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

1 Razorbill was seen in the harbour mouth this morning, as well as the Red-necked Grebe, which has continued to show well today, moving between Shell Bay, the harbour mouth and Brands Bay. 1 Great Northern Diver was also reported in Bramblebush bay, along with 6 Bar-tailed Godwit and c.54 Brent Geese. There were also 5 Common Scoter, 3 Goldeneye, 11 Grey Plover, 1 Great White Egret and 8 Fieldfare in Brands Bay this morning. A nice sighting of 12 Cattle Egret dropped into the Lower Piddle Valley early this afternoon, before moving off west. 30 Spoonbill were reported on Brownsea Lagoon today, along with the usual Grey Plover, Dunlin, Wigeon and Teal numbers. At Baiter, 17 Brent Geese, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 5 Redshank and 1 Sandwich Tern were counted, along with a further 4 Sandwich Tern, 3 Little Grebe and 1 Redshank in Poole Park. 1 Water Pipit has also remained present on Sherford Pools at Lytchett Field. At dusk a Great White Egret flew into the Littlesea roost at Studland.

Red-necked Grebe – Harbour Entrance – René Goad

WeBS days always produce a decent range of species with WeBS counters our right across the harbour, as well as the trusty vanguard of birders who are just ‘out and about’. The best from across the area today included a new fresh in Red-necked Grebe which was in the harbour mouth area mid-afternoon, but was soon inside the harbour as the tide was rising, before ending up just off the houseboats. Out off Jerry’s Point there were 5 Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver and off Goathorn 7 Scaup. In the mouth of Middlebere/off Shipstal an adult male Merlin was hunting with a ringtail Hen Harrier and the Merlin was then seen outside the Middlebere hide. A Short-eared Owl was hunting on Hartland near dusk and there was a Great White Egret at the top of Middlebere. Off Middle Beach there were 11 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Great Northern Diver. At South Haven, Studland 4 Brambling flew over this morning and another Great White Egret was at East Lake, Little Sea, Studland. At Lytchett Fields there was a Water Pipit and in Middlebere 4 Spotted Redshank. As well as this list of notable sightings, the harbour is looking great now with decent numbers of species such as Wigeon, Avocet, Shelduck, Brent Geese, Red-breasted Merganser, Grey Plover, Dunlin and Redwingto fill in the quieter periods!

Merlin – Middlebere – Garry Hayman

Red-necked Grebe – Shell Bay, Studland

The final stages of autumn migration 2021 are now drawing to a close, but not without one last push of certain species. Fieldfare, Redwing and Blackbirds are still arriving in and Brambling seem to be having a great autumn so far. Middlebere saw c100 Fieldfare this morning with several smaller flocks logged at Holmebridge and in the Piddle Valley. A newly arrived Siberian Chiffchaff was ringed at Lytchett Bay along with 3 late Common Chiffchaff and there now seems to be a late flurry of Lesser Redpoll coming through now with 20 also ringed at Lytchett Bay. A Great White Egret also flew over Lytchett Bay with another in Brands Bay. There was no sign of the Snow Buntings at Redhorn, but 2 Great Northern Diver were on the water there with 2 Black-necked Grebe and 5 Common Scoter were near the harbour mouth. A minimum of 7 Marsh Harrier were in the Wareham Channel and 2 Merlin were between Hartland and Soldiers Road.

Siberian Chiffchaff – Lytchett Bay – Shaun Robson

Highlights from today include 1 Razorbill seen feeding in the Poole Harbour mouth. At Studland, 2 Scaup were seen of Goathorn from Redhorn Quay, though the Snow Bunting were not reported as present. A count in Holes Bay recorded 116 Avocet off Pergins Island, as well as 25 Pintail, 32 Shoveler, 66 Dunlin and 1 Common Sandpiper in Holes Bay NW. Fieldfare movement has continued with c.60 seen flying SW over the Piddle Valley this afternoon.  Another nice record at Lytchett Fields this morning, with a ringed Water Pipit photographed. “1K” was ringed at Lytchett Fields on the 07.11.20, and was also seen in October this year. Our first Sunnyside Ringing Demo of the year last night set them off to a great start, with 2 Jack Snipe, 1 Common Snipe and 2 Woodcock ringed. We still have a few spaces left on our later sessions in the series, which can be booked here.

Water Pipit (1K) – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Woodcock – Sunnyside Ringing Demo

Definite highlight of today’s harbour sightings is the first report of a Great Northern Diver for the winter. Usually arriving late October/early November, the numbers will build over the next few weeks and start to drop off again in February/March. This first arrival was seen at Studland from Middle Beach, along with 10 Common Scoter. Also at Studland, the Snow Bunting were showing well again on Redhorn Quay this morning. In Whitley Bay, 25 Turnstone were feeding on the high-tide shoreline, as well as 11 Brent Geese on the water. During a ringing session at Lytchett Fields this morning, 2 Water Pipit and 1 Rock Pipit were ringed, as well as 1 male Merlin and 1 ringtail Hen Harrier reported in the area.

Merlin – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

There’s been a lot of Fieldfare movement today with a flock of 96 on the track at Middlebere this morning, as well as a smaller flock of 10 seen over Holton Heath. Also at Middlebere, 1 Great White Egret flyover was reported. 1 Marsh Harrier reported at Lytchett Fields. At Baiter, 13 Turnstone, 7 Ringed Plover, 1 Dunlin, 6 Brent Geese and 3 Sandwich Tern were seen this morning. In Holes Bay, highlights from a count were 1100+ Wigeon, 100+ Avocet and a flock of 35 Dunlin. The Barnacle Goose was seen flying over Lytchett Fields amongst 500+ Canada Geese and low numbers of Greylag. The 2 Snow Bunting were still showing well at Redhorn Point.

Wigeon – Holes Bay – Martin Adams