Finally there was a bit of quality today when an Arctic Skua was photographed off Shipstal Point, Arne around 7:30pm which by all accounts had spent the afternoon harassing gulls on Long Island. Skua’s in the harbour are a rare event indeed and for one to settle long enough to provide a photo opportunity, even rarer. To give this some context, it’s interesting to point out that over the last 5 years there have been more Black-winged Stilts within Poole Harbour than Arctic Skua! Also off Shipstal was a male Common Scoter. A Cuckoo, 2 Hobby 2 Red Kite and 12 Buzzard were along high over the Moors and along the Arne Road, 2 Tree Pipit were on Slepe heath and there were 2 Redstart at Arne. A likely migrant Marsh Harrier drifted over the Wareham Channel briefly before carrying on west. Around the Sunnyside, Stoborough Heath area 6 Willow Warbler were on territory as were 7 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 2 Dartford Warbler and a Kestrel. Lytchett Fields was sparse of variety but total of regular birds were still good with 165 Black-tailed Godwit, 117 Shelduck, 5 Gadwall and 14 Pied Wagtail. At Lytchett Heath, there were Bearded Tit on territory within the reedbed and a Hobby passed over there. 

Arctic Skua – Shipstal Point, Arne – Brian Piercy