It was a stunning start to the day, with a cold, crisp (and dare we say it) Christmassy feel to it, but it soon deteriorated to more wind and rain, making birding tricky. This morning the 2 Black-throated Diver were both still off the Whitecliff/Baiter footpath and there was a real sign of the times when a Great White Egret dropped into Poole Park lake where both Mandarin Duck were still present. Off Redhorn Quay/Brands Bay there was a good count of 10 Goldeneye, plus 2 Great Northern Diver, a massive 374 Pintail and the 1st winter male Eider had moved round to there. In Middlebere a male Merlin landed on a post in front of the Middlebere lookout and 3 Marsh Harrier were in also in Middlebere and a lone Spotted Redshank was in Lytchett Bay.

Great White Egret – Poole Park – Clive Hargrave

Merlin – Middlebere – Alison Copland