It was pretty mild today, almost spring like in fact with Skylark in full song just outside Lytchett Minster. One of the highlights of the day were 2 Water Pipit that were colour-ringed as part of a national scheme to track their movements across the UK/Europe and possibly back to their breeding grounds in the spring. After a week of trying 2 were finally caught by Stour Ringing Group in Lytchett Bay and were ringed with yellow colour-rings labelled 0K and 1K in black lettering. Will be fascinating to see if they appear anywhere else in the UK this winter. Elsewhere around the harbour the Jerry’s Point area was well watched again with 4 Great Northern Diver, 37 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Goldeneye, 1 Common Scoter and 3 Black-necked Grebe and in Brands Bay there were 310 Black-tailed Godwit, 22 Lapwing, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Peregrine and 2 Great White Egret. Around Middlebere/Slepe/Wareham Channel area there were 2 Hen Harrier, 5 Marsh Harrier and 1 Merlin. There were 2 late Wheatear up on Nine Barrow Down and 3 more House Martin off Studland.

Water Pipit – Lytchett Bay – Shaun Robson

Water Pipit ‘1K’ – Lytchett Bay – Shaun Robson