Sightings31/10/2021

Harbour Update – posted 31/10/21

A male Hen Harrier seen in the Middlebere Channel around 2:30pm, where a Ringtail individual was also present a couple of hours later. A group of 9 Spoonbill were feeding on the high tide, including one colour ringed individual trying to swallow a whole Dab! Feedback today from the Dutch group Werkgroep lepelaar identified another (or perhaps the same) ringed individual ‘NB97’ seen two days ago on Brownsea Lagoon as a juvenile ringed on 5th August this year at Vlieland. Now is also the perfect time to keep an eye out for other colour ringed species such as Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit as they move in from other populations for the winter!

Also present at Middlebere this afternoon were Marsh Harrier, Great White Egret, 1 Knot, 1 Ruff, 5 Spotted Redshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Avocet, 10 Oystercatcher, 20 Grey Plover, 30 Dunlin, along with a few each of Pintail, Gadwall and Wigeon in amongst approximately 300 Teal.

Swineham was decidedly more quiet this morning, with the only waders being 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Curlew and 6 Lapwing. The usual group of Greylag and Canada Geese had meanwhile moved across to Arne Moors. The Gravel Pit was also largely cleared out, with the number of Great Crested Grebe down to a single individual.

On the northern side of the harbour, 201 Oystercatcher were sheltered along the shore at Baiter Park and a female type Red-Breasted Merganser took refuge in Poole Park. Holes Bay held 2 Avocet, 3 Dunlin, and 1 Shelduck in amongst several hundred Black-tailed Godwit and Wigeon. The female Peregrine was also present on the Asda building.

Not to much to report from Lytchett Bay with the water levels exceptionally high, however the Whinchat was still present in the arable field. There have been no reports of the Hoopoe anywhere around Lytchett Bay, Hamworthy or Upton today, so perhaps it has finally moved on or is merely sheltering from storm in a nearby garden… Time and better conditions in the coming days will surely tell.

Juvenile Dutch Spoonbill ‘NB97’ (29/10/21) – Brownsea Lagoon – Martin Adams 

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