Freezing but stunning conditions on this morning’s Winter Safari Cruise delivered highlights of a close flyby from Peregrine hunting a Kingfisher as we departed the Quay, 1 Goshawk over the Heronry at Arne, 2 distant White-tailed Eagle over Rempstone, 3 Common Scoter passing through the Central Harbour, 1 Slavonian Grebe with 3 Black-necked Grebe in breeding plumage off Bramble Bush Bay, and whilst the rest of us were peering into Brownsea Lagoon, a lucky few spotted 8 Eider passing in the direction of the harbour mouth. Elsewhere at Lytchett Fields, the Linnet flock in the Arable Field hit a record count of 475, and a Red Kite was seen over Rock Lea View – not the only local Kite sighting today, with a Black Kite over the farm fields at Winterbourne Kingston. 

Eider – Poole Harbour – Clare Slade