At least once a month we like to try and do a full harbour survey via boat to gage arrival dates and building totals of species whilst getting into all those little nooks and crannies which can be difficult to reach via foot. This morning we carried out one of these surveys and managed a respectable 87 species from the boat. We headed up the Wareham Channel/River which allowed terrestrial as well as aquatic species to be monitored. Highlights included the first 7 settled Goldeneye of the winter in amongst the c75 Great Crested Grebe and c100 Red-breasted Merganser. 4 Goosander flew low over the mouth of the Frome and over Swineham. Merlin were noted at Shipstal, Arne and at Swineham. 2-3 Marsh Harrier were in the west of the Wareham Channel with another over the Brownsea Lagoon. Spoonbills were on Shipstal and on the Brownsea Lagoon and a Great White Egret was along the southern shores near Ower Bay. Later in the day a 1^st winter Caspian Gull dropped down onto Swineham GP where it had a quick wash before moving off east towards the Wareham Channel. Migration up on Ballard was strong again with highlights consisting of 3 Brambling, 1 Bullfinch, 14 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Firecrest, 2 Chiffchaff and 1 Blackcap. Its assumed that these late Blackcap are actually our over-wintering birds arriving into the UK from areas like Germany and Belgium rather than late summer migrants departing. Bearded Tits were active at Swineham and Lytchett Bay, along footpath 12. 

Brambling – Ballard Down – Olly Slessor

Firecrest – Ballard Down – Olly Slessor