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

A decent late autumn day, with winter slowly creeping up on us. The two Snow Bunting on Redhorn Quay were still present all day, but as is often the case, when several birders descend on a certain site, other good birds often get found, which is what happened to day when Phil Saunders found a 1st winter Caspian Gull on the exposed sand spit off Jerry’s Point this evening on the low-tide. Still a really tricky bird to catch up with in the harbour, more Caspian Gull are now being recorded in the harbour and should now certainly be on birders radars when out and about. At Lytchett Fields 3 un-ringed Water Pipit were on the wet fields and a Jack Snipe was flushed. Middlebere was flus with Redwing, Blackbird and Fieldfare feeding on berries along the main track with a Firecrest along there too, 3 different Marsh Harrier and a Merlin. On Poole Park lake a male Goldeneye, 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 7 Sandwich Tern were counted with 2 Kingfisher busy around the main lake. Brands Bay still had 4 Scaup and Middle Beach had 4 Black-necked Grebe.

1st winter Caspian Gull – Jerry’s Point – Phil Saunders

Both Snow Bunting were present around Redhorn, Studland for most of the day, showing well. Off Jerry’s Point, Brands Bay area there were 44 Great Crested Grebe, 34 Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Scaup. Off Middle Beach an evening roost count logged 8 Black-necked Grebe, 8 Common Scoter and 1 Red-breasted Merganser. At Arne there were 32 Spoonbill logged off Shipstal, at Middlebere 4 Spotted Redshank were in the channel with a ringtail Hen Harrier seen too and a Brambling was along the Middlebere track.

Snow Bunting – Redhorn, Studland – Chris Snook