Mirror calm waters welcomed us this morning for our Wareham River and Harbour Cruise which aided viewing open water species immensely. Plus, it was a perfect harbour day being cold, beautiful and full of birds. Highlights from the boat included the Black-throated Diver close to the boat, along with 2 Great Northern Diver too. A minimum of 5 Guillemot were logged, mostly off the urban shorelines (Baiter, Whitecliff and Poole Port) and there was a good spread of Red-breasted Merganser (minimum of c150), 17 Goldeneye were mostly in the Wareham Channel and c30 Great Crested Grebe were spread around. At Swineham there were 5 Marsh Harrier moving around, also a ringtail Hen Harrier and 2 Egyptian Geese were on the Swineham Scrapes. c150 Lapwing were being flushed by the Marsh Harrier’s around Keysworth and there were 5 Little Grebe in the mouth of the Frome. The Brownsea Lagoon was busy and logged c200 Avocet, 3 Greenshank, c400 Black-tailed Godwit, c100 Bar-tailed Godwit, c200 Dunlin but only a handful of Grey Plover and Knot. Elsewhere the Black Redstart was seen again in the Tatnam area near Longfleet School, and this evening the Glossy Ibis was seen out on the mud of Lytchett Bay. Off Middle Beach, Studland there were 14 Black-necked Grebe and 9 Great Crested Grebe. The over-wintering male Goshawk was also seen in Middlebere again this afternoon.

Excellent comparison shots of today Black-throated Diver (above) and one of the Great Northern Diver (below) from this mornings bird boat – Central Harbour – Alison Copland

Wow, long may this continue. Another beautiful and perfect day with both a sunrise and sunset to remember. True winter beauty. Lots of good birds again with the Black-throated Diver again out in central harbour, along with 17 Goldeneye, 1 Great Northern Diver and c50 Red-breasted Merganser. An evening visit to Brands Bay produced 1 Great Northern Diver, 4 Scaup, 2 Common Scoter and 2 Great White Egret went into roost at Littlesea. Holes Bay was looking amazing with still good numbers of birds present including c1000 Wigeon, c50 Pintail, 500 Black-tailed Godwit and c200 Teal. There was a Purple Sandpiper on the Groynes at Sandbanks still and in Lytchett Bay there were 3 Spoonbill and a Spotted Redshank. Marsh Harrier were logged at Lytchett Bay, the Piddle Valley and yesterday 17 were logged coming out of the west harbour roost. Merlin were seen in Middlebere, off Shipstal and on Hartland. There were 17 Fieldfare in the camping field along Soldiers Road and a Barn Owl was around Middlebere too.

Also, many thanks to Garry Hayman who recently sent us some interesting highlights and totals that were gathered from the Middlebere Hide Diary from 2021. There are some good records in here, and some that will certainly need ‘chasing up’. If anyone has any info or photos of the April Long-billed Dowitcher that was logged in the diary on April 9th 2021, we’d loved to hear from you.

Significant entries / rarities (not necessarily confirmed sightings)

Long-billed Dowitcher x 1 at 19.00 – 19.30 on 9th April
Garden warbler x 1  (Middlebere track) on 6th may
Hooded Crow x 1 on 6th June
Melodious Warbler (Harrier hide) 25th June
Common Crane x 1 on 9th August
Golden Plover x 2 on 13th September
Goshawk x 1 on 11th October
Redstart x 1 along Middlebere track on 23rd Oct 
Pochard x 1 on the 23rd October
White-tailed Eagle on 29th October
Hen Harrier x 1 (Adult Grey Male) on 31st October
Goosander x 1 (female) on 3rd November

First sightings /record of the year – season

Cuckoo: 28th April
Willow warbler (Middlebere track): 1st May
Reed Warbler (Middlebere track /reedbed): 1st May
Nightjar (Middlebere track): 7th June
Greenshank: 9th July
Spotted Redshank (1 in summer plumage) on 23rd July
Ruff: 13th September
Pintail: 20th September
Hen Harrier (Ringtail): 20th September
Merlin: 28th October

Highest count of a species

Whimbrel x 7 on 3rd May
Cuckoo x 3 on 16th May
Curlew x 229 on 19th July at 19.00 (observer-Sean)
Spotted Redshanks x 7 on 23rd July and 13th September
Great White egret x 3 on 11th October
Greylag Goose x 8 on 30th November
Pintail x 40 on 5th October
Marsh Harrier x 3 on 31st December
Spoonbill x 30 on 31st December
Whinchat x 3 (middlebere track) on 3rd September
Wheatear x 7 (middlebere track) on 3rd September
Redstart x 3 (middlebere track) on 3rd September
Greenshank x 15 on 13th September
Redshank x 95 on 28th October
Avocet x 800 on 2nd December
Merlin x 2 on 1st December
Lapwing x 220 on 24th December

Waders and wildfowl – Holes Bay – Martin Adams

Black Redstart – Heckford Park, Poole – Dani Vellender

Merlin – Middlebere – Pete Christie

Another beautiful day that was as welcome and adored as yesterday. Please may the latter part of Jan, all of Feb and the rest of the year be as beautiful and calm as today. Once again, a Glossy Ibis (presumed to be yesterdays bird, but could well be another) flew over Lytchett Fields and headed out towards the Wareham Channel. With the UK influx just before Christmas it’s good to see Poole Harbour now seeing some of the action. With so much suitable habitat it could well stick around. It was also noted that an adult male Black Redstart was photographed on the roof of a house in the Heckford Park area of Poole, although the exact location is currently unknown. There were a minimum of 3 Merlin around Middlebere and Hartland and a Guillemot was off the Poole Port Ferry terminal. Off Shipstal the Black-throated Diver was still present in central harbour and there were 13 Black-necked Grebe and 9 Common Scoter off Middle Beach. A ringtail Hen Harrier was over Slepe Moor again, there were 2 Spoonbill in Middlebere and 22 were on Shipstal. Finally a Siberian Chiffchaff was found at Sunnyside.

Glossy Ibis – Lytchett Fields – Alison Copland

Today’s highlight is a desirable addition to any Poole Harbour birders’ year list: a Glossy Ibis which flew over the Approach Field at Lytchett Fields just before 10:30 this morning, heading low east over the SANG fields. This may have been the same bird that was found at Lodmoor yesterday and was seen there again earlier this morning. Also of interest in the north of the harbour was a Water Pipit reported at Holes Bay and a drake Goldeneye was photographed in Poole Park.

Over at Arne this morning, 22 Spoonbill were spotted making their commute across from Brownsea. 5 Goldeneye and 15 Red-breasted Merganser were both visible out in the central harbour from Shipstal Beach, and further up the Middlebere Channel 1 Ringtail Hen Harrier and 3 Marsh Harrier were hunting actively, the latter causing much disruption amongst the large flock of Avocet. Further south, a Cattle Egret was also reported in Stoborough. And at Norden Sewage Works were Grey Wagtail, plenty of Chiffchaff and 5 Siskin.

5 Great Northern Diver, 1 Gannet, 7 Common Scoter, 1 Razorbill were seen off South Haven at Studland, whilst singles both Siberian and Common Chiffchaff were present in the trees surrounding the Shell Bay reedbed. Off Middle Beach were was an addition Great Northern Diver, 19 Black-necked Grebe, 9 Common Scoter and 4 Ring-necked Parakeet. On the opposite side of the penisula, between Brands Bay and Bramblebush Bay there were 2 Great Northern Diver, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Scaup (one drake), 1 Common Scoter, 5 Goldeneye, 50+ Shelduck, 40 Brent Geese, 30 Wigeon, plus Black-necked Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Red-breasted Merganser on the open water, alongside Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Sanderling, 44 Turnstone, 6 Redshank, 4 Little Egret, and big numbers of both Knot & Dunlin.

 Drake Goldeneye (back) & Tufted Duck – Poole Park – Katrina Roberts

A very foggy start to the day gave some rewards, with a great record of 2 Golden Plover showing up on Studland early this morning, before they flew east. In the Middlebere Channel this morning, as well as the large Avocet flock on the low tide, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier and 1 Merlin also reported. Across in the Wareham Channel, 7 Spoonbill were seen, as well as 3 Marsh Harrier hunting over Arne Moors, seen from Slepe Heath. This was topped by later reports of 4 Marsh Harrier in the area seen from Swineham, along with a Great White Egret on the gravel pit, as well as 13 Black-tailed Godwit on the scrapes. Near Holmebridge, 7 Pochard, c.100 Teal and 1 Cattle Egret were seen. Off Shipstal Point, Arne the Black-throated Diver was re-found plus there was 1 Great Northern Diver, 7 Black-necked Grebe, 27+ Great Crested Grebe, 67 Red-breasted Merganser, 7+ Goldeneye, 1 Scaup, 1 Common Scoter and 2 Razorbill.

Golden Plover – Studland – OTBT Birder (@BirderOtbt)

Good conditions today, with Studland particularly well monitored. A scan from Middle Beach early this afternoon showed 10 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver, 7 Common Scoter and 2 Red-breasted Merganser. This morning, Shell Bay gave sightings of 4 Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-necked Grebe, with another 4 South of Pilots Point, 1 Razorbill near the harbour entrance, and 3 Common Scoter arriving in. On the boardwalk to Shell Bay 1 Siberian Chiffchaff was reported. Continuing at Studland inside the harbour, several Sanderling were present in Bramble Bush Bay near the House Boats, 4 Great Northern Diver were reported between Bramble Bush Bay and Brands Bay, as well as 3 Common Scoter, 4 Scaup, 1 Spoonbill, and 1 Slavonian Grebe near Redhorn Point. At Lytchett Fields, colour-ringed Water Pipit “1K” was present this morning, and 1 female Marsh Harrier was reported over Lytchett Bay. 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 drake Goldeneye were seen in Poole Park this morning. Not one of today’s sightings, but excitingly the Goshawk activity in the Middlebere Channel continued yesterday, with 1 photographed yesterday (see below)

Sanderling – House Boats, Bramble Bush Bay – @BirderOtbt

Goshawk – Arne – Mark Wright (@markwright12002)

An absolute treat to be out exploring the open water by boat today during our first in a new series of Winter Safari Cruises, a new event designed to make the most of epic winter birding scene here in Poole Harbour. The beautifully still and sunny conditions offered a chance to enjoy Brownsea Lagoon in all its glory. Carpetted in probing Dunlin, a personal highlight was the close views of Common and Spotted Redshank wading next to Greenshank. In fact, it was so still we could hear the calls of Curlew, Oystercatcher, Grey Plover and Shelduck as we scrutinised the wildfowl and enjoyed watching a Sparrowhawk briefly inspect the Lagoon. The cruise passed the 10 Spoonbill roosting at Shipstal Point, Arne, while 2 individuals optimistically clinged onto the last of the mud during the flooding tide as the cruised along the Wareham Channel. Sitting off Swineham Point quickly added Marsh Harrier and Pochard to the species list. The Central Harbour held a Common Seal and Great Northern Divers were encountered off the Hamworthy and Brownsea shorelines. Most notable was the presence of Guillemot throughout the trip with 4 enountered off Poole Quay, Brownsea Island and the Wareham Channel, the latter offering a fly-by around the boat. This is highly unusual, typically we expect to encounter the odd bird around Poole Bay and the southern shorelines during the winter, but this sustained presence across the harbour is surely linked to a issue with food availability at a wider level. Elsewhere, the rewards for scoping South Deep from Jerry’s Point came in the form of 2 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Scaup, 3 Black-necked Grebe and a further 4 Great Nothern Diver. The Siberian Chiffchaff continues to show from the Shell Bay board walk, while a scan out into Studland Bay clocked up 3 Great Northern Diver and 6 Black-necked Grebe in Studland Bay.

We still have places available on our new Winter Safari Cruises running in January and February. All the event and booking information you need to know can be found on our website here. And don’t forget the Big Poole Harbour Bird Count takes place a week today! Simply get out birding in your local area and share your records with us to join in. Details on what to record and how to share your sightings with us can be found here.

Brownsea Lagoon – Brittany Maxted

Strange to see rain today??!! (Note the sarcasm)! It between the rain drops, at least some birds were logged including 2 Spoonbill, 38 Grey Plover, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, c120 Dunlin, c 30 Curlew and c100 Lapwing at Middlebere. Around Jerry’s Point and Brands Bay there were 4 Scaup, 2 Common Scoter, 262 Teal, 202 Wigeon, 99 Pintail, 83 Lapwing, 10 Grey Plover, 188 Black-tailed Godwit and 478 Dunlin. Out in Poole Bay a Black-throated and Red-throated Diver passed Alum Chine and there was a Great Northern Diver off the Houseboats. There was a Spoonbill in Lytchett Bay and 2 Black-necked Grebe off Shell Bay. At Baiter there were 208 Brent Geese and on Poole Park lake there were 5 Little Grebe and 2 Red-breasted Merganser and 8 Egyptian Geese were at Sunnyside.

Brent Geese – Shipstal

Sightings highlights today were over at Studland, with a Red-necked Grebe reported off Jerry’s Point, along with 4 Scaup. In Studland Bay from Middle and South Beaches, 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 10 Black-necked Grebe, 5 Great Crested Grebe, 13 Common Scoter, 14 Red-breasted Merganser and 1 Razorbill counted. 1 ringtail Hen Harrier was seen over Lytchett Bay this morning. Holes Bay provided excellent views of 597 Dunlin, c.1000 Black-tailed Godwit and 100+ Avocet from the Stone Bench, as well as 11 Brent Geese and 2 Red-breasted Merganser in the South. At RSPB Arne, sightings across Shipstal Point included 27 Spoonbill, 15 Red-breasted Merganser, 30 Brent Geese and a Marsh Harrier. Coombe Heath also featured a Merlin and ringtail Hen Harrier. At Baiter this afternoon, 148 Brent Geese, 57 Oystercatcher, 300+ Starling and several Turnstone were counted feeding on the fields. Finally, we’ve received some great info back from Mark Thomas at RSPB, regarding a ringtail Hen Harrier that was photographed near Middlebere yesterday by Nigel Gidey which had a colour ring A1Z. It was ringed in Northumberland in 2021. Brilliant!

Dark-bellied Brent Geese – Baiter – Martin Adams

Hen Harrier – near Middlebere – Nigel Gidney

Well, that didn’t last long. Beautiful sunshine on Wednesday, pouring rain today! Oh well….at least spring is on its way with Song Thrush, Great Tit and some Blackbird already beginning to sing. Also, some Great Spotted Woodpecker are starting to ‘drum’ too with individuals heard at Upton CP and RSPB Arne. Out across the Wareham Channel a Great White Egret flew across and two separate Marsh Harrier were active. Off Jerry’s Point there were 2 Great Northern Diver with another 2 off Shell Bay and 1 off Baiter. At Lytchett Fields 5 Jack Snipe were logged during a ringing session and on Holme lane GP there was a winter peak count of 8 Pochard along with 23 Gadwall. 

Peregrine Falcon – Middlebere – Mark Wright (@markwright12002)