Well, much better conditions for birding today and quite a lot had been blown in after the storms of yesterday. More divers around the harbour with a minimum of 8 Great Northern Diver counted from our Winter Safari Cruise this afternoon, but probably a few more lurking off distant shores. They were mainly confined to South Deep, off Jerry’s Point and Brands Bay, but 2 more along the south-western shore of Brownsea too. 1 Red-throated Diver was also off Jerry’s Point along with 1 Velvet Scoter, 6 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Slavonian Grebe. 2 more Black-necked Grebe were west of Furzey Island and 4 were off Middle Beach Studland (+1 more Great Northern Diver) for a harbour total of 12 Black-necked Grebe. The 2 Pink-footed Geese were also still on RSPB Arne Moors. At Middlebere there were 1 Great White Egret, 125 Avocet and 2 Marsh Harrier. In the Wareham Channel the 2 White-tailed Eagles were sat on a sandy cliff before taking off. Huge numbers of birds feeding on the low tide here too with 4 Spoonbill, c500 Avocet, c20 Grey Plover, c500 Dunlin and c200 Black-tailed Godwit. At Swineham at least 4 Marsh Harrier were active and 10 Glossy Ibis were feeding in the wet field south of the gravel pit. The 2 Pink-footed Geese were still on Arne Moors amongst the Greylags. At Lytchett Bay from Rock Lea View on the rising tide there were similar numbers of birds with 400+ Wigeon, 65 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 250+ Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Ruff was on the fields this morning. 4 Cattle Egret were on Wareham Common. Holes Bay North also providing very good numbers of waders with 631 Black-tailed Godwit, 550 Dunlin, 255 Avocet and 23 Knot. 1 Red-breasted Merganser was at Poole Park, no doubt sheltering after the wind yesterday.

Great Northern Divers – Jerry’s Point – Garry Hayman