Pretty bleak birding conditions for today’s Wetland Bird Survey for the BTO. Very few brave enough to venture out into the harbour this morning, although a juvenile male Marsh Harrier battling the winds around Swineham and Arne Moors made to trip worthwhile. A late night SRG ringing session at Sunnyside yielded nine new birds ringed, consisting of 3 Woodcock, 3 Common Snipe, 2 Jack Snipe and (quite remarkably!) a hadnsome first calendar-year male Gadwall.

Winter Pop-Up Event Announcement: Our next event will take place at Studland NNR in partnership with the National Trust Studland Team on Thursday 17th December, 10am to 1pm. Find our team stationed at Jerry’s Point and Shell Bay for another chance to gain an insight into these excellent winter birding hotspots. Learn how to bird the area, identify the local birdlife and discover why these sites are so important.

Mike Gould – Gadwall