Thankfully yesterdays rain cleared away over night, and with the breeze easing off and swinging to the north, it was actually a calm, settled morning across the harbour. Great conditions for this mornings Winter Safari Cruise which saw multiple highlights. In total 11 Great Northern Diver were logged including a near summer plumaged bird in between Hamworthy Beach and RSPB Arne with 3 in South Deep, 4 in central harbour, 1 off Brownsea north shore and 2 in Wareham Channel. There was also a Black-throated Diver off the houseboats at Bramble Bush Bay, Studland and a Red-throated Diver off the Furzey Island slipway. The Long-tailed Duck was off Jerry’s Point and 2 new Eider were off Redhorn Quay. On Swineham GP there were 8 Pochard, at Shipstal, RSPB Arne 7 Spoonbill, 8 Goldeneye in central harbour, 4 Marsh Harrier at Swineham and a Goshawk was hunting Wood Pigeon in the trees on Green Island and a Great White Egret was on Swineham GP. There still aren’t masses of Red-breasted Merganser back with only c50 logged across the open water but Great Crested Grebe are certainly back in good numbers. A decent flock of c200 Fieldfare were also flying over the Studland peninsular. Elsewhere, the White-tailed Eagle pair were active again on the Brownsea Lagoon this morning hunting and in Middlebere there was 1 Great White Egret, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 Spotted Redshank. At Lytchett Fields there were also 2 Spotted Redshank. In Holes Bay there were still good numbers of Pintail present with c70 in the NW section, plus c200 Avocet spread across the northern bays. Also logged off Jerry’s point later this afternoon were 2 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Slavonian Grebe a fly over male Hen Harrier and off Knoll Beach there were 4 Black-necked Grebe. Finally, there were 20 Waxwing just 23km NE of the harbour today in Fordingbridge. Everyone be on the look out!

Black-throated Diver – Bramble Bush Bay, from Winter Safari Cruise – Mark Wright

Red-throated Diver – South Deep, from Winter Safari Cruise – Mark Wright

Partial summer plumage Great Northern Diver – Off Hamworthy Beach, from Winter Safari Cruise – Mark Wright

Long-tailed Duck – South Deep, from Winter Safari Cruise – Mark Wright