An excellent return of sightings today compared to previous days. The juv Goshawk at Lytchett Fields from a few weeks ago was likely seen again being chased off by a Raven from Lytchett Fields over towards Holton Lee. This then flushed c200 Lapwing, 5 Greenshank and 4 Green Sandpiper from Holton Pools. This evening 2 Cattle Egret flew over Lytchett Fields from the Lytchett Minster direction, heading towards their evening roost. In the Wareham Channel 10 different Marsh Harrier were logged plus the female Hen Harrier was seen again. At Baiter 229 Brent Geese were in Parkstone Bay and 4 Great Northern Diver were off the Northern Brownsea shoreline. The Brownsea Lagoon was packed and saw c3900 Dunlin, 40 Knot, 790 Black-tailed Godwit, 280 Avocet, 88 Bar-tailed Godwit, 210 Grey Plover, 22 Ringed Plover and 2 Spotted Redshank. Off Jerry’s Point there were 4 Great Northern Diver, 1 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Common Scoter, 3 Scaup, 2 Black-necked Grebe, 11 Goldeneye and 31 Red-breasted Merganser. A lone Purple Sandpiper was on the boulder groynes at Sandbanks this evening. At Swineham a single Pochard was on the pits with 110 Coot, 15 Great Crested Grebe and a Marsh Harrier was over Swineham Point. On the Swineham Pools the Barnacle Goose was present again with 140 Canada Geese, 12 Greylags and 250+ Lapwing. The male Merlin was on its usual post near the Middlebere entrance track this evening.

Barnacle Goose – Swineham Pools (yesterday) – Peter Moore