Despite the modest, mild 15 degrees and calm conditions, the low, dark cloud all day made it feel slightly wintery, and if that didn’t, todays birds certainly did. New in were 11 Eider which were settled in Studland Bay including 1 full adult male, 1 1st winter and 9 female/juv types. This seems to be one of the largest Eider flocks in recent times visiting the harbour, although not a max count as there were 20 in Studland Bay during the summer of 1976 and the harbour record is an incredible 135 in February 1985! To add to the wintery theme the seasons first 2 Great Northern Divers were out in Poole Bay along with a single Black-throated Diver. This morning 3 Redwing passed over Carey Secret Garden as did c60 Crossbill and c100 Redpoll. Out in central harbour 2 Black-necked Grebe were with 15 Great Crested Grebe. This afternoon the White-tailed Eagle pair were loafing around the fringes of the Wareham Channel, 2 Marsh Harrier were off Swineham Point and Great White Egrets were at Middlebere (2) and Swineham (1). At Lytchett Fields 5 Spotted Redshank were still out on the fields, 6 dark-bellied Brent Geese were on the gull islands in the Wareham Channel and c20 Cattle Egret were still in fields just west of Holmebridge.