethroat of the year was also recorded. Signs of spring were also notable on our Spring Safari Cruise this morning with 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Swallow and 3 Reed Warbler all seen or heard along the River Frome. Other trip highlights were the White-tailed Eagle pair, 3 Marsh Harriers and 1 Goshawk all in the Wareham Channel, 4 Great Northern Diver in the central harbour, Sandwich Terns constantly diving and calling around the boat throughout, and a Wheatear on the sea wall of the Brownsea Lagoon. The latter also played host once again to the Forster’s Tern for the majority of the day.

Common Sandpiper – Wareham Channel, Spring Safari Cruise – Alison Copland


Harbour Update – posted 13/04/24

Posted on: April 13th, 2024 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Good to have another report of Hobby today, this time over Lytchett Bay. There was also an Osprey fishing in Lytchett Bay early in the morning. The Forster’s Tern was back on Brownsea Lagoon again, on the “boomberang” island. A nice count of 5 Wheatear we present at Greenlands Farm at Studland. Over in Brands Bay was a count of 2 Great Northern Diver, 1 dark-bellied Brent Goose, 9 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Grey Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Dunlin, 4 Turnstone and 2 Whimbrel. A single Greenshank was reported in the Middlebere Channel.

 

Forster’s Tern amongst Sandwich Terns on Brownsea Lagoon – Nicki Tutton


Harbour Update – posted 12/04/24

Posted on: April 12th, 2024 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Great report of a Purple Heron over Little Sea and South Haven at Studland early this morning, which unfortunately hasn’t been refound later in the day. In 2018 a Purple Heron stayed at Little Sea for an extended period of time during July and again in August, and the most recent report in the Poole Harbour area was back in 2018 with an individual seen in flight over Stoborough.

Other highlights today included the Forster’s Tern on the Brownsea Lagoon this morning. An Osprey was seen over Lytchett Bay before it moved into the Wareham Channel. 2 White-tailed Eagle were seen mid-afternoon high over Poole Town / Holes Bay area. In Brands Bay, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Great Northern Diver, 6 Red-breasted Merganser and 8 Brent Geese were still present.


Harbour Update – posted 11/04/24

Posted on: April 11th, 2024 by Birds of Poole Harbour

The Hoopoe was seen again this morning although flighty, just north-east of Little Sea, Studland, along the track towards Knoll Beach. In Lytchett Bay there was 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull. On the Brownsea Lagoon the number of Spoonbill has increased to 4 and the Forster’s Tern was still present this morning.

In other news we are excited to announce we have now launched our Carey Osprey tours!

These 2-hour sessions between 8am-2pm will give a fantastic opportunity to see the only nesting pair of Ospreys on the south coast of England from an exclusive viewing platform, led by our Birds of Poole Harbour team in partnership with Careys Secret Garden.
Please make sure to book in advance as there are only 12 tickets available per session and there is no alternative access onsite for viewing the nest.
Please help us protect the birds by not turning up to Careys Secret Garden without booking, and not straying away from the permitted areas to try and view the Ospreys. The nest site is incredibly sensitive and Ospreys are a Schedule 1 species which means they are protected by law. We therefore ask that you are mindful not to disturb the birds and avoid attempting to get closer to the nest as this will risk the success of this very important nesting pair. We’re privileged to be able to now share this space with these birds, and ensuring their safety is our top priority.
We’ll be releasing the tickets in batches, month by month, so keep an eye on our website and newsletter for updates on more tickets being available.
To find out more and book online, please click here.


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