Another nice day of sightings with one of the highlights being the Black-throated Diver visible in Studland Bay this afternoon, reported from both Middle Beach and then Knoll later on in day. Also from Knoll, were 8+ Black-necked Grebe, 5 Great Crested Grebe and 4 Common Scoter. Also at Studland, 1 Siberian Chiffchaff was seen from the boardwalk to Shell Bay. Another Siberian Chiffchaff was present at PC World Drain this morning too. The Glossy Ibis was visible again this morning, seen flying north over Lytchett Bay and dropped back into the bay for dusk at 16:40. Not many bird of prey sightings reported today, apart from a Kestrel at Greenlands Farm. The Spoonbill count off Shipstal Point today reached 32 individuals. Finally, 28 Sanderling and 1 Purple Sandpiper were reported at North Haven on the Sandbanks groynes. At Soldiers Road there were 31 Fieldfare. A couple of Crossbill were moving on the edge of Wareham Forest near the Piddle Valley.

We’re currently wrapping up on collecting the data from last Sunday’s Big Poole Harbour Bird Count. If you still have your count to submit, please send it to sightings@birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk to make sure it gets included! Once we have all data in, we’ll be putting together and inviting everyone to a FREE online presentation to highlight the results, talk about species status in the harbour and talk about how you can make the most of your harbour birding during the winter. Keep an eye out for more details soon.

Kestrel – Greenlands Farm – Rob Johnson