Birds of Poole Harbour Events
As a charity we offer a wide range of events which enable you to get an in depth understanding of Poole Harbour and it's important bird life. From our wide variety of inspiring boat cruises, public ringing demonstrations, public field trips, specialised courses and more, we strive to provide opportunities to people who are seeking an accessible, thorough and engaging introduction to one of the countries best bird spots. Browse our list of events by visiting our events booking page.
'Up with the Lark'
£20 per person | Boarding limit 50 people
To compliment our hugely popular winter bird boat trips, we thought we’d offer a slightly warmer option and create a NEW Spring tour for you to relax and enjoy.
It’s not just the birds we’ll be focusing on, but also the wonderfully rich and scenic setting of the Wareham Channel and Frome Valley which at dawn lights up and plays host to numerous bird species as they prepare for the breeding season ahead. With both April and May being strong months for migration who knows what we’ll see, but as we meander our way up the channel and into the river valley we’ll be listening out for spring songsters.
Booking info
Poole Harbour Osprey Cruise
£25 per person | Boarding limit 70 people
In the summer of 2017, Birds of Poole Harbour began a five-year Osprey translocation project with the aim of re-establishing this once common bird to its former breeding grounds here on the south coast. 2018 sees the second year of this exciting project get underway and with the huge success of last years Osprey boat tours we’re offering eight trips this summer for you to see and learn first hand from the project leaders about these incredible birds.
Osprey’s migrate through Poole Harbour every spring and autumn with the largest gatherings occurring around mid to late August.
Booking info
Winter Wareham Channel and Poole Harbour Cruise
£20 per person | Boarding limit 50 people
The Wareham Channel provides excellent birding opportunities during the winter, especially for birds of prey, as Marsh and Hen Harrier, Peregrine Falcon and Merlin all take advantage of the abundance prey that Poole Harbour attracts during the winter. This new three and a half hour tour will see us creep up the River Frome, scouring flood plains and reedbeds for spectacular raptors and a whole range of winter visitors ranging from Wigeon, Teal, Lapwing, Shoveler and Pintail. Afterwards we’ll then tour a part of the harbour and finish by checking out the Brownsea Lagoon to see many of Poole Harbours over-wintering waders.
Booking info
Poole Harbour Low Tide Cruise
£20 per person I Boarding limit 50 people
Poole Harbour in winter is spectacular, inspirational and without doubt, one of the most important areas in southern Britain for thousands of over-wintering waders and waterfowl. Following the success of our PUBLIC BIRD BOAT TOURS last year we have decided to offer more trips this winter to bring you closer to some of the harbour’s well-known and not so well known winter residents.
Averaging only a meter deep, Poole Harbour can be a minefield to navigate on a high tide, let alone a low tide. However, Birds of Poole Harbour are pleased to announce a NEW 2019 bird boat experience, which will provide stunning low tide views out across the harbour and its nutrient rich mud. Vital to waders, the many estuaries and creeks provide feeding areas for species such as Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Grey Plover and Oystercatcher. With the water drained out of the harbour species such as Red-breasted Merganser, Goldeneye and Great Northern Diver are forced to restricted open bodies of water, making them easier to find as wildfowl such as Wigeon and Pintail leave the cover of the saltmarsh to take advantage of the restricted feeding opportunities. We’ll be cruising around the harbour before making our way up the Wareham Channel with the rising tide hoping to log as many of the harbour’s over-wintering wader and wildfowl species as we can and with the Wareham Channel being a raptor hotspot we’ll be keeping an eye out for a harrier or two as well.
Booking info
Purbeck Puffin Cruises
£25 per person I Boarding limit 50 people
Not known for its breeding sea birds, this section of the Jurassic Coast plays host to a small, fragile and secret colony of Puffin’s at Dancing Ledge along with larger numbers of nesting Guillemot and Razorbill. Our three-hour cruise will see us depart from Poole Quay on an evening charter and head out of the harbour mouth, along the coast down to Dancing Ledge in the hope of seeing the Puffins as they settle on the water for their evening preen before they then head up to cliff ledges. Learn all about this dramatic coastline, its birds and its history by joining us on this late spring adventure, then on the way home we’ll hopefully time our arrival back into the harbour just right so that the early summer sunset draws a perfect ending to our trip.
NB: These trips are weather dependent and if winds are too strong we will not be able to leave the harbour for safety reasons. Although every effort will be made to visit the puffin colony, if the captain decides that the weather permits us from doing so, a Poole Harbour boat tour will be carried out instead and no refunds will be offered. If weather conditions prohibit both a coastal and harbour cruise then a full refund will be offered to guests.
Booking info
Mid-summer Low-tide cruise
£20 per person I Boarding limit 60 people
This is a new summer tour that offers the chance of seeing early returning autumn migrants and exploring the harbour on a low tide during a warmer time of year. We'll head up the Wareham Channel with exposed mud flats surrounding the boat, looking for waders and even possibly Osprey.
Booking info
Summer Nightjar Experiance
£10 per person I 20 people per walk
The magical call of the Nightjar is something NOT to be missed on a balmy summer evening. Join one of our team on a Nightjar exploration as we track down these incredible birds and watch the day fade away whilst the birds serenade us in the dim evening light.
Booking info
Sunnyside Ringing Demo's
£7.50 per person I Booking Limit 20 people
Ever wondered what goes on out in the darkness of Poole Harbour. This partnership event between Birds of Poole Harbour, Stour Ringing Group and Natural England see's our team head out in search of Woodcock, Common Snipe and Jack Snipe and host a ringing demo, talking about the ecology and conservation work relating to each species.
Booking info
School Bird Boats
The school bird boats are run by the Birds of Poole Harbour charity and have been running since 2002.
They were originally funded by a Lottery grant, but when that was stopped Birds of Poole Harbour stepped in to allow the project to continue. With no cost to parents, schools or pupils these trips have become hugely popular with local schools in the Poole and Purbeck area. The sole aim is to get children out and about exploring this amazing habitat right on their doorstep whilst in a safe and controlled environment. Local wildlife experts and RSPB volunteers will guide the boats telling students all about the birds they're seeing and the importance of a varied range of habitats. With pre and post learning activities and binoculars on hand for every pupil then they'll truly be able to make the most of what Poole Harbour has to offer. If your school is involved in or is planning a project that could be tied in with one of these trips then they want to hear from you. Put on for Years 3-6 Boats run from September - February (excluding holidays) Maximum number of children - 70 Minimum number of children - 45
“What a wonderful trip around Poole Harbour we all had last friday. I was so pleased to share the morning with you all. Its amazing to see how much wonderful wildlife we have on our door step !!! What a blessing Poole is ! And what a great opportunity for the children to experience 1st hand!”
Lisa McGregor, Longfleet Combined School
“Thank you so much for such an informative and exciting boat trip! We are extremely lucky to have been given the chance to take part in such a fantastic event and see so many amazing birds! The whole day was superbly organised and your very knowledgable staff helped to pass on a passion for birds to a new generation!”
Varsha Roche, Parley First School
Call 01202 641 003
© 2019 Birds of Poole Harbour Registered Charity No. 1152615