It was a bellowing SSE wind this morning which made it slightly milder compared to earlier in the week, but still pretty uncomfortable birding conditions out around the harbour. Both White-tailed Eagles were around at dawn, but thanks to a data update from the Roy Dennis Wildlife foundation, they were able to inform us that the 4th cal year individual, G318 left the harbour mid-morning, but the 2nd cal year G801 was still around at 11am and was seen out towards Keysworth. There were also 3-4 Marsh Harrier around still, plus a Peregrine was near the mouth of the Piddle, a Merlin was on Hartland and a ringtail Hen Harrier was near Middlebere. Out in central harbour the Velvet Scoter was still present as were 2 Black-necked Grebe off the western end of Brownsea. At Swineham 2 Egyptian Geese were with a handful of Black-tailed Godwit on the scrapes and there were still good numbers of birds on the Brownsea Lagoon including the first 2 returning Sandwich Tern of the spring, along with c250 Avocet, 6 Greenshank, c40 Bar-tailed Godwit, c300 Black-tailed Godwit and c20 Grey Plover. The 3 Tundra Bean Geese were at Swineham again in the main paddock to the west of the B&B (view only from the footpath) and there were still 7 Spoonbill on Shipstal Point. The first Dorset Wheatear of the spring turned up today too, at Durlston CP, and with the winds due to ease next week, but continuing to arrive from a SE direction, more spring migrants will no doubt be on their way.

Curlew – Holes Bay – Martin Adams

Our early spring warm spell still hasn’t materialised yet with a biting cold NNE wind this AM. However, all that was forgotten about when out of nowhere 2 White-tailed Eagles appeared over Fleetsbridge, Poole, slowly drifting south before later being found in the Wareham Channel where they both hung out together for the rest of the afternoon on the edge of the channel. This is a welcome arrival since the sad disappearance/death of the frequent male G461 that had been visiting the harbour on a regular basis since Sept 2021. It’s no surprise the eagles keep getting drawn to the harbour, it’s just so blimmin perfect for them, with plenty of geese, wildfowl and gulls to feed on, not to mention the masses of mullet that will be present in a few weeks time. According to The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, it’s very common for the young eagles to begin moving around this time of year, with March and April seeing them move from over-wintering feeding sites, seeking out new areas and learning the landscape once more. The landscape here in the harbour is just perfect, so lets hope these new arrivals like what they see and hang around for a while longer. Tim Mackrill has kindly informed us that one of them is a 2021 released female known as G801, but they still haven’t had data through yet for the second individual. Elsewhere the 3 Tundra Bean Geese were still at Swineham in the main paddock next to the B&B, and in the Lower Frome Valley at Bog Lane, all three egret species were present with 1 Great White Egret on the floods and 1 Cattle Egret on the opposite side of the valley which was possibly the same that headed over Swineham later in the evening. This morning 2 Spoonbill also flew over Swineham. At the Lytchett Bay feeding station along Slough Lane 3 Brambling were on the feeders and in Brands Bay there were 2 summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe off Jerry’s Point.

White-tailed Eagles out over the harbour – Mark Wright 

Lots going on today, with more signs of winter than spring in evidence, but still enjoyable all the same. The cold NW wind was biting at times but a stunning Velvet Scoter in central harbour was a great find from our public bird boat mid-morning. With no records since early January, this must surely be a staging migrant heading north, utilising the harbour as a permanent feeding station. There was also a lone Barnacle Goose logged coming in from the south, circling Brownsea before landing on the lagoon at midday. Also logged from the boat were 3-4 Marsh Harrier at Swineham, 2-3 Common Guillemot off Poole Quay, decent numbers Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Teal and Gadwall on the Swineham scrapes, the Brownsea Lagoon was still busy hosting 8 Greenshank, c250 Avocet, c50 Bar-tailed Godwit, 100 Oystercatcher, c350 Black-tailed Godwit and 40 Grey Plover. Also at Swineham the 3 Tundra Bean Geese were still in the paddock to the west of the B&B and a Siberian Chiffchaff was present at the eastern end of the pit. At the PCW Drain 4 Common Chiffchaff were singing and strangest of all, a Kingfisher was flying around Fleetsbridge roundabout, perhaps a migrant beginning to head back in land to it’s breeding site?

Velvet Scoter – Cental harbour – Mike Gibbons

Spring is in the air with singing Chiffchaff reported at several sites across the harbour, including PC World Drain, Brownsea Island and Bog Lane. At Holes Bay, 2 Avocet are still present, as well as high numbers of Wigeon and Teal, 400+ Black-tailed Godwit, c.50 Redshank, 43 Shoveler, 19 Pintail, 3 Mediterranean Gull, plus 8 Snipe visible on the high tide. 3 Spotted Redshank were reported in the Middlebere Channel. At Lytchett Fields this morning, 2 Brambling were sighted (1 male, 1 female), as well as 70 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Curlew. Brands Bay still had c130 Pintail, 14 Red-breasted Merganser, c150 Wigeon, c500 Black-tailed Godwit and 8 Knot. There were 3 Spotted Redshank in Middlebere,

Now we’re in March, we’re looking ahead to the start of the Osprey season. To kick off the 2022 season, we’re excited to be hosting a free online Osprey Translocation Project Talk on Monday 28th March. Led by our project team Brittany and Liv, the talk will provide an in-depth understanding of the translocation process and Osprey ecology, as well as discuss our hopes for the future of the project. The talk will start at 7pm and there will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end. Please book a ticket to join us, as we will send out a link to the talk via email shortly before the event. The talk is free to watch, but donations are welcomed! Tickets can be booked here.

Redshank – Holes Bay – Martin Adams

A grey, drizzle filled morning with dank fog wasn’t the spring like start we’d been hoping for. We could all do with a nice, prolonged, early march warm spell, just to get things going a bit. The 3 Tundra Bean Geese were still in the Swineham Paddocks and a Barn Owl was out hunting over the Bestwall Floods. Firecrest are really vocal currently, with some in full song at some sites, but whether it’s numerous over-wintering birds ‘warming up’ before migrating back to traditional breeding grounds, or whether we’re seeing yet another increase this season, we’ll have to wait and see, but they’re always a joy to see and hear, and a welcome addition to dawn choruses around the harbour. The male Brambling was at Lytchett Fields feeders again and the lone Cattle Egret was again viewable from the bottom of Bog Lane, out on the opposite side of the Wareham Channel. At Holton Lee there was a female type Marsh Harrier, with now only around 6 in total left in the harbour. A single Lesser Redpoll was on the edge of Hartland Moor.

Female Reed Bunting – Lytchett Fields – Mark Wright

Male Brambling – Lytchett Fields – Mark Wright

And just like that it’s March! Spring is certainly on its way, despite the mizzly weather today. A mid-morning count at Studland included the Pale-bellied Brent Goose that was reported a few days ago, as 95 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 70 Teal, 43 Wigeon, 54 Pintail, 9 Shoveler, 132 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Mediterranean Gull and c.40 Common Gull. The 3 Tundra Bean Geese were still present at Swineham today, visible in the same paddock field. From the RSPB Arne Lookout, a nice selection of Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Teal, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Red-breasted Merganser, Great Crested Grebe and Brent Geese were all seen on the falling tide. At Lytchett Fields, numbers of Mediterranean Gull have picked up, as well as 3 male Brambling being reported.

Great Crested Grebe – Central Harbour – Derek Morgan

Pintail – Central Harbour – Derek Morgan

Brent Geese with distant Shelduck – from Arne Lookout – Alison  Copland

Well, thats February over and done with. A soggy end, but a step closer to a warmer, spring time period of new arrivals and new birds. We saw out February with a low-tide cruise this afternoon and with the water 15cm lower than it should have been, then a short time aground seemed inevitable. However, despite what seemed like fewer birds during WeBS yesterday, there certainly still seemed to be reasonable numbers of Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit dark-bellied Brent Geese, Wigeon and Teal. Avocet were definitely down on numbers with only 2 in the Wareham Channel and c300 on the Brownsea Lagoon. Red-breasted Merganser were still in triple figures with c120 seen and Great Crested Grebe suddenly seemed a bit more numerous again having been quite sparse this winter. There were 3 Guillemot off Poole Quay/Port and Med Gulls were gathering in small numbers on the Brownsea Lagoon. At Lytchett Bay 3 Brambling are now using the feeders at the end of Slough Lane and at Swineham the 3 Tundra Bean Geese were still in the paddocks next to the B&B (view only from public footpath).

Tundra Bean Goose – Swineham – Peter Moore