Yet again it was a tale of two halves today, with not even the ducks wanting to venture out this morning in the torrid weather. Then, as if someone had flicked a light switch we had crystal blue sky’s and bright sunshine. The open water was still a bit choppy, but still good enough to log 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Eider, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 22 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Goldeneye and 21 Great Crested Grebe between Jerry’s Point and Redhorn Quay. At Lytchett Bay the male Brambling was at the feeder station again and there was a Spotted Redshank on the fields, this morning an adult male Hen Harrier was hunting around the bay and 2 Spoonbill were in the bay. An adult female Peregrine was hunting and causing mayhem between Middlebere and Wytch Lake and there were decent numbers of Fieldfare moving around the south of the harbour, especially between Studland and Middlebere with flocks of c100 birds dotted around. Off Middle Beach, Studland there were 3 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Common Scoter and the Long-tailed Duck was seen briefly off Jerry’s Point late this afternoon. A Great White Egret was in Middlebere and there was a good count of 34 Knot in Holes Bay.

Brambling – Lytchett Bay – Peter Moore