We’d hoped this morning would produce the wood, and it did!!! Wood Pigeons began appearing over Evening Hill at 06:58 with small flocks of 20, 40, 100…..before long big flocks of 500-1000 were moving and then between 8am and 9:30am streams of flocks between 500-2000 were moving high above the harbour. In the end our best estimate was 75,014 after totalling our tally, but the truth is several other flocks could/would have passed high unnoticed and it’s likely our count is an undercount. This was a good tally, but it didn’t quite hit the dizzy totals of 160k Wood Pigeon over the harbour in Nov 2010. Other highlights today included 5 Great Northern Diver, 1 Scaup, 2 Black-necked Grebe, 47 Great Crested Grebe and c15 Red-breasted Merganser. At Lytchett Bay, whilst also looking for Wood Pigeons, birders logged 2 Cattle Egret and 1 Egyptian Goose. At Arne 28 Spoonbill were on the Shipstal Spit and in the Piddle Valley a ringtail Hen Harrier was logged.

Wood Pigeon migration – High over Evening Hill

There was a sniff of Woodpigeon migration this AM with c400 over Baiter car park heading South West over Brownsea. Could tomorrow be the big day??? The Osprey was seen again in Brands Bay where it was seen circling the area before heading off over Goathorn. There were 5 Cattle Egret in the fields north of the A35 just 100m beyond the Bakers Arms roundabout, west bound. Later this evening a Cattle Egret was seen heading over Lytchett Fields heading to roost. In the Brands Bay/Jerry’s Point area there were 5 Great Northern Diver, 2 Scaup, 3 Black-necked Grebe, 5 Common Scoter and 11 Red-breasted Merganser. On the Brownsea Lagoon 8 Spotted Redshank were logged with 4 in Middlebere and 30 Spoonbill were on Shipstal. There are good numbers of wildfowl in Holes Bay north now with 700+ Wigeon, 56 Teal, 22 Shoveler, 18 Pintail, 13 Shelduck, plus 2 Kingfisher along with 89 Avocet, 91 Dunlin, 69 Redshank, 2 Greenshank 550 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Knot, 20+ Curlew.

A real eclectic mix of species today from across the harbour. Most amazingly was a late Osprey which was seen over Brands Bay mid morning. Looking at the forecast we doubt it will leave tomorrow but the conditions on Wednesday and Thursday will be ideal for it to ‘catch up’. Talking of conditions, Wednesday could end up being a Woodpigeon morning. If so, keep an out on airspace above Evening Hill towards Brownsea anytime from 6:30am onwards. Last year they moved en mass on Nov 6^th but when the weather conditions are good they just go, and looking at the forecast Wednesday or Thursday look like the ideal morning. There were good numbers of Great Northern Diver around today with 7 off Jerry’s Point, 1 in Shell Bay and 1 over Lytchett Bay. There were 3 Scaup, 6 Common Scoter, 4 Black-necked Grebe, 11 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Goldeneye off Jerry’s Point too, also 1 Merlin and 1 Great White Egret in Brands Bay. There were c400 Med Gull of South Beach which is an excellent winter total and off Middle Beach a Little Gull and 2 Black-necked Grebe. At Shipstal 34 Spoonbill were roosting and there was Purple Sandpiper seen at the Sandbanks slip way today which is the first this year and for quite some time! In Middlebere the Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit flock remained and c25 of the Spoonbill were there too.

Great Northern Diver – Jerry’s Point

Another wet and wild day, which did settle down a bit eventually. Just a collection of ‘usual’ species logged today, but 3 Firecrest in one bush at Lytchett Fields was a nice find. There was also a Curlew Sandpiper at Lytchett Fields again which suggests the 2 birds that have been present recently could over-winter, something we’ve not seen in the harbour for as long as we can remember. In Middlebere there was a fine male Merlin Hunting, plus c60 Lapwing, 30 Pintail, 7 Grey Plover and good numbers of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit. Our Holes Bay walk during the afternoon logged c40 Avocet, 3 Grey Plover, c20 Dunlin, c15 Pintail, 10 Shoveler, 1 Kingfisher plus the usual good numbers of Wigeon, Teal, Black-tailed Godwit, and Curlew. At Holton Pools a Peregrine was causing havoc and was feeding on some prey on the edge of the scrapes. Since the weekend, there’s been very little coverage over in the Brands Bay area probably due to the ewetaher, but when the wind and rain ease up it will be interesting to see what else has blown/entered the harbour in terms of open water species. More Great Northern Divers?, more Common Scoter?, more Red-breasted Merganser?……..a Bufflehead!!!???

Also, DON’T MISS our exciting new opportunity to explore the harbour with our NEW Poole Harbour Reconnect Birding tours. These new trips in partnership with Greenslade’s Ferry Company offer a weekly 2-hour escape around the harbour which provides a relaxing and insightful tour either up the Wareham River or around the harbour on a low-tide to focus on our local rich heritage and forget about outside world. Our first is November 6^th and with so many good birds in the harbour, what a great way to spend a Friday morning. Plus, with a safe Covid secure framework in place, these trips are limited to only 30 people (minimum of 15), meaning you have peace of mind and space to really sit back and enjoy the birds and the view.

For more info and to book Info CLICK HERE

Black-tailed Godwit – Holes Bay – Joe Parker

Avocet – Holes Bay – Joe Parker

The less said about yesterday the better and to be honest, today wasn’t much better either! Still, at least the Big Poole Harbour Bird Count on Sunday gave us a good overview of what’s present and it’s likely more has entered the harbour over the last 24-48 hours with all these strong winds and rain. This morning a hardy group of 200+ sinensis Cormorant were feeding off Baiter Beach with a mêlée of Black-headed Gull and 5 Sandwich Tern. On Baiter Park there were 200+ Oystercatcher, 10+ Turnstone and 5 Black-tailed Godwit. In Middlebere there were 6 Spotted Redshank and at Lytchett Fields 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Grey Plover, 1 Spotted Redshank, 201 Dunlin, 85 Redshank and 2 Green Sandpiper were counted. At Hamworthy Beach 28 dark-bellied Brent Geese were off the beach including 1 pale-bellied Brent, 11 Turnstone and 1 Kingfisher. In Holes Bay the Avocet numbers are building with 32 now roosting on the high tide. Off Jerry’s Point there was a new juv Great Northern Diver in the harbour and a Cattle Egret flew over Swineham at dusk.

Also, DON’T MISS our exciting new opportunity to explore the harbour with our NEW Poole Harbour Reconnect Birding tours. These new trips in partnership with Greenslade’s Ferry Company offer a weekly 2-hour escape around the harbour which provides a relaxing and insightful tour either up the Wareham River or around the harbour on a low-tide to focus on our local rich heritage and forget about outside world. Our first is November 6^th and with so many good birds in the harbour, what a great way to spend a Friday morning. Plus, with a safe Covid secure framework in place, these trips are limited to only 30 people (minimum of 15), meaning you have peace of mind and space to really sit back and enjoy the birds and the view.

For more info and to book Info CLICK HERE