WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OUR READERS AND CONTRIBUTORS A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT PROMISES TO BE A MOST EXCITING YEAR FOR THE BIRDS OF POOLE HARBOUR!

In spite of the persistent drizzle throughout the morning a very successful boat trip around the harbour yielded 95 species of bird setting a new record from the boat – can’t be long before we break the 100 barrier! Highlights from the trip included: Egyptian Goose 4 (Bestwall), Pochard 2 (Swineham), Common Scoter 3, Velvet Scoter 1 (Bramble Bush Bay), Great Northern Diver 4 (2 of which were close in off South Haven), Spoonbill 23 (21 Shipstal, 2 Fitzworth Point), Slavonian Grebe 1 (Fitzworth Point), Black-necked Grebe 21, Hen Harrier 2 (male and female Arne Moors), Spotted Redshank 1 (Arne Moors), Guillemot 1, Sandwich Tern 3 and a Mediterranean Gull. There was also a flock of several hundred Lapwing in the Keysworth area but no Golden Plover could be located amongst them. After the recent heavy rains very little mud was exposed on Brownsea Lagoon resulting in hardly any small waders being present so the Stilt Sandpiper couldn’t be added to the year list just yet.

Elsewhere in the harbour a Great White Egret was again in Middlebere and a Barn Owl and Firecrest were seen in the Arne area.