This morning’s Winter Safari Cruise was brisk to say the least, but that didn’t stop us from seeing some excellent birds! The undoubted highlight was a ringtail Hen Harrier which swooped low over the reedbeds at Swineham, scattering Common Snipe and Meadow Pipit as it went! Possibly the same individual was seen earlier in the day in Lytchett Bay and later at Middlebere. Also in the Wareham Channel were at least 4 Marsh Harrier, 2 Goldeneye, 25 Red-breasted Merganser, and a variety of waders clinging to the narrow fringes of the salt marsh on the higher-than-expected tide. We were also treated to a Great Northern Diver in South Deep, a Black-necked Grebe in the central harbour and a whole host of waders and wildfowl sheltering on the Brownsea Lagoon.

Elsewhere there were 5 Black-throated Diver off Baiter this afternoon and 2 Short-eared Owl at Arne Moors this evening. The Hawfinch was still around the churchyard at St Mary’s Church in Lytchett Matravers, although proving elusive at times. Off Jerry’s Point at Studland there were also 2 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Black-necked Grebe and a Black-throated Diver. The 2 Spotted Redshank were also in the Middlebere Channel once again, and several Woodlark were hear displaying over the Heathlands around the harbour.

Ringtail Hen Harrier – Swineham, Winter Safari Cruise – Alison Copland