A classic Poole Harbour winter set of sightings today with near perfect conditions this afternoon with a big low tide and zero breeze, making viewing out across the harbour and various bays an absolute dream. Around the studland peninsular, our ‘Winter Birds of Poole harbour’ ID course logged 1 Velvet Scoter with 14 Common Scoter out in Studland Bay, first settled and then all flying togther giving perfect views of all relevant ID features. Also in Studland Bay were 2 Great Northern Diver and 23 Black-necked Grebe were counted in the roost and a Slavonian Grebe was seen earlier in the day. There were also 2 Firecrest in the Knoll Beach car park and at the Shell Beach car park a Siberian Chiffchaff was along the boardwalk. Off Jerry’s Point there were 14 Goldeneye (18 logged earlier in the day), 6 Scaup, another 5 Common Scoter, 24 Sanderling, c15 Red-breasted Merganser, c40 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank, 8 Ringed Plover and c10 Turnstone. Meanwhile plenty of Brent Geese, Black-tailed Godwit, Wigeon and a few Pintail were also present in and around Jerry’s Point. Off Baiter this AM there were 2 Sandwich Tern feeding along the shore. At Arne, 2 Hen Harrier were seen, an adult male and a ringtail. Holes Bay NE was busy again with 1 Knot in with 732 Black-tailed Godwit, 114 Avocet, 100 Dunlin and 71 Redshank.

Black-necked Grebe – Studland Bay