Today’s Poole Town Walk was brilliant. The weather was a bit all over the place, but the birding was top notch. Turnstones greeted us along the Quay as we worked though roosting Cormorant and Shag. Approaching Baiter Car Park we were spoilt by very close views of a Great Northern Diver fishing just meters from the beach. Another Great Northern Diver was also present at Baiter in the morning before heading into Parkstone Bay where we caught up with the bird on our guided walk. A Red-throated Diver was also seen slightly further out from Baiter, along with 7 Great Crested Grebe. Hidden amongst the feeding Oystercatchers on Baiter Park included 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and 4 Black-tailed Godwit. As we continued along the walk, we enjoyed close views of a Sandwich Tern fly past before joining Poole Park which held 2 Goldeneye and a Common Gull. Skirting Baiter to complete the circular walk produced c120 Brent Goose settling briefly on the Park. Nearby, looking out from the Beach Huts at Hamworthy Park offered 4 Black-necked Grebe, 11 Goldeneye, 56 Red-breasted Merganser, 28 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver, 2 Sandwich Tern and 15 Turnstone roosting on pier.

A high tide at Shipstal this morning featured 23 Spoonbill, 1 Great Norther Diver, 12 Goldeneye, c300 Brent Goose, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 25 Pintail, c200 Wigeon, c100 Teal, c100 Curlew, 4 Avocet, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Dartford Warbler and 1 Merlin. A evening open-water species roost count from Shipstal Point totalled 28 Goldeneye, 38 Great Crested Grebe, 51 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Great Northern Diver, 4 Black-necked Grebe, along with 2 Spoonbill, c200 Avocet and 1 Dartford Warbler.

Great Northern Diver – Baiter Beach