For a drab Monday, the harbour certainly shone bird-wise with a good selection from right around the harbour. Starting in Studland bay where totals over-wintering open-water species are building with 3 Slavonian Grebe, 12+ Black-necked Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver and 12 Common Scoter. Out in central harbour the Scaup was still present along with 4 Common Scoter, 15 Goldeneye, 50+ each of Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebe. On Poole Park Lake there were 9 Little Grebe. In Poole harbour west an excellent count of 10 Marsh Harrier came out of the roost and a ringtail Hen Harrier was seen in Middlebere. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 14 Spoonbill, 400+ Avocet and a Merlin chase. At Lytchett Fields the Lesser Yellowlegs was still there, a ringtail Hen Harrier went through, a female Red-breasted Merganser was a new species for the fields and the Ruff and 2 Water Pipit were still present.  Both Brands Bay and Holes Bay were reported to be ‘full of birds’ on the low tides, all mostly common species but great to see good numbers of species such as Grey Plover, Ringed Plover, Greenshank, Redshank, Avocet and Black-tailed Godwits. 

Great Crested Grebe – Holes Bay – Keith Rawling

Pintail – Holes Bay – Keith Rawling

Gadwall – Holes Bay – Keith Rawling