Two Long-tailed Duck and a Great Northern Diver were visible from the house boats at Brand’s Bay today. A Merlin flew over the cottages at Middlebere, a top spot (along with Hartland Moor) to see Britain’s smallest bird of prey. Bramble Bush Bay featured a Great White Egret flying briefly as it flew over ESE and Knoll Beach boasted 18 Black-necked Grebe this afternoon. The Lytchett Bay Yellow-browed Warbler remained present around the pump house at Chads Copse.

A Black Brant was observed south of Shipstal point, Arne. A subspecies of the Brent Goose, this distinctive race breeds in eastern Siberia and western Canada and are increasingly found with Brent Geese flocks in Britain.The Spoonbill flock at Shipstal Point remained at 15 birds and a late Swallow out over Arne Bay was of note.

Outside of the recording area, the Great Grey Shrike was still present near pylons at west end of Hyde Bog. A survey boat departed the quay in the afternoon, covering much of the harbour. Brownsea lagoon held 730 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 35 Redshank 37 Avocet, 45 Shelduck, 127 Wigeon, 72 Shoveller and 32 Teal. Brands Bay featured 2 Long-tailed Ducks, 1 Great-northern Diver, 10 Goldeneye, 20 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Great Crested Grebe and 6 Black-necked Grebe. A Slavonian Grebe remained in the harbour west of Green Island, along with 2 Black-necked Grebe and 6 Great Crested Grebe. A total of 5 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 610 Dunlin, 159 Black-tailed Godwit, 70 Grey Plover, 135 Redshank, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit, 45 Redshank and 1 Kingfisher were observed in the Wareham Channel. Large number of Gulls roosting at dusk including 6000 Black-headed Gull and 4000 Common Gull.

Starling – Poole Quay – Ian Ballam