Sightings03/02/2025

Harbour Update – 02/02/25

Beautiful conditions for this morning’s Winter Safari Cruise delivered on many of our key targets, including 5 Black-necked Grebe in South Deep, 5 Great Northern Diver spread around the central harbour and 3 Marsh Harrier in the Wareham Channel. Large numbers of Buzzard were also on the wing, many soaring together in territorial displays, giving us a tantalising glimpse of spring. We were surprised by a Ruddy Shelduck flying around the Wareham Channel following around a single Common Shelduck. The wintering waders continued to steal the show though with thousands on the Brownsea Lagoon on the high tide, including 150+ Black-tailed Godwit, 200+ Avocet, 250 + Dunlin, 70+ Grey Plover, 3 Knot, 3 Sanderling and 20 Curlew, the latter of which there was also a flock of 30 on the flooded fields at Swineham. Elsewhere, reports of note were Long-tailed Duck still off Jerry’s Point, Cattle Egret still at Norden, 16 Spoonbill at Shipstal, and still a few records of Fieldfare moving in small numbers around Slepe Heath. Highlights from Holes Bay were 750+ Black-tailed Godwit, 250+ Dunlin, 127 Avocet & 3 Mediterranean Gull on the rising tide, plus 34 Brent Geese, 23 Common Snipe, large numbers of Wigeon and Teal, 79 Pintail and 46 Shoveler. And late afternoon watching from Slepe Heath towards the Wareham Channel there was 1 Short-eared Owl, 2 Hen Harrier, 2 White-tailed Eagle and 5 Marsh Harrier.

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