Plenty around the harbour today, aided by the fact we had a low-tide cruise this afternoon which trekked around the whole harbour and up the Wareham Channel. Despite the cold northerly wind, birds were finding the sheltered areas with 6 Scaup in South Deep and the 4 Velvet Scoter were off the south shore of Brownsea briefly. There were also 5 Common Scoter seen from Jerry’s Point but not from the boat. There were plenty of Red-breasted Merganser between Green Island an Brownsea, but only a single drake Goldeneye was logged. There were 5 Spoonbill in the Wareham Channel along with 3-4 Marsh Harrier at the top end near Swineham and a Peregrine was causing havoc. Along the south of the harbour and in the Wareham Channel totals of 200+ were logged for Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Brent Goose, Teal and Wigeon. Elsewhere there were 2 Brambling feeding at the Studland Ferry toll booth. In Shell Bay there was a single Guillemot and at the PCW Drain, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti’s Warbler and 1 Firecrest. In Holes Bay NE 228 Avocet were feeding close to the cycle path and off Baiter 57 Brent Geese have now settled. In Middlebere there was a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Merlin with 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Spotted Redshank, 5 Spoonbill and c200 Avocet. At Knoll Farm campsite, Studland a group of 10 Fieldfare were present with 5 also at Hartland Stud…..they’ve been in incredibly low numbers this autumn/winte rso far.

Brambling – Studland toll booth – Paul Swann

Mackerel sky from low-tide cruise

Spotted Redshank – Middlebere – Paul Swann

Fieldfare (above) and Mistle Thrush – Knoll Fram, Studland – Paul Swann