Still very cloudy and cold, but the wind seems to be easing, making birding a bit easier. Starting with Monday a flock of 42 Bar-tailed Godwit at Lytchett was a good site record, also there, 2 Red-breasted Merganser and 5 Little Grebe. In the evening there was a huge low tide exposing large amounts of mud and beach at Baiter, which in turn attracted many thousands of Gulls. A quick count produced no less than 30 Mediterranean Gulls but if a full count had been conducted it would be no surprise to have found 100+ birds. On Tuesday an RSPB school bird boat went out around the harbour, and despite the icy wind a good selection of bird were spotted…highlights included 1 Merlin on the Brownsea Lagoon, 1 Great Northern Diver, 4 Black-necked grebe, 1 Marsh Harrier, 180-200 Red-breasted Merganser, 15+ Goldeneye, 100+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Ringed plover and 1 Knot. A Barn Owl was again spotted at Upton CP early morning. Holes Bay saw a few Black-tailed Godwit start to arrive back to Poole Harbour, also there, 126 Avocet, 2 Spoonbill, 1 Grey Plover (rare for this site), 1 Common Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank. Lytchett Bay had 1 Water Pipit, 65 Snipe, 1 female Marsh Harrier and 23 Lapwing.