It was another cold one today. Although don’t worry, because by Sunday we’ll be back to balmy 15 degrees, strong wind and heavy rain. Just what we’re all used to! So, if you like the cold, crisp weather you’ve only got a couple of days to soak it up. There are still signs of a minor cold weather movement with lots and lots of Lapwing in the river valleys and surrounding fields. Plus, the Golden Plover was still in Brands Bay this morning. There was also a huge count of c1200 Teal (typical in c400) on Holme Lane GP and 122 Gadwall, all suggesting recent arrivals.  It was an absolute thrill this morning to be able to show our school group, out on their bird boat trip, one of the White-tailed Eagles which was initially over RSPB Arne and then settled on Shipstal. This morning both Hen Harrier and Merlin were active at the top end of Middlebere and there were 16 Cattle Egret in the Frome Valley and 7 in the Piddle Valley. At Lytchett Fields there were singles of Water Pipit and Spotted Redshank. Holes Bay north was looking great again with a massive c2700 Black-tailed Godwit plus big numbers of Dunlin, Wigeon, Avocet, Redshank etc. In the PCW drain up to 10+ Chiffchaff were doing their best to survive by catching insects off the surface of the channel. Off Jerrys Point the Slavonian Grebe was still there and there were 4 Goldeneye and between Arne and Brownsea there was a minimum of 12 Great Northern Diver

Cattle Egret – Frome Valley