This morning we surveyed the harbour from a boat with a great range of species in fine conditions logged. Highlight was a male Golden Pheasant seen on the Furzey Island lawn as 2 Long-tailed Duck circled the boat a few times before heading towards the harbour mouth. Also out on the water were 6 Great Northern Diver (4 Jerry’s point and 2 in central harbour), 7 Black-necked Grebe (most in summer plumage), 1 Slavonian Grebe, 3 Goldeneye, c150 each of Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebe and 10 Spoonbill on Shipstal. Up the Wareham River 8 Reed Bunting were singing as were 9 Cetti’s Warbler with a pair of Bearded Tit logged. Also 3 Chiffchaff in full song, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier and 2 Merlin on Arne Moors and c30 Gadwall dotted around. Brownsea Lagoon saw 1 Spotted Redshank, c40 Bar-tailed Godwit, c70 Avocet, c20 Shoveler and 2 Greenshank. Add to that cronking Ravens, singing Skylarks and warm sunshine then it made for a great mornings birding.

Elsewhere a Short-eared Owl and ringtail Hen Harrier were seen off Swineham Point this evening and a Firecrest was at Middlebere this morning with 1 Spotted Redshank and 2 Grey Plover seen from the hide. Over Hartland/Slepe 3 Woodlark were heard and a Merlin was also on Slepe Heath. The Peregrine was on it’s usual balcony ledge on the Asda building.

Common Gull – Hatch Pond – Ian Ballam