It’s a funny state of affairs these days when within a 1 mile range you’re able to see a mixture of both arctic and (historically) Mediterranean species all rubbing shoulders with one another. Today the Russian White-fronted Goose flock increased to 38 individuals and had attracted the attention of a lone Barnacle Goose which seemed keen to tag along. They were also joined by the 5 Tundra Bean Geese and a smattering of Greylags and Canada Geese, all of which were in the first field on the left, past Ridge. Then, just up the river on Wareham Common the 10 Glossy Ibis were feeding next to the bypass, just south of the railway line and further up again 45 Cattle Egret were around Worgret/the Wareham bypass area. It was eagle city today with no less than 4 White-tailed Eagles logged around Lytchett Bay, plus 2 were over Brands Bay and another in the Frome Valley. An adult drake Scaup was found during WeBS off Goathorn, in-between Round and Green Island and a Pochard was off Cordite Way. Yesterday a Short-eared Owl was present around Brands Bay briefly and today off Jerry’s Point there were 4 Great Northern Diver, 10 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 10 Black-necked Grebe, 18 Red-breasted Merganser and 8 Goldeneye. In Lytchett Bay this morning during WeBS 6 Spoonbill, 2 Marsh Harrier and 1 Spotted Redshank were counted plus another 9 Spoonbill were off Shipstal Beach. A Black Redstart was on Corfe Castle yesterday afternoon.

Bar-tailed Godwit – Newton Bay during WeBS count

Tundra Bean Geese – Ridge, Wareham

Russian White-fronted Geese – Ridge, Wareham