Sightings23/01/2022

Harbour Update – posted 23/01/22

Conditions similar to yesterday made for another beautifully calm public cruise around the harbour this morning. This time one of our new Winter Safaris which took us different route to usual, past Round and Long Island – where a large flock of Oystercatcher were roosting on the beach – to the mouth of the Middlebere and Wych Channels. Here we enjoyed hunting Marsh Harrier and Buzzard interacting over the saltmarsh, Dark-bellied Brent GeeseCurlew, Little Egret and Shelduck on the shore, and Red-breasted Merganser and Great-crested Grebe on in the water alongside 3 inquisitive Common Seal. As we passed Shipstal Beach in each direction, the flock of Spoonbill were just visible on the sandspit tucked up in Arne Bay.

Back out in the Central Harbour we encountered dozens of Red-breasted Merganser in loose groups and pairs, along with several more solitary Great-crested Grebe and Common Gull, at least 3 (though likely more) Goldeneye, and a single Guillemot. Continuing on around the back of Green Island and out through South Deep, 3 Scaup and 2 Common Scoter (including one drake of each) were spotted between Jerry’s Point and Redhorn quay.

Our final stop, the Brownsea Lagoon, was buzzing with Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shelduck, Black- and Bar-tailed Godwit, AvocetDunlin, Curlew, Redshank, and singles of Grey Plover and Greenshank. There was a great deal of excitement from our boat full of onlookers when many of the waders took to the sky: usually a sure sign of a raptor intrusion! But alas, the cause was a sika deer bounding across the lagoon. On our return leg to Poole Quay we were treated to a Great Norther Diver amongst the buoys alongside the Main Channel north of the island.

Elsewhere, from early morning the Glossy Ibis was once again associating with the cows, Little Egret, Black-headed Gulls, and Pied Wagtails in the field adjacent to the Courtyard Centre in Lytchett Minster (west of Huntick Road and south of Post Green Road). At 16:49 it repeated its usual evening routine and flew south west towards Lytchett Bay, but rather than alighting in the eastern channel off Turlin Moor, this time it appeared to continue onwards in the Holes Bay direction.

Common Gull – Central Harbour – Clive Hargrave

Sika Deer with Avocet and Dunlin – Brownsea Lagoon – Clare Slade

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