The slow drop in water levels are attracting the 10 Glossy Ibis flock back to Wareham Common. The long-staying flock were seen this afternoon south of the bypass. Nearby, 46 Cattle Egret were beyond the railway and a singing Blackcap in the trees by Wareham Surgery. Best of the rest, a single Pale-bellied Brent Goose on the Long Island sand spit, viewed from Shipstal Point and the adult Little Gull was at Holes Bay, off the PC World Drain outflow. Eagle activity increased through the day, with as many as four immature White-tailed Eagle moving low over Sandford and heading out towards Swineham at late afternoon.

We had two events running simultaneously today. Our free pop-up at Jerry’s Point, Studland featured five Black-necked Grebe, one Slavonian Grebe, a distant White-tailed Eagle over Goathorn and three Great Northern Diver. Meantime, our Winter Safari enjoyed mudflats peppered with waders up the Wareham Channel at low tide. Star appearances came in from Spoonbill, Sandwich Tern, early signs of Marsh Harrier pairing up, a different Slavonian Grebe in the Central Harbour and a stunning 2021 White-tailed Eagle G542 flyby low over Lilliput towards Brownsea Island. Wader numbers are starting to fall away slowly with Brownsea high tide counts down on previous weeks and consisted of 204 Avocet, 120 Oystercatcher, 9 Grey Plover, 10 Curlew, 99 Bar-tailed Godwit, 17 Black-tailed Godwit, 63 Redshank and 6 Greenshank.

Great Northern Diver – off Baiter Park –  Joe Parker