This morning we led a school bird boat out around the harbour with mostly calm waters, although a gentle NE breeze kept a cold ripple across the surface of central harbour. Highlights included a Great Northern Diver off the Brownsea north shore and a Great White Egret on the southern shore. 34 Spoonbill were on the lagoon and out in central harbour were 7 Goldeneye, 2 Black-necked Grebe, c50 Red-breasted Merganser and c30 Great Crested Grebe. At Lytchett Fields there were 5 Water Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit and 2 Ruff. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen flying across the Arne Road, and at sunset the Wareham Channel was full of gulls on the low tide with thousands of Black-headed and Common Gull, also 8 Spoonbill, a Marsh Harrier and good numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Teal and Wigeon. In Shell Bay a Great Northern Diver fed really close in shore with a Sandwich Tern there and a flock of 35-40 Bar-tailed Godwit back at Shore Road on the low tide this evening. Brent Geese numbers are definitely rising with birds present in many areas of the harbour now. Merlin were seen at Middlebere and Hartland with flocks of Fieldfare now in evidence on numerous hawthorn and holly bushes. 

Goldeneye – Central Harbour – Paul Morton

Brent Geese – Central Harbour – Paul Morton

Fieldfare – Middlebere – Phyl England