Although yesterday was a stunning winter scene, darker grey sky’s are back and forecast for the foreseeable future. However, the discovery of a Great Grey Shrike out on Hartland Moor certainly brightens things up quite a lot. These are scarce, but almost annual winter visitors with one or two being discovered on the heathlands surrounding Poole Harbour each winter. They can be easily located (sometimes) by scanning the very tops of small pine trees and gorse bushes. A Peregrine flew over Holes Bay early yesterday morning with some prey. If you get the chance to visit Lytchett Bay on a low tide then I can highly recommend it, as it is filled with hundreds of waders and wildfowl including Avocet, Dunlin, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Teal, Wigeon, Shelduck and Brent Geese. There were only 4 Spoonbill in Holes Bay yesterday morning and another count of 7, possibly 10 Woodcock came out of their roost near Soldiers Road again last night. Off Knoll Beach, Studland there were 2 Slavonian Grebe, 23 Black-necked Grebe and 7 Common Scoter. The Surf Scoter remains in Brands Bay.

Follow this link for a Tranquil Scene at Lytchett Bay