This cold snap that’s bedded in over the last couple of days may hopefully push some of the several hundred Russian White-fronted Geese that arrived into SE England this week. White-fronted Geese used to be a regular (almost common) winter visitor to the harbour each year but over the last couple of decades numbers entering the UK each winter have dropped dramatically, hence why we don’t see them anymore. There’s a good chance some may venture this way so it’s well worth checking areas such as Swineham, Bestwall, Holmebridge and Middlebere. Basically, anywhere other geese species congregate to feed. Sightings from today included 2 Long-tailed Duck off Brownsea plus 1 Great Northern Diver, 4 Scaup, 3 Common Scoter, 40+ Red-breasted Merganser, 45 Great Crested Grebe and 4 Goldeneye off Jerry’s Point. Off Middle Beach, Studland there were c10 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Great Northern Diver and 6 Common Scoter. A Great White Egret was on the Furzey Island shoreline. Middlebere hosted 4 Spotted Redshank, 650 Avocet, 6 Grey Plover, 370 Lapwing and 3 Fieldfare were along the track. In Holes Bay NW there were 329 Dunlin, 308 Black-tailed Godwit, 66 Avocet, 33 Knot, 4 Little Grebe and 1 Kingfisher.

Holes Bay NW at dusk – Martin Adams