A few people seemed to be out for pre-Christmas birding walks today with a good variety reported to us, starting at Lytchett Fields where the Lesser Yellowlegs and Green-winged Teal were both present. At Holme Lane, the Cattle Egret was in the next cattle field along from its usual field, where 6 Woodlark, 2 Firecrest and c40 Redwing were present. Up on Slepe Heath a Merlin was perched on a dead tree stump and 3 Marsh Harrier were out hunting over Arne Moors. From Middlebere another 3 Marsh Harrier were lazily bouncing in the wind and c400 Avocet followed up the tide in the late afternoon. At Arne, 21 Spoonbill were on Shipstal Point and there were apparently 2 Eider in Lytchett Bay too, which would be a site ‘tick’. The 6 Poole Park Goldeneye were also still showing off all day.

Goldeneye – Poole Park – Ian Ballam