Wow….a proper chilly one today. So cold it saw a minor cold weather movement of Golden Plover arrive to areas NW of the harbour, including 9 at Wild Woodbury, 2 over Morden Bog and a flock of 25+ north of Morden. Could we see a few enter harbour airspace tomorrow? Many areas were frozen and a very cold looking Cattle Egret was hunkered down on Lytchett Fields where there was also a Spotted Redshank and Spoonbill in the bay. Off Middle Beach, Studland there were 10 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Great Northern Diver and there was a Black-necked Grebe off Jerry’s Point. Off Baiter 2 Sandwich Tern were actively hunting, and there was a Goldeneye off the beach. White-tailed Eagle G801 was still hanging around the Wareham Channel and 4 Marsh Harrier were in and around Swineham.

Cattle Egret – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Wow, what a change in temperature! Some woke up to snow this morning whilst others woke up to incredible flooding around the Wareham River valley’s which looks to be some of the highest flood waters we’ve seen in many years! Things are set to get colder too over the coming days, so we can’t get too carried away with thoughts of spring just yet.

Without doubt, todays highlight was 2 stunning Common Crane which flew over Middlebere around lunchtime, heading south and were then seen again later heading north over Wareham. They powered on through sadly, so we don’t know if they dropped down in the harbour or continued south. They could well reappear over the next few days. Also at Middlebere, White-tailed Eagle G801 put in an appearance where there were also 2 Marsh Harrier and a Spotted Redshank. A Red Kite passed Rock Lea viewpoint at Lytchett Bay and there were also 6 Spoonbill feeding off Otter Island in Lytchett Bay. At the PCW Drain a Siberian Chiffchaff was with 6+ Common Chiffchaff. A harbour entrance watch this AM was really productive with a good count of divers 7 flying in singly, with 6 Great Northern Diver and a Black-throated Diver. Plus, the regular 2 Great Northern Diver remained off Pilots Point, so a minimum 8 Great Northern Diver in total. Otherwise a party of 4 Egyptian Geese entered the harbour over Studland NR and 77 Shag, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Great Crested Grebe and an auk species all flew in just after sunrise.

Spoonbill – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam

Plenty of winter species to see out there today with 2 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Great Northern Diver and 1 male Common Scoter from Knoll beach, Studland plus 1 Slavonian Grebe further along at Middle Beach. One ringtail Hen Harrier was seen once again at Middlebere, and another from Rock Lea View in Lytchett Bay, along with 1 Marsh Harrier. The highlight from Holes Bay was Black Redstart, where there were also over 1000 Black-tailed Godwit, 200+ Avocet, 200+ Dunlin, 1 Lapwing, 24 Snipe & 1 Grey Plover. This morning 5 Hen Harrier were seen departing the harbour and female White-tailed Eagle G801 was still in the Wareham Channel.

Bullfinch – Mark Wright

We rearranged the timings of our third and final Year-list Kick-starter Cruise to avoid the howling weather experienced this morning, but once the foul weather passed through the birding was phenomenal! Brownsea Lagoon was rammed, 2,500 Black-tailed Godwit were accompanied by 150 Avocet, Sanderling, 3 Greenshank, Teal, Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler and a carpet of Dunlin. As we departed the lagoon, a Peregrine was picked up over Sandbanks, no doubt making its way over to chase down the the high tide roost on Brownsea. Great Northern Diver were thinly spread throughout the trip, with 5 individuals logged across the Central Harbour and southern shorelines. Flybys of Common and Velvet Scoter were delightful around back of the islands, with 4 obliging Eider, Goldeneye, 1 Black-necked Grebe and several Grey Seal logged also adding interest. Ower Bay featured animated winter scenes involving a cast of hundreds of Dark-bellied Brent Geese, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Teal, Wigeon and Pintail when flushed by a passing Marsh Harrier. A visit to Shipstal and Middlebere enjoyed 14 Spoonbill and the first of more eagle action to come! Another highlight from a trip full of highs involved White-tailed Eagle G801. After watching her around Goldpoint, Arne, she was observed actively hunting a Canada Goose in the Wareham Channel – this is the first time this active hunting behaviour has been observed in the harbour!

Elsewhere across the harbour, 4 Hen Harrier in the harbour, logged across the Purbeck heaths and an actively hunting Goshawk over the Wareham Channel chasing down Avocet and Herring Gull before an altercation with a Marsh Harrier and finally landing a Lapwing. A Sanderling and Purple Sandpiper were logged along the Sandbanks groynes, with 4 Grea Northern Diver in Shell Bay, with another entering the harbour and another in Bramble bush bay. Two Common Scoter were logged of off Pilot’s Point and a further 3 Black-necked Grebes from Middle Beach. To round it off, a drake Goldeneye remains at Poole Park.

Common Scoter – from BoPH Cruise yesterday – Mark Wright

Eider – from BoPH cruise yesterday – Mark Wright

Firstly, tomorrow we have our final ‘Year List Kick Starter’ boat heading out during the afternoon. It was originally planned for tomorrow morning, but due to the torrid forecast we’ve re-scheduled until the afternoon, 1pm – 4pm where the forecast is much better. There are still places available, and if this mornings is anything to go by, then it could be another cracker. Here is this mornings FULL eBIRD CHECKLIST for our cruise. To book onto tomorrow afternoons you can do so by CLICKING HERE.

Highlights from todays trip included stunning views of female White-tailed Eagle G801 as she circled close to the boat. A ringtail Hen Harrier passed high over the Keysworth shoreline and 3 Marsh Harrier were interacting around the Swineham area. A Peregrine dashed across in front of the boat at the end of the trip and a few Buzzard soared against crisp blue sky’s. We got great views of 17 Spoonbill which were unusually roosting in the mouth of Middlebere, with another 5 on Shipstal Point. Open water species also put on a show with 4 Great Northern Diver, 1 Velvet Scoter, 1 Common Scoter, 5 Eider Duck, 120 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Goldeneye, 60 Great Crested Grebe and 1 Black-necked Grebe. The Brownsea Lagoon was stuffed with birds including c2000 Black-tailed Godwit, 60 Bar-tailed Godwit, c800 Avocet, 80 Oystercatcher and smaller numbers of Greenshank, Turnstone, Dunlin and Grey Plover. Roughly c400 dark-bellied Brent Geese were feeding along the southern shores. Other highlights from elsewhere around the harbour included a ringtail Hen Harrier at Lytchett Bay with 2 Spoonbill there too. A flock of 8 Mandarin Duck flew down the Piddle Valley towards the weir and this morning 6 Marsh Harrier and 3 hen Harrier were seen leaving the harbour to go and hunt and in Upton CP 2 Firecrest were in the centre of the park. At Holes Bay, totals included 90 Dunlin, 272 Black-tailed Godwit, 187 Avocet, 92 Redshank and 50 Curlew. In the PCW Drain 20+ Chiffchaff were enjoying the sun with another Firecrest. 

Female White-tailed Eagle G801 – Wareham Channel – Mark Wright (@markwright12002)

Spoonbills – Middlebere Channel – Alison Copland

A stunning start to the day this morning, with a record of 5 Hen Harrier escorting a White-tailed Eagle high south over the Wareham Channel. A scan of Holes Bay included 350+ Black-tailed Godwit, 200+ Dunlin, 120 Avocet, 75 Redshank, 18 Brent Geese, 1 Snipe and 1 Spotted Redshank. Numbers of Black-tailed Godwit on Brownsea Lagoon remain high with a count of 3277 present this morning. 1 Marsh Harrier was seen from Rock Lea Viewpoint over Lytchett Bay. Signs of spring continued with a singing Woodlark was heard this morning along Holme Lane. The Spoonbill count at Shipstal Point remained at 22 individuals.

Holes Bay – Martin Adams

This weather is getting a bit boring. The strong winds must have blown some decent birds in, if only it would let up for long enough for anyone to go and check! Thankfully the sun comes out on Friday which is when our next ‘Year List Kick-Starter’ bird boat is, so we should be able to find out soon. To join us on these exciting new cruises you can BOOK HERE. 

The good news is that there were 3 White-tailed Eagles in the harbour again today with the welcome return of G801 who was the female that spent most of the summer and autumn in the harbour, before being booted out by the older G466 in early November. However, G466 left last week and somehow, G801 (who’s been further north) must have known and arrived back mid-morning. Let’s hope she has another long staying period in the harbour and this time finds a mate! One of them (we’re not sure which yet) flew over Brownsea late afternoon, and we can’t wait for the day one appears on the new Brownsea Lagoon webcams. The only other highlights today were a Slavonian Grebe again off Middle Beach and a large haul of dark-bellied Brent Geese in Middlebere. Brent Geese have stayed well away from Middlebere this winter for some reason, so it was good to see such a large flock settle along the channel mid-morning. The PCW drain still has plenty of Chiffchaff and there was a Firecrest at the northern end.

Common Chiffchaff – PCW Drain (Fleets Corner) – Ian Ballam

A few new species for the harbour year list popped up today with a Black-throated Diver in Shell Bay with 2 Great Northern Diver and a Brambling was in a small Chaffinch flock at the Lytchett Bay feeders. A Slavonian Grebe was off Middle Beach with 6 Black-necked Grebe. A White-tailed Eagle flew over Lytchett Bay heading towards the Wareham Channel and a ringtail Hen Harrier was in Middlebere this afternoon. At Norden sewage works, a Siberian Chiffchaff was feeding wirh several Common Chiffchaff.

Reed Bunting and Greenfinch – Rock Lea view feeders, Lytchett Bay

At South Haven, Studland this morning 82 Shag entered through the harbour mouth, joining the 10 Great Northern Diver (5 flying in together), 8 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Great Crested Grebe present, alongside 54 Brent Geese and a flock of 28 Grey Plover. Just round the corner in Brands Bay on the evening low tide there were 200+ Dunlin, 23 Grey Plover, 15 Curlew, 82 Lapwing, 3 Black-Tailed Godwit, 1 Little Egret, 20 Brent Geese, 80+ Wigeon, 30+ Teal, 5 Pintail and 3 Black-necked Grebe with 30+ Red-breasted Merganser and 12 Great Crested Grebe in the channel beyond. Over at Lytchett Fields, 2 Skylark were visible in the in Arable Field despite the rain, and 2 Spotted Redshank were present on the Pools Field. This afternoon, they were joined by 20 Dunlin, 61 Redshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit & 1 Firecrest in the holly nearby, along with 1 Marsh Harrier seen from the Rock Lea viewpoint. Further inland a flock of 40 Fieldfare was reported at Canford, and a male Goosander was seen on Hatch Pond. A single Cattle Egret was also present once again on Wareham Common.

Spotted Redshank – Lytchett Bay – Paul Morton