The harbour was a tale of two halves this morning with low visibility and fog across the north of the harbour but the south basking in glorious sunshine. Another effort was made to log visible migration at a select few sites including Ballard Down and Challow Hill. The light WNW got a few finches moving, but there were certainly plenty of grounded birds along Ballard during the course of the morning feeding in the warm morning sun. Highlights along the top of the ridge included 7 Ring Ouzel, 36 Common Chiffchaff, 103 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Woodlark, 2 Firecrest, 5 Redwing, 1 Blackcap, 2 Yellowhammer and 8 Reed Bunting. In Studland Bay the first 2 Black-necked Grebe of the winter were just off Knoll Beach along with 1 Razorbill and 36 dark-bellied Brent Geese with another Black-necked Grebe off Jerry’s Point mid-morning. Out over Studland Bay 2 Great White Egret were seen heading west over Ballard Down and another was in Brands Bay. This afternoon it was a raptor-fest in the Wareham Channel with 2 Red Kite passing over mid-afternoon, an Osprey was fishing in the Wareham Channel and later in Lytchett Bay, 6+ Marsh Harrier were around Swineham and Keysworth, the White-tailed Eagle pair were over the Wareham Channel and 3+ Sparrowhawk were hunting along the Holton Shore. A fly over Glossy Ibis was logged over the Wareham Channel, seen heading towards Swineham and a Yellow-browed Warbler was in and around the RSPB Arne car park. At Lytchett Fields the first Water Pipit of the winter was colour-ringed by Stour Ringing Group and released on site and there was a Spotted Redshank on site.

Sunny Ballard Down and Foggy Poole this morning