As predicted the harbour is now starting to seem a bit busier with open water species such as Red-breasted Mergansers and Great Crested Grebes with the former now appearing in good numbers in the bays around the harbour entrance. A Great Northern Diver was out off Bramble Bush Bay and 3 Goldeneye were in Brands Bay. 4 Velvet Scoter that passed the harbour mouth, heading towards Studland Bay was a good record. Its possible they may have even of settled in Studland Bay somewhere. There was also a single Purple Sandpiper on the sea wall just in front of the Haven Hotel, and 8 Ringed Plover on rocks there. A Black Redstart was in outside my office window in Old Town Poole. A Ring Ouzel was along the Corfe River Valley. Off Branksome yesterday morning 20+ Gannet, 4 Razorbill, 6 Kittiwake and 6 Brent Geese passed by.  A Marsh Harrier passed over Slepe Moor and it was noted that Redwing and Fieldfare numbers are certainly increasing day by day. There were 4 Sandwich Tern in Brands Bay with a Merlin chasing pipit across there too. There were 26 Ringed Plover on Shell Bay Beach along with 5 Sanderling.

ADDITIONAL NEWS – A Short-eared Owl was seen on the eastern edge of Hartland Moor yesterday evening and 100+ Fieldfare were found roosting out in the heather there. There are still 2 ringtail Hen Harrier and 8 Marsh Harrier present in the harbour.