Another year and another focus to try and find great birds in the harbour. New Years day got of to a corker with a minimum of 10 Great Northern Diver in the harbour including the super close bird off Baiter, 2 off the Brownsea north shore, 2 off Green Island and several out in central harbour. There were 32 (possibly 35) Spoonbill roosting at Shipstal, Arne mid afternoon but this morning they were feeding in the Wareham Channel and 3 in Lytchett Bay. From South Haven there was 1 Purple Sandpiper on the Chain Ferry slipway, 4+ Great Northern Diver between the harbour entrance and Jerry’s Point with the Slavonian Grebe there too. In Holes Bay the Smew remained near the railway bridge and there were 40 Avocet there too. There were 3 Chiffchaff and a Firecrest behind PC World, Poole. At Holton Lee there was 1 Lesser Redpoll and 1 Marsh Tit at the feeders, 1 Chiffchaff in scrub outside the hide, 1 Peregrine, 3 Marsh Harrier (viewed distantly over Swineham) and a male Goldeneye out in the Wareham Channel. From Middle Beach, Studland the Red-necked Grebe remains also several Black-necked Grebe and Med Gulls, 1 Great Northern Diver and a Firecrest in some brambles. At Lytchett Bay there was at least 1 Water Pipit on Lytchett Pools, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Goldeneye and 8 Shoveler out in the Bay and good numbers of Lapwing, Dunlin and Redshank out on the fields. 

Great Northen Diver – Baiter Beach – Peter Moore