With the worst of yesterday’s winds passed there were strong winter vibes out in the Harbour today. Early morning saw a summer plumage Great-northern Diver enter through the harbour mouth, along with a Velvet Scoter heading towards South Deep and Brands Bay where it joined c50-60 Red-breasted Merganser. Meanwhile Bramble Bush Bay sheltered 4 Greenshank, 2 Sanderling, 19 Turnstone, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver and 3 Great-crested Grebes. Also a Peregrine passing over Studland. Over the other side of the peninsula there was a nice surprise of c12 Bottlenose Dolphin just outside the harbour mouth off Pilots Point at Shell Bay, along with 1 Common Scoter and a female Long-tailed Duck which settled briefly before being disturbed by jet skis.

On the North Haven side a Black Redstart was found on Sandbanks Pavilion roof, plus c15 Brent Geese in Whitley Lake. Further round at Poole Park there was a 1st-winter Scaup in south-east corner of boating lake just 3 feet off the duck feeding area!

Lytchett Fields was still half flooded this morning holding only 34 Lapwing, Black Headed Gulls and a Little Egret. These were later joined by 94 Avocet, 10 Dunlin and 2 Red-breasted Merganser.

At Middlebere the channel held good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets, Lapwing, Teal & Wigeon, plus 3 Pintail, 7 Brent Geese, 27 Grey Plover & 6 Spotted Redshank. Raptor wise a Peregrine was making the most of the vacant Osprey pole, whilst a Sparrowhawk and a female Marsh Harrier and also made appearances. Further up the track on Hartland moor there was a Male Merlin eating breakfast early morning and later a female at the end of the tramway. Finally, a late Hobby over the Arne Road this afternoon, and 6 Marsh Harrier in west of the harbour around Swineham/Wareham Channel area.