It would be nice to think that 2025 will be a bit sunnier than the latter part of 2024 has been, with yet another overcast, dull, murky day. Still, the variety in and around Studland warrants the effort heading out with all the recent usuals still about including 4 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-throated Diver, 31 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Eider, 1 Long-tailed Duck and 34 Red-breasted Merganser off Jerry’s Point. A Spotted Redshank was in Lytchett Bay again along with a Common Sandpiper, and there was a good count of 21 Knot in Holes Bay in amongst the close to 2000 Wigeon. The 2 Black-throated Diver were still off Baiter/Whitecliff, 8 Spoonbill were at Shipstal and 2 Black-necked Grebe were off Middle Beach, Studland. Finally, 8 Cattle Egret were on floods between Holmebrige and Wareham.