A cold westerly wind whipped across the harbour today but there was still plenty to see with some nice highlights. Best bird was an adult Glaucous Gull which was found in the Brownsea gull roost this evening by Graham Armstrong. The Black Brant was still in the Brent Goose flock off Ower Bay and a Great White Egret was off the end Goathorn Point late afternoon during the Poole Harbour WeBS. Mid afternoon saw a tag team effort of 2 Merlin and the ringtail Hen Harrier chasing down a lone (and unfortunate) Meadow Pipit out in the mouth of the Frome off Swineham. There seemed to be some birds on the move as a ‘skywatch’ from the Slepe Heath viewpoint saw good numbers of finches and Meadow Pipit heading west along with a few alba wagtails. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 5 Spoonbill and 3 were logged off Arne during the WeBS. An adult male Hen Harrier was seen at Morden Bog, along with another monochrome species in the shape of the Great Grey Shrike. Off Jerry’s Point there were 3 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Slavonian Grebe along with 3 Great Northern Diver.

We’ve also had our SM4 recorder out in the Lower Frome Valley this week. We haven’t really strated going through it properly yet, but did check one file and found this nice recording of a Red Fox calling which alarmed some Water Rail briefly as a small group of Grey Plover could be heard calling overhead…..departing perhaps?

Red-breasted Merganser – Central Harbour – Ian Lewington

Jerry’s Point offered views of four Black-necked Grebe (most of which in summer plumage) and a Great Northern Diver. A scan over Poole Quay from our office also produced a Great Northern Diver towards Brownsea Island. Morden Bog enjoyed the full song of Woodlark throughout the day. The Great Grey Shrike was again flitting around the favoured Old Decoy Pond area. Due to the recent rainfall, Upton Heath featured a Grey Wagtail along the running water on one of the paths. The Peregrine was once again seen perching on the ASDA building near Holes Bay this afternoon.

Be sure to check out the Peregrine webcam situated on clock tower at Bournemouth College…

http://www.bournemouthperegrines.org.uk/

Great Grey Shrike – Morden Bog – Aidan Brown

This morning we surveyed the harbour from a boat with a great range of species in fine conditions logged. Highlight was a male Golden Pheasant seen on the Furzey Island lawn as 2 Long-tailed Duck circled the boat a few times before heading towards the harbour mouth. Also out on the water were 6 Great Northern Diver (4 Jerry’s point and 2 in central harbour), 7 Black-necked Grebe (most in summer plumage), 1 Slavonian Grebe, 3 Goldeneye, c150 each of Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebe and 10 Spoonbill on Shipstal. Up the Wareham River 8 Reed Bunting were singing as were 9 Cetti’s Warbler with a pair of Bearded Tit logged. Also 3 Chiffchaff in full song, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier and 2 Merlin on Arne Moors and c30 Gadwall dotted around. Brownsea Lagoon saw 1 Spotted Redshank, c40 Bar-tailed Godwit, c70 Avocet, c20 Shoveler and 2 Greenshank. Add to that cronking Ravens, singing Skylarks and warm sunshine then it made for a great mornings birding.

Elsewhere a Short-eared Owl and ringtail Hen Harrier were seen off Swineham Point this evening and a Firecrest was at Middlebere this morning with 1 Spotted Redshank and 2 Grey Plover seen from the hide. Over Hartland/Slepe 3 Woodlark were heard and a Merlin was also on Slepe Heath. The Peregrine was on it’s usual balcony ledge on the Asda building.

Common Gull – Hatch Pond – Ian Ballam

Despite the naff weather, birds are beginning to arrive. The first Sand Martin was recorded on the Isles of Scilly and Gloucestershire saw its first Wheatear of spring. We are fast approaching the harbour’s first arrival of spring migrants. In recent years, Wheatear have been picked up making landfall at Sunnyside Farm, Baiter Park and Hartland Moor… It’s a chilly start tomorrow morning but this is an exciting time to get out into the field!

An evening of lamping at Sunnyside last night produced quality if not quantity. Large numbers of birds were out feeding in the fields, however catching any was providing difficult. Woodcock, Common Snipe, Jack Snipe and Skylark constantly encountered. The constant drizzle rendered our thermal imagers useless and the light field conditions meant the birds could see us approaching. However, despite the challenge, we still managed to produce a Jack Snipe which is always a joy to see in the hand.

More evidence of spring today, with the first territorial Redshank song heard in the Lower Frome Valley on the floods around Swineham and Arne Moors. Lytchett Fields produced 2 Water Pipit, starting to come into summer plumage, along with 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank and 2 Green Sandpiper. 1 Great Northern Diver was reported in Parkstone Bay, along with 8 Great-crested Grebe, 6 Red-Breasted Merganser, and 4 Bar-tailed Godwit on Baiter playing field.

Water Pipit – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

With numerous checks made throughout the day of various ‘bird news’ platforms to check whether the UK’s first Wheatear or Sand Martin had arrived yet, we were keen to get out our selves early doors to see what other signs of spring could be located. As it happened, no Wheatear or Sand martin were yet logged in the UK today so the first ones are still up for grabs. Our dawn vigil from Slepe Heath didn’t yield the Common Crane as hoped, but we were still rewarded with a fine female Merlin dashing along the Wareham Channel chasing a Meadow Pipit with 4-5 Skylark ascending above Arne Moors for potentially their first song flights of the season. Both Black-headed and Mediterranean Gull were out on ‘Gull Islands’ prospecting for the breeding season ahead and a very small trickle of Meadow Pipit headed north. Along Soldiers Road a small flock of 29 Fieldfare were in fields at Hartland Stud and 4 male Stonechat were on a fence line close together suggesting some sort of arrival from somewhere. There were also 2 Spoonbill out in the Wareham Channel and 3 Raven cronking out over Slepe Heath. Late afternoon saw a stunning Red Kite drift over Upton and at Swineham Point 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Marsh Harrier and the ringtail Hen Harrier were active commuting between Ridge Wharf, Swineham and Arne Moors. A nocturnal recording session at Lytchett Bay didn’t produce too much other than 2 fly over Coot which are extremely noteworthy in Lytchett Bay along with plenty of Water Rail and Wigeon calls.

Cormorant – Hatch Pond – Ian Ballam

A nice varied day today with spring wrestling winter to the ground and trying to stamp its authority on March. At dawn 1 possibly 2 Short-eared Owls were out hunting in the Lower Frome Valley between Swineham and Arne Moors whilst the ringtail Hen Harrier dashed out across the Wareham Channel. Along Soldiers Road it was nice to hear a small flock of Redwing sub-singing and engaged in ‘community song’ before darting out of the woodland and announcing their more familiar ‘zeee’ as they headed off. A Woodlark was also high in the sky above Stoborough Heath singing and battling against the northerly wind. Without doubt, bird of the day was a Common Crane which flew in over Ridge, Wareham, heading south towards Hartland. At Morden Bog the Great Grey Shrike was near the decoy pond and on the Brownsea Lagoon saw 2 newly arrived Spoonbill drop down for an afternoon feed. At Lytchett Fields the 1^st Skylark of the summer was heard singing and there was 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Peregrine.

Adder – Ballard Down

Swineham Point produced ringtail Hen Harrier quartering beyond the mouth of the Piddle, 20 Lapwing, 6 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Bullfinch, Meadow Pipit and 1 Reed Bunting. The nearby Gravel Pits offered 2 Pochard, c.100 Coot, 20 Tufted Duck, 15 Gadwall, 11 Shoveler, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Mallard, 26 Canada Geese and 2 Little Grebe. The scrape held 20 Curlew, 2 Gadwall and 2 Shelduck. A single Great Northern Diver was seen off north of Brownsea Island this morning.

Today’s winter sun encouraged plenty of reptile activity across the harbour, with 6 Adder recorded at Swineham and Sand Lizard, Common Lizard and Adder all observed on various Heathland across Poole.

Cracking views of Marsh Harrier from the Holton Pools hide this morning.

Marsh Harrier from the Holton Pools hide this morning. @harbourbirds @LHoltonLee @DorsetWildlife pic.twitter.com/OlivnnO0Bn

— Alison Copland (@alison_copland) March 1, 2020

3 of 6 Adders recorded at Swineham – Gary Hayman

With the Osprey season really not that far away now (several probably having already left their wintering grounds), it was great to hear that our 2019 chick 019 was seen again in Gunjar Quarry, Gambia yesterday meaning she may stay there this summer utilising this fishing hotspot.

We’ve had a quick look at the long range forecast, it looks as if things begin to settle down week commencing March 9th…will we see our first Wheatear that week? Today produced our first Slow Worm of spring.

Littlesea, Studland again featured the regular Great White Egret, however another bird was recorded near River Frome at Worget. Jerry’s Point produced 1 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 3 Great Northern Diver, 7 Turnstone, 4 Oystercatcher and 9 Red-breasted Merganser. Brand’s Bay held a further 2 Black-necked Grebe and single Great Northern Diver. A good site count of 32 Pied Wagtail were recorded on one of the sodden fields at Sunnyside. The 4 Scaup remain highly faithful to Holes Bay, seen again just south of the railway bridge. Middlebere enjoyed another visit from the ringtail Hen Harrier again, along with a Spotted Redshank. Poole Harbour Marsh Harrier numbers now down to 2 individuals as we come to the end of the month.

Osprey 019 – Gunjar Quarry, Gambia – Chris Wood

Plenty of activity at Baiter in the wind and rain today, featuring 8 Ringed Plover, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Redshank , c.150 Brent Geese and c.200 Oystercatcher. A Spotted Redshank occupied Brownsea Lagoon and another 3 could be seen from Middlebere. The long-staying Siberian Chiffchaff continues to loiter around Wareham Common and the Morden Bog Great Grey Shrike remained visible just west of Old Decoy Pond. Lytchett Fields continued to hold the Harbour’s Water Pipit, with a single bird seen today along with a Green Sandpiper.

Black-tailed Godwit – Baiter Park – Ian Ballam

Bar-tailed Godwit – Baiter Park – Ian Ballam

Redshank – Baiter Park – Ian Ballam