February’s almost over, and would be pretty much if it wasn’t a leap year, meaning we’ve got one more day to go until spring officially arrives. This morning actually felt quite pleasant and flat calm waters right around the harbour (and beyond) allowed for a decent scan out across Poole Bay which saw 10 Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 8 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Razorbill, 1 Fulmar, 1 Common Scoter and 1 Gannet all out in the bay. There was another Black-throated Diver out in the centre of the harbour viewed from Shipstal where there were also 8 Spoonbill. A female Merlin zipped across Studland Bay and entered the harbour through the harbour mouth. There were 2 Spotted Redshank in Middlebere with a ringtail Hen Harrier. There was also a sighting of several large flocks of Brent Geese heading off high NE over the harbour entrance into the murk this evening. These could be either be local over-wintering birds heading off out into/towards Poole Bay/Christchurch Harbour to roost, or could even be some of our over-wintering birds departing?

Ringtail Hen Harrier – Middlebere Channel – John Thorpe