There was good coverage today and the arrival of another spring migrant in the shape of 5 Sand Martin hawking over Swineham GP late afternoon. At Middle Beach, Studland there was 5 Common Scoter and the Velvet Scoter still, 1 Slavonian Grebe and 1 Great Northern Diver with another 2 Great Northern Diver in Shell Bay. Off Jerry’s Point and ‘the Houseboats’, (inner harbour Studland) there were 11 Turnstone and 1 Purple Sandpiper on the concrete blocks, 1 Greenshank, 3 Grey Plover 22 Red-breasted Merganser, 9 Black-necked Grebe and 14 Great Crested Grebe. In Brands Bay there were a further 23 Grey Plover, 262 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 20 Curlew, 45 Shelduck and 11 Pintail. At Middlebere there were 4 Spoonbill, 25 Avocet and 1 Spotted Redshank. Out on Baiter Park the 9 Bar-tailed Godwit were still feeding with c30 Black-tailed Godwit. At Lytchett Fields a Water Pipit was present for most of the morning.  

Bar-tailed Godwits – Baiter Park – 12/02/18