Absolute belter of a cruise this afternoon – our first trip of the year focussed on those 2023 year lists and it didn’t disappoint! Before we’d even set off Kingfisher and Turnstone had made it onto the species list, quickly followed up with Great Northern Diver, Grey Seal and an impressive range of wetland species on Brownsea Lagoon – with highlights including 150 Avocet, 2 Grey Plover, 30 Bar-tailed Godwit and 1500 Black-tailed Godwit. As we continuing around the back of the islands we quickly encountered more Great Northern Divers (finishing on 10 in total), 3 Eider, 1 Common Scoter, 4 Black-necked Grebe, a smart male Goldeneye, 3 Spoonbill and near constant views of Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebe. After scouring the southern shorelines we set off west for the Wareham Channel where we picked up 5 Marsh Harrier and 3 Little Grebe, nearly making it to Swineham Gravel Pit to add some additional duck species before a stonking adult male Hen Harrier stole the show and diverted our attention, tracking the bird for a prolonged period over Gigger’s Island and Arne Moors – magic! The return journey offered nice views of a small group of the 1500 or so Dark-belled Brent Geese logged from the trip and an additional 5 Spoonbill feeding in the channel. A stunning trip with Poole Harbour at it’s best!

Elsewhere, a Ruff occupied Lytchett Fields, feeding with the Common Redshank and an hour’s watch from the new Rock Lea Watch Point, Lytchett Bay produced 2 Spotted Redshank from the screen along with 2 Firecrest, also 2 Marsh Harrier, 50 Linnet, 1 Shoveler, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, Avocets and Little Grebes. While the neightbouring Holes Bay clocked up 712 Wigeon, 154 Shoveler, c50 Teal & 21 Pintail in the NW sector. An early start enjoyed a single Red-throated Diver arrive into harbour, headed in Brands Bay direction.

Keen to get your year list off to a flying start, or just want to enjoy Poole Harbour at its wintery peak? There’s still spaces on our new Year-list Kick-starter Cruises. Our next trips are running next week and more details about our full schedule can be found here.

Spotted Redshanks – Rock Lea viewing screen 

Curlew – Sandbanks – @00MrWilson00

The harbour started off like a mill pond this morning which allowed for some decent open water viewing from various view points. From Jerry’s Point there were 3 Great Northern Diver, 6 Black-necked Grebe, 3 Goldeneye, 1 Common Scoter and a surprise 1st year Kittiwake.The lone Purple Sandpiper was on one the the Haven Hotel groyne’s, 1 Slavonian Grebe was also off Jerry’s Point later in the day and off Middle Beach, Studland 7 Black-necked Grebe were feeding. In Middlebere 2 Hen Harrier dashed through and at the PCW Drain the January big increase of Chiffchaff seems to be building with c30 feeding along the channel along with 2 Firecrest. Off Baiter there were also 3 Great Northern Diver and out in Poole Bay 2 Red-throated Diver headed west. Finally, there were 2 different White-tailed Eagles seen today with 1 in Lytchett Bay near Otter Island and 1 in the Wareham Channel.

Kingfisher – Swineham 

It was very mild again today, and despite only being early January there were plenty of signs that spring is just around the corner. Daffodil heads are just begging to pop their heads above ground in some warm sheltered spots, a Mistle Thrush is is back on territory already in the Piddle Valley and a pair of Kestrel have been seen going into one of our harbour nest boxes. All good stuff! There were also signs of some Poole Bay passage when a flock of 11 Red-throated Diver settled off Middle Beach briefly before heading back out to sea again where there were also 6 Black-necked Grebe and 6 Common Scoter. There was also a Black-necked Grebe in Shell Bay with a Great Northern Diver. Off Jerry’s Point the Velvet Scoter was still feeding and there with 20+ Red-breasted Merganser. A White-tailed Eagle drifted over Arne and headed towards Brands Bay with another or the same seen at Lytchett Fields where there was also a Spotted Redshank. Brownsea Lagoon saw some cracking totals with 1112 Avocet and 3150 Black-tailed Godwit. A Red-throated Diver was off the Brownsea south shore and later in the afternoon 2 Great Northern Diver were in the harbour mouth.

A busy Brownsea Lagoon – Nicki Tutton

It felt as though there was a touch of spring in the air today, with a Mistle Thrush singing in the lower Piddle Valley this morning. A good record of a 1st Winter Kittiwake in Lytchett Bay was one of the highlights of today’s sightings, as well as 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 3 Mediterranean Gull and a raft of 62 Common Gull. Decent diver numbers around the harbour today, with 1 Great Northern Diver in the central harbour seen off Shipstal, another 4 reported from Jerry’s Point and 1 in Studland Bay. Also in Studland Bay, were 4 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Velvet Scoter. A count of 22 Spoonbill were recorded at Shipstal point at Arne this morning.

Kittiwake – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam

Another busy day today with a concerted effort by some of our team to try and log as many species as possible in one day. Add that to the great list other folk managed to compile on this gorgeous bank holiday and the harbour really proved its self as a great winter birding destination. The many highlights included the Velvet Scoter off Jerry’s Point along with 1 Slavonian Grebe, 5 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Sandwich Tern. Out in central harbour the 5 Eider were still present along with c15 Goldeneye, 5 Black-necked Grebe, c100 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 Great Northern Diver. In the Wareham Channel a White-tailed Eagle was seen briefly near the mouth of the River Piddle and there were 7+ Marsh Harrier and 1 Hen Harrier around the channel fringes with another (or the same) Hen Harrier seen in Middlebere and later at Lytchett Bay. A Spotted Redshank was also feeding in the mouth of the Frome on the low tide and 11 Spoonbill were feeding off Shipstal Beach down towards the Wytch Channel. Off Ballard this morning 2 Red-throated Diver went east along with 1 Great Northern Diver and good numbers of Razorbill, Guillemot, Gannet and Kittiwake were heading west. An evening grebe roost count saw 13 Black-necked Grebe gather, which although isn’t a massive total, the fact that another 10 were logged within the harbour today highlights we still have a minimum 23 over-wintering in and around the harbour which is a good national total. There was also a Slavonian Grebe and 14 Common Scoter off Middle Beach. On Wareham Common a Cattle Egret was still with the cows and up at Scotland Farm, a pre-dawn scan with our thermal imager on the fields opposite the main entrance highlighted big numbers of Common Snipe (100+) and Lapwing settled in the darkness along with 5+ Woodcock and 2 Jack Snipe. An urban garden in central Poole saw 10+ Blackcap visiting feeders. Other joys from today included several Song Thrush in full song and semi-displaying Dartford Warblers on Slepe Heath. It really quite spring like today and with only 2-3 months left of winter, thoughts of Wheatears, Sand martins and Ospreys now aren’t far away!!

Cattle Egret – Wareham Common – Adam Day

Happy New Year everyone, it seems people were out in force today, kick starting their year lists. Most focus was around the harbour entrance, Studland peninsular area. The Velvet Scoter was in and out of the harbour mouth like a yo-yo but eventually settled off the SE Brownsea shore. From Jerry’s Point there were 2 Slavonian Grebe, 7 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Great Northern Diver and 4 Goldeneye. Off Middle Beach 4 Black-necked Grebe a single Common Scoter. In Middlebere a Merlin was seen briefly, but there were also 5 Spoonbill and 1 Spotted Redshank, along with the usual gathering of Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit and wildfowl with 2 Marsh Harrier passing through. At Lytchett Fields a small flock of 38 Golden Plover that were logged flying over. Off Hamworthy Beach another Great Northern Diver was hunting and 5 Spoonbill were seen out across at Arne. A Brambling was seen at Rempstone and a Goshawk flew over near Corfe Castle. On Poole Park boating lake 3 drake Goldeneye were together and the Barclays Peregrines were up on the favoured balcony. From Shell Bay, Studland, 3 Red-throated Diver flew south and 16 Sanderling were on the beach with 3 Great Northern Diver out on the water.

Goldeneye – Poole Park boating lake 

Last 24 hours to finalise those 2022 year lists and a last push saw a Velvet Scoter in through the harbour mouth first thing, along with 4 Great Northern Diver and 3 Red-throated Diver, 4 Red-breasted Merganser and 60 Grey Plover along Shell Bay. Holes Bay featured 144 Avocet and 200+ Dunlin and Black-tailed Godwit.

Wishing you good birding and a happy New Year from the Birds of Poole Harbour team.

Avocet – Holes Bay – Mark Wright 

The day started off well with the over-wintering Black Brant re-found off the Rempstone shoreline near Newton Bay. Highlights from around Studland included 1 Great Northern Diver at Shell Bay and at Middle & Knoll Beaches there was 1 Great Northern Diver, 6 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Slavonian Grebe and 6 Common Scoter. Off Jerry’s point there were 3 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 3 Great Northern Diver, 2 Goldeneye, 1 Common Scoter and 20+ Red-breasted Merganser. In Brands Bay was 1 Great White Egret, 2 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Common Scoter. Hen Harrier were logged in Lytchett Bay and Middlebere with another Great White Egret also in Middlebere. There were 4 Spotted Redshank in Middlebere with 1 in Holes Bay.

Black Brant – Newton Bay – OTBT Birder (Twitter – @BirderOtbt)