Firstly……HAPPY NEW YEAR! With 2021 now behind us, all of us here at BoPH are excited for the year ahead and the opportunities that may present themselves. Poole Harbour and South Dorset are certainly going to be an exciting place to be over the next several years, with multiple progressive and game changing projects in place. Ospreys, Sea Eagles and (hopefully) Beaver releases, landscape scale land regeneration schemes, wetland creation projects! Of course, these aren’t all being carried out by us, but by other local organisations and partnerships too. Regardless of who’s doing them, it currently feels like there’s no better time to be a birder and naturalist in Dorset…..so we’re raising a glass not only to 2022, but what the future brings as a whole over the next many years. Chin chin.
A good list of species kicked off the new year with 2 Siberian Chiffchaff at Shell Bay, Studland also 15 Gannet and 5 Kittiwake south there. In Shell Bay there were 3 Great Northern Diver and a sea watch from Branksome produced 5 Red-throated Diver, 3 Kittiwake, 2 Fulmar and a Razorbill. From the Bog Lane footpath the Cattle Egret was seen again in the Lower Frome Valley and at Middlebere there were 2 Spotted Redshank, a ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Merlin and male White-tailed Eagle G461 was seen a couple of times, once in Brands Bay and again in Middlebere. At Lytchett Fields a Jack Snipe was flushed and off Middle Beach, Studland 9 Common Scoter and 1 Black-necked Grebe. At the Houseboats at Studland there were 20 Sanderling and the 3 Scaup were distant off Jerry’s Point. The Tundra Bean Geese were originally in fields next to the main Upton CP car park but later flew to the fields back at Longmeadow Lane again. There were 27 Spoonbill on Shipstal, Arne, another Spotted Redshank at Lytchett Fields.
Group of Spoonbill yesterday at Middlebere which contained 4 Dutch ringed individuals – Mark Wright
So cold! Mid-week was delightful with even a hint of spring warmth, but today was proper chilly. Cold…
Find out moreAnother beautiful February day, although the slight NE wind added an edgy chill. There was both a male…
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