A foggy start to the morning which lifted this afternoon, but we had a good number of sightings from across the harbour. 5 Great Northern Diver were reported between Jerry’s Point, Furzy and Green Island this morning, with also 2 Long-tailed Ducks and 2 Black-necked Grebes. Less commonly reported, there was a further Great Northern Diver in Holes Bay this morning.

An extensive count of the Middlebere Channel on the turning tide produced c.750 Avocet, c.350 Lapwing, 320 Wigeon, 106 Teal, 90 Black-tailed Godwit, 82 Shelduck, 49 Redshank, 5 Spotted Redshank, 3 Grey Plover, 19 Curlew, 23 Brent Geese, 27 Dunlin, 3 Shoveler, 3 Little Egret, a Common Snipe and a Peregrine. Over on Swineham Gravel Pit, 4 Pochard were reported, as well as a single Marsh Harrier and 6 Fieldfare over Swineham Point. Black Redstart continue to b reported, with one sighting this morning in St Mary’s graveyard in Wareham. A nice sighting of a Merlin was also reported at Holton Lee, which is currently closed to visitors, but the Merlin was photographed by a member of staff.

Merlin – Holton Lee – Tony Furnell