It was another busy day, but nowhere near as beautiful as yesterday. Best from across the harbour included 4 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Common Scoter, 3 Great Northern Diver and 2 Black-necked Grebe off Jerry’s Point. Off Old Harry a Fulmar flew by and there were c200 auk’s (50/50 split between Guillemot and Razorbill), c30 Kittiwake, c40 Gannet, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver and 3 diver sp, 2 Peregrine and 2 Shoveler. In the arable field leading along to Old Harry there were 6 Yellowhammer in the field along with 32 Skylark that were flushed by a Sparrowhawk. At Swineham there was an excellent count of 22 Pochard which is a harbour high count by quite some way in recent years. It also highlights that many duck responded to yesterdays cold weather and that Smew should be on peoples radars if out looking in Holes Bay, off Baiter, at Poole Park or at Swineham. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen over Keysworth this afternoon with a Marsh Harrier and a Merlin was hunting from the Middlebere post at dusk and 3 Sandwich Tern were off Shore Road.

17 of the 22 Pochard that were at Swineham today – Trevor Warwick