There were some incredible downpours today and plenty of rainbows on offer. It looked as if a pot of gold was on offer at the end of a rainbow out in Poole Bay when a Swift species was picked up flying across Studland Bay towards Old Harry. In mid-November the logical thought would be it was a Pallid Swift, an extremely rare vagrant to Dorset with no Poole Harbour records. However, the bird was watched for a good few minuets as it travelled across the bay and all features actually pointed towards Common Swift. An exceptionally late record for this species. Another frustrating encounter was had over Poole when a large (and silent) pipit flew over at dawn, which gave an overall appearance of Richards Pipit but flew over and disappeared before it could be clinched. There was a minimum of 9 Cattle Egret next to the Stoborough causeway mid afternoon. At Sunnyside there were 2 Egyptian Geese again and on Poole Park boating lake the 3 Goldeneye and the Mandarin Duck were still present.  From Shipstal 28 Spoonbill were on the point. At Holton Pools Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper, Wigeon, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Water Pipit, Marsh Harrier and Little Egret were all viewable from the hide. In Middlebere 8 Spoonbill were hunkered up for a while at the end of the channel and the Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit flock were out in front of the hide.

Female Goldeneye – Poole Park Lake – Rene Goad