There was still a bitterly cold easterly wind whipping across the harbour today, but on a few occasions the sun did attempt to come out. Although White-tailed Eagles already seem to be part of the Poole Harbour furniture these days, it’s always an amazing moment when one gets clocked flying over Poole Town Centre, which is what happened this afternoon when a juvenile was seen flying in over Poole and then Baiter Park, before heading towards the Wareham Channel. A Jack Snipe was flushed at Lytchett Bay this morning, at least 3 Black-throated Diver were still off Baiter/Evening Hill and up to 5 Spoonbill were in Middlebere. The Lytchett Matravers, St Mary’s Church Hawfinch seems to be quite flighty and not really hanging around that long, often opting to sit in the tops of surrounding trees. Off Jerry’s Point only a single Slavonian Grebe and Great Northern Diver could be found but it wasn’t exactly the best conditions. A few early Reed Bunting are making their way back on territory with the main bulk of the males ‘winter abrasion’ having now been completed, revealing their black hoods, with just a few brown flecks left on the heads.

Great Northern Diver – Jerry’s Point 

Male Reed Bunting – Swineham 

With the wind easing off today it made for easier birding, so much so that the first rarity of the year was found with an adult Bonaparte’s Gull found feeding off Middle Beach, Studland this morning. Sadly it didn’t stick around, however there’s a good chance it will re-appear somewhere and could even possibly the same individual that was in the harbour this time last year and spent most of the spring around the Wareham Common/Swineham area. It was searched for during the rest of the day but couldn’t be re-found, although consequently whilst searching other birds were found including 2 Black-throated Diver off Banks Road, Sandbanks, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 4 Slavonian Grebe, 12 Great Northern Diver and 2-3 Sandwich Tern around the Jerry’s Point and Studland Peninsular. There were also 3 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Common Scoter out in Studland Bay. There was a male Hen Harrier seen in Middlebere plus 2 Spotted Redshank, the adult male Hawfinch was still in the Lytchett Matravers church yard at St Mary’s Church and 7 Cattle Egret were in fields near the Purbeck school roundabout. This evening another record count of Magpie were logged at Hatch Pond with 245 counted going into roost around 17:00.

Greenshank – Brands Bay

Slavonian Grebe – Jerry’s Point

Firecrest – Middlebere

There was love in the air this morning, despite the icy, icy cold easterly wind when White-tailed Eagle pair G4466 (female) and G463 (male) began a territorial valentines courtship flight in the harbour before tracking south to Durlston, before eventually soaring in tandem over Swyre Head. This then attracted the attention of 2 juvenile White-tailed Eagles that have also been spending time along the Purbeck coast, and at around 8am all four were circling together, interacting, calling to one another with occasional talon grappling. This provided quite the spectacle for some of our team who were out monitoring early this morning when all four were circling right above our heads. We attempted to get some video footage, but the cold easterly wind made it difficult, but we did manage to get some photos too. This morning the/a Velvet Scoter flew into the harbour at around 7am, which is presumed to be to be the one that was in the harbour on Saturday last week. There were also 3 Kittiwake in and around the harbour entrance along with 3 Great Northern Diver. Despite the chop on the water, the Long-tailed Duck was bobbing up and down in-between Redhorn and Jerry’ Point with 2 Slavonian Grebe off there still. The Siberian Chiffchaff was still at Norden Sewage Works plus a Lesser Redpoll was still in the Alders.

(Cold) wobbly footage of four White-tailed Eagles over Swyre Head this morning

Four White-tailed Eagles over Swyre Head, Purbeck

Tim Mackrill from the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation monitoring the eagles with us this AM

Male White-tailed Eagle G463 flying past our team at Swyre Head

It was pretty cold again today and as a result, birds were actively feeding to keep energy levels up, especially on the Norden Sewage Works filter bed where this afternoon there were 17 Common Chiffchaff, 1 Siberian Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest and 2 Grey Wagtail all feeding at the same time, with 2 Lesser Redpoll in the Alders there too. There also currently seems to be more Redwing and Song Thrush around than in recent months which suggests the northward spring passage may have got underway already with birds from Europe already tracking north. In Upton CP there were 110 Redwing, at Sunnyside there was a large mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare, and in the corner of a field near Thrashers Lane, Rempstone c50 Song Thrush were feeding. Off of Jerry’s Point there were 2 Slavonian Grebe. Holes Bay is still holding good numbers of birds and today a near record count of 214 Pintail were logged and c30 Knot were in the NE sector. In the still, cold conditions the seasons first Woodlarks began singing at several sites (although a few were heard ‘warming up during the last sunny day).

Black-tailed Godwit – Holes Bay

It was very cold today, and it was very grey….pretty uninspiring for very early spring, but none the less some birds made it out of the gloom. The Long-tailed Duck, 2 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Slavonian Grebe were off Jerry’s Point. In the Middlebere/Wytch Lake area 4 Spoonbill were moving back and fourth and 2 Marsh Harrier were off Shipstal. White-tailed Eagle numbers dropped to about 2-3 individuals in and around the Wareham Channel/Lytchett Bay area. The Siberian Chiffchaff was still at Norden Sewage Works and Spotted Redshank was at Lytchett Fields.

We’ve also been out today prepping and repairing various Osprey nest platforms around the harbour and servicing and installing new trail cameras. With only 3-4 weeks left until the first Ospreys arrive back, what stories will unfold this year, who will return safely and what dramas will we witness?

Re-filling Osprey nest platform with new nest material having blown out over the winter

View from the perch bar looking out towards a harbour pole nest platform on private land

Lining the trail camera up to point towards a harbour pole nest on private land

Installing and setting up new trail camera on Osprey nest platform on private land

Spring seems to be creeping along with more displaying and nest building birds today, including multiple Raven pairs/territories activity tumbling and calling above various sites with some seen carrying nest material to pylons near Keysworth. Talking of Keysworth, one lucky resident had an adult male Hawfinch on their feeders in Keysworth. The Siberian Chiffchaff was still at Norden Sewage works and a Spotted Redshank was still at Lytchett Fields. There were still 5-6 White-tailed Eagles in and around the harbour during the course of the day with sightings at Middlebere, the Wareham Channel, Lytchett Bay and Arne. An adult male Hen Harrier was in Brands Bay and Middlebere and in-between Jerry’s Point and Redhorn Quay 3 Slavonian Grebe and the Long-tailed Duck were still active, with 2 Black-necked Grebe off Jerry’s Point and 5 off Middle Beach, Studland. A Jack Snipe was in Holes Bay, a Red Kite drifted over Middlebere then Lytchett Bay and a Goshawk was in Middlebere.

Red Kite – Mark Wright

Slavonian Grebe – Redhorn Quay