Over night a strong wind had built and heavy rain set in mid morning but it soon cleared. Its always worth checking favored sheltering spots when weather turns iffy and on Poole Park boating lake 6 Goldeneye were settled out in the middle with 13 Little Grebe, 11 Tufted Duck and 2 Sandwich Tern hunkering down. Off Baiter a single Great Northern Diver was feeding and 2 Sandwich Tern were hunting in Fisherman’s dock. At Lytchett Bay the Hawfinch was still using the trees around the new French’s Farm SANG and another flew over Stoborough. mid-afternoon. On Brownsea the Stilt Sandpiper was still present, having a ‘to-do’ with Redshank, also present were 39 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Knot, 1 Whimbrel, 10 Spotted Redshank, 15 Greenshank, 3 Spoonbill, 2 Sandwich Tern and 6 Crossbill were in the woods around the Villa. In Middlebere 1-2 Marsh Harrier were playing in the wind and Merlin were on Hartland Moor, Slepe Heath and at Shipstal. At North Haven 11 Sanderling were roosting on the groynes with 10 Ringed Plover and 12 Dunlin. In Holes Bay NE Avocet were feeding really close to the cycle path again along with Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Redshank, Curlew, Teal and Wigeon.

Male Goldeneye – Poole Park boating lake – Ian Ballam

Female Goldeneye – Poole Park boating lake – Ian Ballam

Avocet – Holes Bay NE – Ian Ballam