With yesterdays dire weather passing over night, we were welcomed with bright sunshine today and glorious weather which combined with a big spring tide and full moon was perfect for our last ‘winter’ low-tide cruise and a Bittern watch at Swineham this evening. The latter activity was well worth while with 2 Bittern lifting from the far western end of the pits, circling over the main pit for several minutes at 18:50, calling plenty before then heading off NE into the night. Never fear though, a couple of other Bittern calls were logged from ground level meaning that if they haven’t left tonight then there’s more chances over the coming evenings to hopefully see some more leave. The tide today for the low-tide cruise was exceptionally low and produced a whole range of species including the long(ish) staying Velvet Scoter off Brownsea north shore, 2 Guillemot, c400 dark-bellied Brent Geese, c30 Red-breasted Merganser, plenty of Curlew, Oystercatcher and Black-tailed Godwit. There was a flock of c40 Great Crested Grebe which flew off together giving an unusual and infrequent viewing experience, and we wouldn’t want to try and accurately estimate the number of gulls that were present across the whole harbour but there were tens of thousands in total including good numbers of Mediterranean Gulls. The Brownsea Lagoon still had c150 Avocet and a few Shoveler. It was stunning to see several groups of Wigeon lift out of the Wareham Channel, climbing high to the NE into an inky blue sky, probably leaving us for good, until next winter! Elsewhere a Red Kite drifted over Lytchett Bay this morning, there was a Wheatear on Hartland and there was still a single Slavonian Grebe off Middle Beach. There were 7 Spoonbill on Shipstal and the female White-tailed Eagle, G801 was still in the Wareham Channel area. A Cattle Egret passed over Wareham, heading east and the Siberian Chiffchaff was still at the eastern end of the main pit at Swineham. Marsh Tit were logged in the Piddle Valley and Norden and there was a Great White Egret on Slepe Moor. Finally, there were 5 Sandwich Tern on the Brownsea Lagoon, 2 of which were in full display mode, ‘dancing’ with one another.

Great Crested Grebe – Wareham Channel – Derek Morgan

Velvet Scoter – Central Harbour – Alison Copland

Bittern departing Swineham – Steve Smith

Yesterdays arrival of second White-tailed Eagle, G318 saw her and the 2nd cal year female G801 spend the day together out towards Keysworth where they spent the morning flying around occasionally and settling in small Silver birch trees. The eagles were often harassed by up to 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 of which were also causing mayhem over the gull islands all morning which was interesting behaviour to observe. A Sand Martin was also over the Wareham Channel and there were a minimum of c30 Great Crested Grebe rafting together out there too. There was another Wheatear this afternoon, this time at Greenlands Farm, and the Velvet Scoter was off Shipstal Point again out in central harbour. Both the Poole male and female Peregrines were on the Asda tower block. Summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwit are passing through now and appearing with some of our duller over-wintering individuals, with c200 in Holes Bay along with the over-wintering Common Sandpiper.

Black-tailed Godwit – Holes Bay – Martin Adams

There were more firsts today with the harbours first Wheatear of the spring in fields around Sunnyside Farm. Plus, the first UK Ospreys were logged today at different sites including Rutland, Hertfordshire and the Loch of the Lowes in Scotland. Although we don’t expect to see some of our Ospreys back until later in March or early April, the first Poole Harbour passage migrant could be any day now, with last years 1st occurring on March 23rd. Female White-tailed Eagle G801 was once again active around the Wareham Channel and viewed from Slepe Heath. At Swineham, an evening vigil for Bittern resulted in a negative count however a roosting Cattle Egret in scrub along the south edge was good to find and could well be the individual that was in a field up near Purbeck school this morning, plus 2 Sand Martin were hawking over, 2 Marsh Harrier were off Swineham Point and 2 redhead Goosander flew over, heading NW. The Black Brant was off Ower again and 2 Red Kite were over Wareham during the morning. At the mouth of the Middlebere Channel, 5 Spoonbill were feeding and the Velvet Scoter was still off out in central harbour. There were 5 summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe off Jerry’s Point yesterday evening.

Spoonbill – Middlebere Channel – Alison Copland

Despite the chilly wind, it was at least a SSW/E wind meaning some new Sand Martin were deposited with 2 at Swineham GP along with a migrant Red Kite over there too. Up to 5 Marsh Harrier were still in the west harbour area and female White-tailed Eagle G801 was active in the Wareham Channel being seen over Swineham, Keysworth and even from Lytchett Fields mid-morning. A Great White Egret was at Middlebere and the Velvet Scoter was still out in central harbour. The Black Brant was still off Ower and 3 Egyptian Geese moved down the Piddle Valley. There also seemed to be some sort of Starling migration going on with multiple groups of 20+ heading NE throughout the morning. In Holes Bay NE the Common Sandpiper was seen again, the first time in a while and there were still 27 Pintail and c300 Wigeon present. The 3 Tundra Bean Geese were still in the paddock at Swineham and the Siberian Chiffchaff was seen again at the end of the main pit. Chiffchaff were in full voice at multiple sites across the harbour, suggesting the first arrivals had made their way back and a Brambling was still on the feeders along Slough Lane and Lytchett Bay.

Red Kite over Swineham – Alison Copland

Despite the lashing rain for most of the day, there was a highlight! Off Branksome 2 Black-throated Diver headed west towards Poole Harbour mouth and 17 Shoveler also passed (good Branksome record) along with 10 Common Scoter plus a pale phase Fulmar. The young female White-tailed Eagle, G801 was active this afternoon once the sun had come out and was in the mouth of the River Piddle and 2 Marsh Harrier were showing courting behaviour in Poole Harbour west which is really encouraging. With a decent flurry of Wheatear, Sand Martin and Little Ringed Plover having already arrived into the UK, why not try and get your weekend off to a spring-filled start and see if you can log any ‘spring harbour firsts’ over the next couple of days.

Oystercatcher – Baiter

Another day, and more White-tailed Eagles sightings from several locations, initially with one high over Holton Lee/Lytchett Fields, before later being seen over the Wareham Channel and then over the RSPB Arne car park. Whilst watching the eagle, a Red Kite was seen over Lytchett Bay and 4 Marsh Harrier were still around the Wareham Channel area. There was a White Wagtail at Norden sewage works a couple of days ago and a Brambling was still on the Lytchett Bay feeders along Slough Lane. There was a single Spotted Redshank at Lytchett Fields with 3 Green Sandpiper there too. A Merlin was on Hartland. The 3 Tundra Bean Geese were still at Swineham in the paddock and a Arne 7 Spoonbill were on Shipstal.

White-tailed Eagle over Holton Lee

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