It was nice to get a feel of spring today, but more of that in a minute. Holes Bay was stacked today with c1500 Wigeon again which is close, but not quite a site record for this part of the harbour (1818 in Nov last year). Also in Holes Bay were 107 Avocet, c600 Black-tailed Godwit, c200 Dunlin and c100 Redshank. In the PCW Drain 5 Common Chiffchaff were feeding and a Cetti’s Warbler was singing. A late Swallow was over the Lower Piddle Valley and Red Kites seemed to be moving with 3 over Brands Bay and 1 over Holton Lee. In the Wareham Channel there were 4 Marsh Harrier and a ringtail Hen Harrier was seen.

However, the warmth today came from a lovely surprise when some of the Sound Approach team (some who conveniently live in Poole) were analysing some old noc-mig data from May last year, only to discover the calls of a Night Heron flying right over Poole Town centre. Mark Constantine and Magnus Robb were listening to some of Marks recordings when a series of the distinctive calls were noted from a warm, balmy early morning recording session on May 2nd 2020. At the time it was only the 3rd Poole Harbour record, so is an incredibly notable recording. It also highlights when we should be looking and listening for more Night Heron with this bird being logged on May 2nd 2020, and one being seen in the Piddle Valley this year on May 3rd. Early May is the time it seems.

Black-tailed Godwit – Holes Bay – Martin Adams

Black-tailed Godwit – Holes Bay – Martin Adams

Wigeon – Holes Bay – Martin Adams

A damp low gloom hung over the harbour for most of the day, but the zero wind helped for open water scouring. The 6 Scaup and 5 Common Scoter were still off Jerry’s Point, there was a Great Northern Diver in the harbour entrance and there were 38 Spoonbill on Shipstal Point. There was a Merlin in Lytchett Bay, a Pochard on Holme Lane GP and 6 Goosander on the Piddle with 3 Woodcock flying out of their roost at Studland. Over Hartland 7 Fieldfare flew over at dawn and in Holes Bay there are now close to 1500 Wigeon with 500+ Black-tailed Godwit, 332 Dunlin, 26 Pintail, 30 Shoveler and a Peregrine.

Merlin – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Main highlights were from around the Studland area with the Red-necked Grebe and a Great Northern Diver in Shell Bay. Off Jerry’s Point the 6 Scaup were still there with 5 Common Scoter. There were 3 Lesser Redpoll at South Haven which have been scarce elsewhere around the harbour this autumn. Fieldfares passed over the Lower Piddle Valley, Lytchett Bay View and Hartland. An evening watch logged 8 Woodcock depart a wet woodland site in the Lower Piddle Valley along with 2 Common Snipe. 

Grey Plover – Bramble bush Bay – Ian Ballam

Turnstone – Bramble bush Bay – Ian Ballam

An interesting morning at Lytchett Bay Viewpoint for visible migration today, with 4 Goosander flying low east, 1 Swallow heading north, and high numbers of thrushes moving, including 95 Redwing and 24 Fieldfare heading north. Also at Lytchett Bay was a fresh in Siberian Chiffchaff in the willows near the viewpoint, as well as 66 Brent Geese, 97 Avocet, 422 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Gadwall and 1 Shoveler in the bay itself. The White-tailed Eagle was still around today, seen over the Brownsea Lagoon this morning, before flying east towards Sandbanks. Studland was well monitored, with 5 Common Scoter and 4 Goldeneye seen from Redhorn Quay, as well as 1 Sanderling seen by the house boats in Bramblebush Bay. From Middle Beach, 5 Common Scoter and 5 Black-necked Grebe were reported. We’ve had no reports of the Red-necked Grebe today. 1 Marsh Harrier was reported in the Wareham Channel near Gigger’s Island this morning.

Goosander – Lytchett Bay – Shaun Robson

A truly magical Wareham Channel and Harbour Cruise this morning. Early morning satellite tag data kindly shared by Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation confirmed that White-tailed Eagle G461 was still present in the harbour as our boat departed Poole Quay at 9AM, but would he show himself during the cruise?? Creeping up the Wareham Channel immediately offered stunning views of 4-5 Marsh Harrier, which elegantly patrolled reedbeds very close to the boat at times. Continuing along the River Frome towards Swineham floodplain yielded 9 Egyptian Geese and a large influx of Lapwing plus on the scrape were a few Curlew and Black-tailed Godwit. Heart rates then went through the roof as the White-tailed Eagle showed himself over the Wareham Channel, cruising above the skyline and illustrating its colossal size. The cruise went on to enjoy various raptor sightings with Red Kite logged high northeast, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and several Common Buzzard also seen throughout the event. A large flock of c.150 sinensis Cormorant were feeding off Ham Common before continuing around the back of the islands producing 6 Scaup and 4 Common Scoter around South Deep, as well as a Great Northern Diver near the harbour mouth. Later in the day male White-tailed Eagle G461 was then seen cruising Brands Bay and was even perched up on Hartland Moor for a while. A perfect early winter cruise. Elsewhere, a Lytchett Bay ringing session trapped and ringed 10 Redwing, Firecrest and 4 Bearded Tit. On Holme Lane GP 2 Pochard were with decent numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler and a few Wigeon.

White-tailed Eagle – Wareham Channel Cruise – Alison Copland

Marsh Harrier – Swineham, from Bird Boat – Clare Slade

Marsh Harrier – Swineham, from Bird Boat – Clare Slade

Scaup, South Deep, from Bird Boat – Clare Slade

Marsh Harrier – Wareham Channel Cruise – Alison Copland

With the arrival of the White-tailed Eagle (G461) back into the harbour yesterday we were really hoping that we would find it from this morning’s School Bird boat… and we succeeded! Being able to show a boat full of local school children the impact of conservation projects happening on their doorstep was amazing. The eagle was seen twice this morning over Brownsea Lagoon, causing havoc with the waders and providing a true spectacle for the kids, who were left in awe… Many of them never expected to see an eagle in the harbour and the sight gave us a vision of what the future can look like for them, thanks to the hard work of the team on the Isle of Wight.

In the central harbour today was one of the first few Great Northern Diver back in the area, along with 20+ Red-breasted Merganser. 6 Scaup and 5 Common Scoter were counted in South Deep, also seen from Jerry’s Point in the later morning. With the building number of wintering birds, this weekend is a good time to be scanning for more winter arrivals, especially along the Studland peninsula. From Middle Beach, 10 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Common Scoter and 2 Razorbill were reported, and the Red-necked Grebe was seen from Pilot’s Point this morning. 1 Great White Egret was also reported in Brands Bay.

Luke from Dorset Wildlife Trust managed to capture this footage of the eagle this morning, before it returned back to Brownsea:

White tailed eagle over the lagoon again! Circled over towards Sandbanks before heading off to the North shore of the island. Awesome views! ~ Nicki #WildBrownsea @harbourbirds @DorsetBirdClub @BrownseaNT @DorsetWildlife pic.twitter.com/5S1AiBqSId

— DorsetWildlife Trust (@DWTBrownsea) November 19, 2021

It was no surprise to hear that after a short absence, male White-tailed Eagle, G461 was back in the harbour again this morning having been seen flying up the Wareham Channel mid-morning. Also at the top of the Wareham Channel were up to 8 different Marsh Harrier, 2 Hen Harrier and 2 Merlin. The Red-necked Grebe was in Shell Bay again this morning and yesterday we received news that there was a Snow Bunting back on Redhorn Point, but only seen briefly. There were 10 Cattle Egret in the Piddle Valley and at Brands Bay a Great White Egret with up to 5 Common Scoter. Water Pipit ‘1k’ was seen again at Lytchett Fields and another Cattle Egret was in fields just beyond the Bakers Arms roundabout. Also, great work by Sam Levy for getting the ring number of the below Black-headed Gull in Poole Park which has highlighted it was first ringed 32 years ago……in Poole Park!

32 year old black-headed Gull – Poole Park – Sam Levy

A glorious still late autumn/early winter morning which didn’t let it’s self down all day, as a crisp, cold dusk saw us out. Lots of decent birds were around today with a Hawfinch and a Brambling over the Lower Piddle Valley where 12 Cattle Egret were also seen Wareham Common. An amazing Merlin chase was watched over Brands Bay with a Dunlin finally running out of luck after about a 3-4 minute chase. Out off Middle Beach this evening there were 12 Black-necked Grebe, 6 Common Scoter, 7+ Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Razorbill. A Great White Egret was off Goathorn Point and at the Houseboats 3 Sanderling (which have been scarce this winter so far) were feeding with 32 Turnstone. The Red-necked Grebe was seen near Pilots Point, Studland this morning hut not later in the day. A ringtail was seen at Middlebere. Merlin were also seen on Hartland and at Lytchett Fields where there were also 3 Water Pipit. In Holes Bay 4 Bearded Tit were in the reed beds near the Creekmoor Channel.

1st winter male Sparrowhawk – ringed in Piddle Valley this AM

The Shell Bay Red-necked Grebe continued to show well in the harbour mouth next to the chain ferry this morning, fingers crossed it sticks around for tomorrow’s ID course. Adult male Hen Harriers are an uncommon sight for Poole Harbour, let alone Lytchett Bay, so the appearance of one heading high east over Lytchett Heath was a lovely addition to the 2 female-type Marsh Harrier and 3 Water Pipit also logged across the bay today. Elsewhere, Morden Bog featured 6 Egyptian Geese east.

Ringtail Hen Harrier – Mark Wright