Our Winter Safari Cruises are a real pleasure to run, and this morning’s outing was no different. Mirror calm conditions across the harbour enjoyed a Great Northern Diver-fest, clocking 5 in the North Channel, 3 across South Deep, 2 at Whitley Lake and a further 2 off Hamworthy. The trip also featured 7 Black-necked and a single Slavonian Grebe around the back of the islands before two adult White-tailed Eagle stole the show, gracing the Wareham Channel before taking flight and settling on Shag Looe Head. Other trip highlights included appearances from the two over-wintering Sandwich Tern, roosting Spoonbill at Shipstal, a colour-ringed Great Black-backed Gull from Portland and a satellite-tagged Dark-bellied Brent Goose (presumably local celebrity “SY”).

Elsewhere around the harbour, the Old Harry Cirl Bunting flock is now confirmed to hold 10 individuals, remaining faithful to the scrub and set-aside crop field just west of the iconic chalk stack. A vigil from Jerry’s Point offered Red-necked Grebe still, while scoping out across Poole Bay boasted 14 Red-throated Diver south, plus a light scattering of auks on the water. A commendable Black-tailed Godwit count in Holes Bay NW during the intermittent downpours logged 3,453 individuals(!) and neighbouring Lytchett Fields recorded a Merlin. A male Black Redstart was located in Ridge and an adult winter Kittiwake made a brief in-land appearance on Wareham Common.

Good to log sat-tagged Dark-bellied Brent Goose “SY” again on today’s safari © Alison Copland

Cirl Bunting (male) – Stubble field near Old Harry Rocks © Martin Wood