With snow falling north of us up in the midlands it was no surprise today that a flock of Golden Plover were found in the harbour with c40 flushed off the Keysworth estate by a Peregrine. We now tend to only ever see Golden Plover as a result of cold weather elsewhere, when they flee for warmer coastal areas. Also seen today was a Bittern at Swineham briefly in the reed beds along the northern edge of the pit. Also on Swineham GP were 4 Pochard, 1 Goldeneye, 6 Great Crested Grebe and a small number of Gadwall, Shoveler and Tufted Duck. In South Deep there were 2 Great Northern Diver and 2 Black-necked Grebe and another Great Northern Diver was off Baiter. The Common Crane was again seen leaving its roost at dawn and then seen arriving back again at dusk at Hartland Moor. From the Middlebere hide the ringtail Hen Harrier was seen and a Merlin was in Hartland. Along Holme Lane 3 Cattle Egret were in the cow field with tens of Redwing and Fieldfare. Off Shipstal c20 Spoonbill were roosting and on Lytchett Fields 2 Green Sandpiper and 2 Spotted Redshank were feeding with a Marsh Harrier out in the Bay and out in the centre of Poole Park Boating Lake the 2 Avocet were still enjoying themselves!

Male and female Siskin – PC World Drain – Ian Ballam