There was an interesting discovery of two male Common Scoter in Holes Bay, close into the footpath in the southern section of the bay. Although they’re regular out in central harbour and Studland bay each winter I can’t think of any previous records from Holes Bay. Normally an occurrence like this is down to adverse weather conditions and birds wanting to take refuge but we can’t really say there has been much adverse weather so maybe they just fancied a change of scenery? At RSPB Lytchett Fields the Ruff was still present along with 2 Greenshank, 18 Dunlin, 67 Lapwing, 35 Redshank, lots of Snipe and Teal and a good number of Rock Pipit are beginning to appear. There were 3 Marsh Harrier out in the Wareham Channel mid afternoon and a Peregrine passed over Slepe Heath. Brownsea hosted 21 Spoonbill and 6 Red-breasted Merganser were off the sea wall. A few more Brent Geese are now arriving with a conservative estimate of 300 in the harbour. 

Two male Common Scoter in Holes Bay south – Paul White