Sorry about the late post, but we had a slight technical hitch. All sorted now though. The weather was wild, wild, wild and as a result ‘sea watches’ were the order of the day. From Branksome Chine there was a decent passage (in a Poole Bay context)  of Kittiwake with 54 logged, also 4 ‘divers’, 1 confirmed as a Red-throated Diver, well into treble figures of Razorbill with a few Guillemot thrown in for good measure, amazingly, only 1 Gannet, 8 Common Scoter and 1 Velvet Scoter. From Knoll Beach 2 Red-throated Diver, 19 Gannet, 8 Black-necked Grebe, 5 Common Scoter, 9 Kittiwake and 4 Auk sp were counted. Highlight of the day was the finding of 2 Purple Sandpiper at North Haven, a real sight for sore eyes having been largely absent for the last several years, bar one individual on the rocky groynes last year. When the rain cleared a Hen Harrier was seen at Arne.

Sandbanks Road yesterday morning – Ian Ballam

Purple Sandpiper – North Haven – Ian Ballam