Our weekly Poole Town Birding Walk didn’t miss the bad weather, but it did produce some great birding. After enjoying the Turnstones along the Quay, a Great Northern Diver could be seen from Baiter car park. Feeding amongst the Oystercatcher flock on Baiter were 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Black-tailed Godwit and numerous Redshank. A single Greenshank was also feeding at the northern end, near the Skate Park. Parkstone Bay held several Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser and Brent Goose. Poole Park was also productive, offering views of both female and drake Goldeneye, 2 Mediterranean Gull and 1 Sandwich Tern. A flock of c45 Brent Goose briefly dropped down onto Baiter Park to conclude the enjoyable walk.

The high tide Holes Bay roost featured 141 Avocet, 310 Black-tailed Godwit, 41 Curlew, 150 Redshank, 9 Shelduck, 15 Pintail, 60 Mute Swan, 15 Shoveler, 35 Teal, 460 Wigeon, 6 Little Egret, 6 Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Grey Wagtail, 2 Canada Geese, Lapwing, Raven, 2 Common Gull, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Oystercatcher, Peregrine, 2 Cormorant, c1000 Wigeon and 250 Dunlin.

Lytchett Fields produced 2 Water Pipit from French Pool’s Viewpoint, as well as 16 Curlew in Arable Field, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper and a Dunlin in Approach Field. Wareham town centre drew in c150 Black-tailed Godwit in the flooded fields near Saxon Roundabout. Elsewhere, Hartland Moor recorded a Merlin this evening.