Its still so mild, almost t-shirt weather again, but the birds keep coming. Off Jerry’s Point, Studland there was still one Velvet Scoter this morning, also 3 Great Northern Diver and 1 Slavonian Grebe. There were between 25-30 Spoonbill on Shipstal Point, at RSPB Arne, plus both adult White-tailed Eagles were seen around Middlebere and the Wareham Channel.  A Great White Egret was in Middlebere.

Spoonbill flock – Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne – dizzygirl66.bsky.social (BlueSky)

Peregrine chasing down Curlew – Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne – dizzygirl66.bsky.social (BlueSky)

Velvet Scoter – Jerrys Point, Studland – Peter Moore

The predicted storm didn’t hit until this afternoon, and up until then, things were bearable. Off Branksome 6 Red-throated Diver passed west, along with 1 Great Northern Diver, c20 auks (most likely Razorbill) and 6 dark-bellied Brent Geese. To complete the diver hat-trick a Black-throated Diver was on the water close to the harbour entrance. A Spotted Redshank was in Lytchett Bay again this afternoon, at teh PCW Drain c10 Common Chiffchaff were feeding along the channel this morning,

Spotted Redshank – Lytchett Bay 

Another mostly fine day, with a few hard-hitting down pours to break up the serenity. A final ringing session of the year at Lytchett Bay produced 16 Bearded Tit which is a good end of year total considering many disperse in October. Off Jerry’s Point this afternoon there was 1 Velvet Scoter, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 7 Black-necked Grebe, 5 Goldeneye, 6 Great Northern Diver and c40 Red-breasted Merganser. A Spotted Redshank was in Lytchett Bay, both adult White-tailed Eagles were in the Wareham Channel this afternoon, 12 Spoonbill were on Shipstal Point, Arne, Marsh Harrier were at Swineham and 15 Cattle Egret were at Holmebridge.

Male and female Bearded Tits – Lytchett Bay – Ed Betteridge

Well, much better conditions for birding today and quite a lot had been blown in after the storms of yesterday. More divers around the harbour with a minimum of 8 Great Northern Diver counted from our Winter Safari Cruise this afternoon, but probably a few more lurking off distant shores. They were mainly confined to South Deep, off Jerry’s Point and Brands Bay, but 2 more along the south-western shore of Brownsea too. 1 Red-throated Diver was also off Jerry’s Point along with 1 Velvet Scoter, 6 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Slavonian Grebe. 2 more Black-necked Grebe were west of Furzey Island and 4 were off Middle Beach Studland (+1 more Great Northern Diver) for a harbour total of 12 Black-necked Grebe. The 2 Pink-footed Geese were also still on RSPB Arne Moors. At Middlebere there were 1 Great White Egret, 125 Avocet and 2 Marsh Harrier. In the Wareham Channel the 2 White-tailed Eagles were sat on a sandy cliff before taking off. Huge numbers of birds feeding on the low tide here too with 4 Spoonbill, c500 Avocet, c20 Grey Plover, c500 Dunlin and c200 Black-tailed Godwit. At Swineham at least 4 Marsh Harrier were active and 10 Glossy Ibis were feeding in the wet field south of the gravel pit. The 2 Pink-footed Geese were still on Arne Moors amongst the Greylags. At Lytchett Bay from Rock Lea View on the rising tide there were similar numbers of birds with 400+ Wigeon, 65 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 250+ Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Ruff was on the fields this morning. 4 Cattle Egret were on Wareham Common. Holes Bay North also providing very good numbers of waders with 631 Black-tailed Godwit, 550 Dunlin, 255 Avocet and 23 Knot. 1 Red-breasted Merganser was at Poole Park, no doubt sheltering after the wind yesterday.

Great Northern Divers – Jerry’s Point – Garry Hayman