With the recent goose influx, it was no surprise that today a settled flock was found around the harbour when a decent total of 31 Russian White-fronted Geese and 6 Tundra Bean Geese were found feeding in a field just east of Ridge, near RSPB Arne. This White-fronted Goose flock is the largest for the Poole Harbour area in quite some time, with flock sizes ranging from just 1 – 19 over the last 15 years, the average in that period being only 2.5 per year. They used to be an almost annual occurrence up until the mid to late noughties when sightings and flock sizes dropped off dramatically. Late December is typically the time when parties would arrive, so the timing is spot on, but for 2025, this is an excellent ‘modern’ total. There was also a report of 6 ‘grey geese’ that flew over Lytchett Bay which could have reffered to the/a Bean Goose flock.

Elsewhere there were were 7 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Slavonian Grebe off Jerry’s Point, 1 Spotted Redshank was at Lytchett Bay and there were White-tailed Eagles reported over Lytchett Bay, Middlebere and Brands Bay. There has definetaly been an arrival of Redwing and Fieldfare with more small parties much in evidence, plus 3 Pochard in Brands Bay was quite a turn up along with 1 in Poole Park too with c30 Tufted duck. 

Russian White-fronted Geese – Ridge, Wareham – Mark Wright

Russian White-fronted Geese – Ridge, Wareham – Mark Wright