It turned mild again today, turning thoughts to Sand Martins and Swallows swooping in off the sea, but as always, we get over excited with a little touch of impatience this time of year and no such ‘swooping’ took place…but still, it won’t be long before there is! There was however a good total of 29 Black-necked Grebe in Studland Bay with 2 Common Scoter, 17 Med Gull and 4 Great Crested Grebe. At Holme Bridge a Goosander flew low over, heading towards the harbour. Off Branksome Beach, viewing from the cliff top and calm and sheltered Poole Bay produced 1 settled Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Razorbill, 2 Guillemot, 31 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Red-breasted Merganser. On Hartland Moor the Great Grey Shrike re-appeared along Soldiers Road and up until Feb 19^th, 4 Hen Harrier were seen dotted around the Poole Harbour west area.  In Holes Bay the Smew was still feeding off the outflow with 9 Knot also seen and a Spotted Redshank. The Spoonbill are yep…you guessed it…still on Shipstal and in Middlebere 2 Marsh Harrier were active for quite a while. In Bramble Bush Bay 3 Goldeneye were feeding close to the shore and 9 Sanderling were feeding near the houseboats. 

Spotted Redshank – Holes Bay NE – Ian Ballam

Knot hiding in amongst Wigeon – Holes Bay NE – Ian Ballam