Plenty of top birding to be had across the harbour today. The Poole Harbour Snow Bunting count doubled, with two showing well all afternoon around Redhorn Quay while a female-type Scaup remained offshore. Middlebere weighed in on the action with a smart trio of Ring Ouzel, Brambling and Goosander (logged flying west past hide at 10:35). High-speed action at Studland also logged a Merlin causing havoc beyond Jerry’s Point, chasing down Dunlin while a Spoonbill passed over west. On the Brownsea Lagoon a whopping c700 Cormorant left the roost and headed out to the harbour. A Red Kite drifted north of the harbour, observed from Bere Regis and a late Swallow dashed over Lytchett Fields, keen to avoid this morning’s harsh frost. Lytchett Bay also yielded a very successful pipit ringing session, colouring 10 new birds (3 Water Pipit & 7 Rock Pipit) this morning. Certainly worth keeping an eye out for these birds if birding locally (and wider area) over the coming weeks and months! Other notables included a Marsh Harrier hunting over Holton Pools, the male Hen Harrier quartering Hartland Moor again and RSPB Arne recording 37 Spoonbill and a Great White Egret.

Brambling – Middlebere – Gary Hayman

Ring Ouzel – Middlebere – Gary Hayman