The big low tides at the moment, thanks to the ‘supermoon’ are providing some quite unique viewing opportunities at the moment. As we’ve explained before the average depth of the entire harbour is only 1m deep, so when we see big low spring tides, areas that aren’t normally exposed become open and fair game for feeding birds. Yesterday evening there was almost a clear walk-way from Hamworthy Beach over towards Shipstal Beach, Arne with just the channel in the mouth of the Wareham Channel blocking the route. With all this exposed mud, there no better time to go and see the thousands of wader and waterfowl species that are taking advantage. In Holes Bay, yet again good numbers of Curlew, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Wigeon, Teal and a handful of Pintail and Gadwall can be see at close range with this Sunday (20^th) being a good time to look as low-tide is at 8am meaning the sun (if there is any) will be behind you and as the tide rises between 8am and 10am, birds will get pushed closer and closer to the cycle path. The same goes for Baiter park where currently Ringed Plover, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Rock Pipit and Meadow Pipit feed on the beaches during the low-tide and Brent Geese are also beginning to start using the playing field. At Shore Road, Sandbanks Sanderling, Bar-tailed Godwit, Turnstone and Brent Geese can be found feeding out on the sandier substrate and in Brands and Bramble Bush Bay Grey Plover, Turnstone, Knot, Ringed Plover and Sanderling can be found, with the houseboats at the latter site being a good place to check. Elsewhere around the harbour keep an eye out for Black Redstart as one was present in Old Town Poole, but they could turn up anywhere, the Lesser Yellowlegs was still on Lytchett Fields, the Great White Egret was in Middlebere with 2 Marsh Harrier, 24 Spoonbill were on the Brownsea Lagoon and another 2 Woodcock were ringed, this time in the Hartland Moor area. 

Woodcock – Ringed in Lower Frome Valley on 14/11/16