An excellent Winter Safari around the harbour today with stunning views of male White-tailed Eagle G463 giving several flybys past the boat, appearing to be hunting waders on the mud. Still impressive numbers of Great Northern Diver with 20 spread across the whole harbour, including North Channel, South Deep, Central Harbour and Wareham Channel. Also 1 Red-throated Diver off South Deep, 2 female Eider off Jerry’s Point, 4 Goldeneye, 1 Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harrier, a very brief Goshawk, c300 Avocet, 2 Spoonbill and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit along with ‘the usual’.

The 1 Long-tailed Duck was also seen again today from the harbour mouth as well as 12 Bar-tailed Godwit in Whitley Lake. In Holes Bay there were 34 Knot, 5 Spoonbill, 2000+ Black-tailed Godwit, 1000+ Wigeon, 300+ Dunlin, 150 Avocet and 80 Pintail. An adult male Hen Harrier was at Arne RSPB. Seen today in Lytchett Bay, from the Rock Lea Viewpoint were 80 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank, 6 Spoonbill, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Brambling.

Male White-tailed Eagle G463 – Birds of Poole Harbour Winter Safari – Seb Elwood