Today we hosted our last public bird boat of 2019 which really productive despite being a bit yuk to begin with. The Red-necked Grebe was in Bramble Bush Bay, there were singles of Great Northern Diver in the harbour mouth and North Channel, 8 Black-necked Grebe in central harbour and the White-fronted Goose was at Bestwall with Greylags. There were also 2 different Marsh Harrier in the mouth of the Frome and c15 Spoonbill flew across Arne Bay. Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebe were spread thinly across the harbour and we didn’t log a single Goldeneye in 3.5 hours! The Browsnea Lagoon was fairly full of water but still good numbers of Avocet, Bar-tailed Godwit, Dunlin and Grey Plover were on there with only 3 Greenshank. Peregrine were seen over Rempstone and a flock of c200 Lapwing were continuously unsettled over Swineham. Elsewhere a Great Northern Diver was again close into the shoreline along the Baiter cycle path and 3 Goldeneye were in Parkstone Bay. There was a slight increase in Marsh Harriers present with 5 seen in the west of the harbour along with 2 Hen Harrier around Swineham/Keysworth and the Short-eared Owl was being pretty elusive again, showing briefly at dawn. Along Holme Lane, 10 Cattle Egret were still present with 12 Little Egret.

Great Northern Diver – Baiter Beach – Ian Ballam