‘Birds of Poole Harbour’ were kindly invited to come and speak at the New Networks for Nature’ (http://www.newnetworksfornature.org.uk/presenters.htm) event up in Stamford at the weekend to talk about the importance of social media and technology in promoting conservation and nature. It was a fantastic event full of fascinating debates, intellectual ideas and thought provoking concepts. If you get the chance to visit next year then you should really try and make the effort. However, as I stupidly forgot to book into a hotel room with internet and with very, very limited 3G coverage I felt like I was flung back to the dark ages as the internet had no part in my life for three days! Hence the lack of updates.

So, what’s been happening? Well, much of the same really. The Surf Scoter is still settled in Brands Bay often giving great views of Redhorn Quay, also in the area there still 3 Great Northern Diver, 4 Black-necked Grebe, a great count of 20+ Goldeneye, 80+ Red-breasted Merganser and 64 Great Crested Grebe. At Knoll Beach (14^th Nov) 2 Swallow struggled into the cold northerly wind. There was still some ‘Pig Mig’ (a Wood Pigeon equivalent to Vis Mig) with flocks of 2000 over Lytchett Bay and 3000 over Evening Hill. There is currently both a male and female Hen Harrier using the Hartland/Middlebere area for hunting along with 2-3 Marsh Harrier, also in Middlebere 295 Avocet, 600 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Green Sandpiper. Out off Middle Beach 21 Black-necked Grebe and 4 Common Scoter and in Studland Bay 3 Great Northern Diver, 2 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Sanderling. From South Haven 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 4 Black-necked Grebe, 4 Ringed Plover, 11 Sanderling, 1 Grey Wagtail, and 1 Chiffchaff. 

Don’t miss out on these up and coming events….

RSPB Birdboat Poole Harbour Tourwith Brownsea Landing – http://www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/brownsea-landing-rspb-boat

Three Bay Bumble – A look around all the bays of the Studland Penninsular looking for Grebes, Sea Duck (including the Surf Scoter) Divers, Waders, Wildfowl – http://www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/three-bay-bumble

 RSPB 20 year Anniversery Birdboat – A crusise around Poole Harbour and the Wareham Channel looking for Sea Ducks, Grebes, Diver, Waders and Raptors – http://www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/wareham-channel-rspb-cruise

Monday Blue(sky’s) at Arne – A mid afternnon stroll around Arne (hopefully) in the soft, low mid-winter sun – http://www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/monday-blue-skys-arne