The winds were howling this morning, making the afternoon winds of 36 mph seem positively light! Conditions limited time spent in the field. However, scanning a blustery Brownsea Lagoon from the comfort of our HQ revealed c220 Dunlin, 21 Avocet, c20 Grey Plover and c60Black-tailed Godwit amongst reasonable numbers of Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Redshank, Greenshank, Teal, Gadwall, and Shoveler.

There were no signs of yesterday’s Hen Harriers over at Middlebere but the conditions were far from ideal. Compensation came in the form of several Marsh Harrier showing well as they battled the strong winds including a stunning adult male which are incredibly rare plumage type and age of Marsh Harrier in Poole Harbour.

A visit to South Haven early afternoon as the winds eased produced 1 Red-throated Diver, 125+ Brent Goose, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 10 Sanderling. Brands Bay held 2 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and 17 Turnstone.

Amazingly, an evening visit to Swineham produced a really late Wood Sandpiper on one of the new scrapes which is probably one of the latest Dorset records. Also on the scrapes were c200 Black-tailed Godwit, 24 Lapwing, 53 Curlew and 2 different Marsh Harrier flew over. On the main gravel pit at Swineham was a single Goldeneye (rare here) and 4 Great Crested Grebe. A Black Redstart was in a private garden on the housing estate opposite Purbeck Sports Centre.

Around Studland there was a Red-throated Diver, 125 + Brent Goose, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 10 Sanderling and in Brands Bay 2 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and 17 Turnstone.

Marsh Harrier – Middlebere – Simon Kidner

A busy scene on Brownsea Lagoon

Black-tailed Godwit – Brownsea Lagoon