Not so ‘ergh’ today, with another crisp (but very cold) winter sunset seeing out the day with Woodcock report flying out of multiple woodlands at dusk with 3 seen over Soldiers Road, 2 over the entrance of Middlebere, 7 flew out across the Piddle valley and 1 was seen over the Arne Road. The Great White Egret was still on Wareham Common, viewable from the cycle path on, at the Wareham end of the common. In Holes Bay the Spotted Redshank was in the SW section and off Jerry’s Point there were 2 Black-necked Grebe, 10 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 Great Northern Diver. A Yellow-browed Warbler was reported on Candford Heath and 2 Lesser Redpoll were at Arne. Numbers of winter birds do seem to be building nicely with bigger numbers of Pintail, Shoveler and Gadwall around now, although there’s still hardly any Goldeneye about which is a bit worrying with only 1 logged out in central harbour today. Maybe this up and coming cold spell will push more down? Marsh Harrier numbers seem to have dropped again with only singles seen at Lytchett Bay and Middlebere with 4 at Swineham. No doubt good numbers will return again soon.

A typical winter scene in Holes Bay – Good numbers of Pintail and Wigeon – Martin Adams