Despite the exceedingly mild temperatures, numbers of wintering species are starting to gain traction in the harbour with 46 Red-breasted Merganser, 53 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Black-necked Grebe in South Deep off Brownsea this morning, 28 freshly arrived Brent Geese on Blue Lagoon, and the first Red-throated Diver of the season off Middle Beach at Studland. There was plenty of activity at Middlebere this morning too, with large passage flocks of Redwing and Fieldfare on the move overhead and a hunting White-tailed Eagle in the channel below, which actually manage to catch a wader for breakfast! Raptor activity was similarly high at Swineham with Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and Hobby all recorded. Lytchett field still held at least 3 Curlew Sandpiper in amongst the 200+ Dunlin, Redshank and Black-tailed Godwit, and the single Ruff was still present on the pools by the viewpoint along with colour-ringed Water Pipit ‘1K’.