The tides are currently good for Holes Bay viewing late afternoon and today there was a great selection of birds along the SE part of the cycle path. On a falling or rising tide Holes Bay NE tends to be better on the peak low tide, the SE section is better as the birds follow the tide line out and under the bridge. This afternoon masses of birds were gathered in the SE section including a stunning group of Avocet right next to the path along with c800 Wigeon, c200 Teal, c 200 Dunlin, 2 Knot, c50 Black-tailed Godwit along with lots of Oystercatcher, Curlew, Redshank and gulls. Elsewhere it was much of the same with the White-fronted Goose was still at Bestwall, at Norden Sewage Works there were 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest and 3 Red-legged Partridge. Along Holme Lane 6 Cattle Egret in fields below Worgret Manor and in the PC world drain another 4 Chiffchaff. At dawn a likely 2^nd winter Glaucous Gull was off Baiter, settled in the gull roost but lifted off and headed of high NE at 7:45am. Along the Turlin shoreline at Lytchett Bay a male Merlin was zipping along the shoreline hunting. Around Studland a single Great Northern Diver was in Bramble Bush Bay, a total of 15 Black-necked Grebe were around the peninsular and 3 Ring-necked Parakeet were near the South Beach car park. At Sunnyside 2 Peregrine seemed content on harassing all the duck and Lapwing that were present.

Avocet flock – Holes Bay SE – Paul Morton

Black-tailed Godwit – Holes Bay – Rene Goad