It’s felt very spring-like today with the blue skies and gentle breeze. It’s nice to hear that Red Kite are starting to come through again, with 1 reported over Upton this morning. This could well be the same bird that was also reported over Lytchett Bay, along with 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Buzzard – a great day for raptors. A count in Brands Bay on the rising tide included 399 Teal, 313 Wigeon, 15 Pintail, 4 Shoveler, 2 Avocet, 303 Black-tailed Godwit, 13 Knot, 29 Grey Plover, 300+ Dunlin and 7 Turnstone. At South Haven, 1 Great Northern Diver, 4 Gadwall and 7 Sanderling were reported. Finally, the 3 Tundra Bean Geese were present again in the paddock fields to the west of the main house at Swineham.

The 3 Tundra Bean Geese were back in same field at Swineham this evening. Lytchett Bay featured a Spotted Redshank this morning and a female Marsh Harrier perched on the saltmarsh fringing Lytchett Heath. Shell Bay, Studland offered an overwintering Sandwich Tern and single Black-necked Grebe. Nearby, Pilot’s Point produced a pale-bellied Brent Goose and Greenshank occupied Bramble Bush Bay. The weather held out for our Holes Bay walk, in fact there was largely blue skies throughout! Highlights included Mediterranean Gull, Kingfisher fly-bys Black-tailed Godwit beginning their pre-breeding moult and feeding Avocet close in to the cyclepath.

Tundra Bean Goose – Swineham – Adam Day

Studland was productive this morning, with Brands Bay giving a count of 593 Dunlin, 14 Knot, 340 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Avocet, 255 Wigeon, 181 Pintail, 10 Shoveler, 14 Ringed Plover, 35 Grey Plover, 341 Teal and 10 Turnstone. From Jerry’s Point, 12 Great Crested Grebe and 36 Red-breasted Merganser were reported. Studland Bay was watched from Middle Beach, counting 4 Black-necked Grebe, as well as 3 Slavonian Grebe still. At the Lytchett Fields Feeding Station, 1 female Brambling was seen, making a change from the male that has been seen recently. 1 Purple Sandpiper was reported on one of the groynes at North Haven, just east of the Haven hotel.

Looking ahead to the rest this spring and summer, we’re pleased to be conducting a breeding raptors of Poole Harbour study to assess totals of some of the UK’s most protected bird species. For this survey, sensitivity is absolutely key, so if you are happy to report any display and nesting behaviour, please send us a private message or email us directly at info@birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk. Thank you!

Purple Sandpiper hidden amongst rocks – North Haven – Terry Elborn

Another mixed day, but spring was definitely in the air by mid-afternoon with both the first Brimstone Butterfly and (partially) singing Common Chiffchaff in the Piddle Valley, with pairs of Woodlark also logged at Rempstone. There were still a minimum of 5 Marsh Harrier in Poole Harbour west, and 6 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Slavonian Grebe off Middle Beach.

Water Rail – Poole Park – Peter Moore (21st Feb)

Pale-bellied Brent Goose – Baiter Park – Peter Moore (21st Feb)

Where the hell has February gone? It seemed like only yesterday that we were all celebrating the turn of the New Year and the dark days of January were trudging along, but here we are with just 7 days left of February and the potential of the first Wheatear, Garganey, Sand Martin or Little Ringed Plover in just a weeks time! Not to mention the possible first Osprey in 2-3 weeks time. Soon it will all be go, go, go and the spring floodgates will open, so, until then, lets just make the most of the final days of winter and start day dreaming of what’s to come over the following 2-4 weeks.

So, with winter on its way out, it’s no surprise that Med Gull numbers are on the rise with 180 on South Beach and 6 Black-necked Grebe off Middle Beach with 3 Slavonian Grebe, 8 Common Scoter and 7 Great Crested Grebe. On Baiter Park there was a single pale-bellied Brent Goose with 13 dark-bellied Brents. A decent count of 12 Marsh Harrier were still in the west harbour area this AM and a Merlin was in Middlebere. There are still 17 Spoonbill on the Shipstal Spit.

Finally, the 2021 Lytchett Bay Bird and Wildlife report was published today and can be viewed by visiting our website HERE. Another great report, documenting the changes and developments of this site. Well done to all involved.

Male Red-breasted Merganser – Poole park – Peter Moore

There was no sign of the Tundra Bean Geese at Swineham today, no doubt tucked away having already found a new set of fields close by, waiting to be discovered by the next lucky birder. The strong winds dropped 2 Great Northern Diver off in Shell Bay, with 6 Black-necked Grebe off Middle Beach with 2 Slavonian Grebe and 8 Common Scoter. In Lytchett Bay there were 2 Marsh Harrier and 2 rintail Hen Harrier were logged around the Arne area. In Poole Park 4 Shoveler was a good count and there were also 4 Red-breasted Merganser. There were still c1000 Black-tailed Godwit in Holes Bay NE and counts of 150+ Brent Geese at Baiter and Whitley Lake. Along Middle Beach c30 Sanderling was also a decent total and c50 Med Gull were around Baiter Beach.

Eurasian Teal – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

As hoped, the 3 Tundra Bean Geese re-appeared at Swineham again today in the paddock fields to the west of the main house. They turned up mid-morning having been elsewhere at first light and for the early part of the morning, but they obviously seem to like the paddock fields and will hopefully remain faithful to that site for a while longer yet.

Elsewhere sightings were still few and far between, but the Brambling was still still at the Lytchett Bay feeders along Slough Lane, there was an amazing 150 Brent Geese on the Brownsea Lagoon (surely a lagoon record) and in Brands Bay there were 2 Black-necked Grebe and still 120 Pintail.

Adult male Brambling – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam

This afternoon, after a post storm visit, Adam Day re-found all three of the Tundra Bean Geese at Swineham GP fields. This is good for two reasons, 1) it shows they’re still here and b) that all three are all ok after only two were logged in lytchett Bay after a wildfowling session had taken place a couple of weeks ago.

Storm Eunice certainly caused some havoc across the harbour, with the Sandbanks Road closed as it was totally underwater, an event that now seems to be happening more and more. Despite the strong winds a Peregrine and Marsh Harrier were still hunting in Lytchett Bay and hardy waders including Turnstone, Dunlin and a couple of Ringed Plover were hunkered down on Baiter.

The Barclays Peregrines were on and off the main Barclays building throughout the day and in Poole Park, the water levels remain low, providing great views of Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Redshank and even a few Turnstone were on there.

Turnstone crossing what looks like the North Sea, but is actually Whitley Lake, Sandbanks – Mr Wilson

(Twitter – @00MrWilson00)

A nice hint at the crossover of seasons to come. Waterfowl numbers now beginning to clear-out at Holes Bay and notable raptors logged today included a Red Kite tracking west low over Lytchett Fields and a first-winter/female Merlin that paid an unexpected visit to Luscombe Valley! The latter is certainly not a typical sight for urban Poole and there cannot be many records for the site. The Corfe River Valley offered 2 Firecrest, a single Redpoll and an overwintering Red Admiral lapping up the morning sun. South Beach, Studland clocked up at least 100 Mediterranean Gulls. Numbers within the harbour will now begin increasing day-by-day and birds start acquiring their smart summer plumage, ready to set up territories on the Gull Islands and Brownsea Lagoon breeding grounds. Extending the visit to Old Harry and Shell Bay added 2 Little Egret, 10+ Rock Pipit, 2 Stonechat, 20 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 5 Sanderling, 3 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Black-necked and 5 Great Crested Grebe. Meanwhile, the back of the Middle Beach car park briefly featured 3 Ring-necked Parakeets. Holes Bay is experiencing a drop in overwintering species, peak counts today hit 696 Wigeon, 137 Teal, 49 Pintail, 566 Black-tailed Godwit, 122 Avocet and smaller groups of Redshank, Curlew, Dunlin, 4 Turnstone, the long-staying Common Sandpiper and a couple of 2 Mediterranean Gulls. The south-west corner of the bay added 2 Snipe and 11 Dark-bellied Brent Goose to the day list. Both adult Peregrine made an appearance at Barclays, and there were a further 37 Dark-bellied Brent Goose and 88 Mediterranean Gulls off Baiter Park.

Common Redshank (left) and Spotted Redshank (right) – Middlebere (yesterday) – Rusty Robin @BrandsbayBob

Plenty of signs of spring today with the Barclays male and female Peregrine soaring over the George Roundabout, semi-displaying and seen to be visiting the nesting ledge again which is great news. In mild, sheltered spots along the Frome and Piddle Valley, Snowdrops, Crocus’s and Daffodils are all now fully in flower and Mistle Thrush, several Firecrest, Goldcrest and Chaffinch now all refining their spring songs, and almost delivering fully crystallised renditions of their familiar sounds. The water levels in Poole park are currently quite low, attracting in plenty of Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, some Redshank and Turnstone too, as well as a few Red-breasted Merganser. In Middlebere there were 3 Spotted Redshank. A Lesser Redpoll was over Middlebere, 2 Marsh Harrier were off Swineham and a Great White Egret was on the main pit. Finally, we often visit the ‘Straight of Gibraltar Bird Observatory‘ website this time of year as it provides info on the latest raptor and migrant bird passage across the straights, and although not mentioned on their website (yet), we read on Twitter this AM that the first Osprey of the spring crossed from Africa over to Gibraltar. This could well have only been over-wintering in North Africa (as apposed to West Africa), but the fact it’s headed north in recent days with the first Black Kites and Short-toed Eagles of the spring highlights some Osprey are now on the move! With the first UK birds arriving in mid-March, it’s now only weeks away until the possible excitement of Spring 2022 can begin.

Snowdrops, Crocus’s and Daffodils in Frome Valley