Still cold, but warming slightly! Plenty around today, but much of the same although an increase to 7 Eider was noteworthy with 6 off the Brownsea north shore and an adult male near the harbour mouth. A Red-throated Diver was off the Brownsea south shore and up to 5 Great Northern Diver were across the open areas off the harbour. There were still 2 White-tailed Eagle in the Wareham Channel area and 5+ Marsh Harrier. In Holes Bay there were some good totals of 1200+ Wigeon, 500+ Teal, 100+ Shoveler, 70+Pintail, 300+ Black-tailed Godwit, 400+ Dunlin, 150+ Avocet, 150+ Redshank, 30+ Curlew and 4 Tufted Duck. In the PCW Drain 6+ Common Chiffchaff were somehow feeding and there was a Common Sandpiper and Kingfisher in the channel too. On Wareham Common there was a Great White Egret and a single Cattle Egret again and off Jerry’s Point 2 Black-necked Grebe. In Middlebere there were 17 Spoonbill and 2 ringtail Hen Harrier were seen flying down the channel.

Cattle Egret – Hiding on Wareham Common – Clive Hargrave