There was a minor hint of a cold weather movement this morning with a few small flocks of Redwing and a single Fieldfare passing over Poole Quay, but after that, there didn’t seem to be much response from the colder weather further north.

That said, there was still plenty to be enjoyed, including 6 Great Northern Diver spread across the northern fringes of the harbour and South Deep, plus 5 Black-necked Grebe near the harbour entrance and 12+ Goldeneye off Redhorn Quay. There were 34 Russian White-fronted Geese back in the Fields at Ridge and 17 Tundra Bean Geese were in the field at Binneagr again, but were seen flying around Holmebridge (within our harbour recording area) around lunchtime as they were flushed by a White-tailed Eagle.

Talking of eagles, last year obviously saw the first successful breeding of White-tailed Eagle in Dorset for the first time in c300 years, however the youngster soon departed the harbour and has spent the last 3-months ‘out of county’, teaching it’s self to hunt. However yesterday he returned and we saw him from our Winter Safari Cruise this morning in the Wareham Channel as he sat looking out across the landscape before disappearing off towards Rockley Park. This is the first time ‘G834’ has been seen out in the harbour by people, and it’s just incredible to know we already have ‘second generation’ White-tailed Eagles now active and present in the area for people to enjoy.

Elsewhere, at the PCW Drain at Holes Bay there was definitely 1, but likely 2 Siberian Chiffchaff present opposite KFC, with both seemingly very pale, but only one calling, giving the diagnostic Siberian Chiffchaff call. There were also 15+ Common Chiffchaff present too. At Swineham 2 Bearded Tit were feeding at Swineham Point. Cattle Egret are very numerous around the western reaches in the Frome Valley with c50 moving around various cattle fields. At Sandbanks there were 2 Purple Sandpiper on the groynes just east of the Haven Hotel, 13 Spoonbill were in the Wareham Channel and the Yellow-browed Warbler was at the northern end of Hatch Pond again.

One (possibly 2) Siberian Chiffchaff – PCW Drain, opposite KFC

Definite Siberian Chiffchaff – PCW Drain, opposite KFC

Questionable Siberian Chiffchaff – PCW Drain, opposite KFC

Cattle Egret – Piddle Valley