Donate

Poole Harbour sightings blog

A record of all interesting and notable sightings from around the harbour throughout the year.

Latest Sightings

Harbour Update – posted 18/01/20

Posted on: January 18th, 2020 by Birds of Poole Harbour

A Red Kite north over east end of Hartland was a delightful sighting this afternoon. Low tide at Middlebere featured Merlin, Avocet, Curlew, Pintail, Teal, Wigeon, Great Northern Diver and Lapwing. A further 2 Great Northern Diver were between Poole Quay and Brownsea Island. The Red-breasted Merganser at Poole Park Boating Lake offered superb close views throughout the day. The Middlebere Merlin came in at 5:07pm this evening.

Red-breasted Merganser – Poole Park – Ian Ballam

Goldeneye – Poole Park – Ian Ballam

Harbour Update – posted 17/01/20

Posted on: January 17th, 2020 by Birds of Poole Harbour

The Poole Park Great Northern Diver remained on the Boating Lake near the model boats today, with another 2 individuals were seen from Shell Bay. Poole Park Boating Lake also featured 7 Goldeneye and a Red-breasted Merganser. Lytchett Fields featured 2 Water Pipit again. The Wareham Common Siberian Chiffchaff also still present (at base of Northwest Walls in ditch by River Piddle, 100m west of North Mill). A Tawny Owl was calling early morning at Upton Country Park. A seawatch from Branksome Chine offered several auks and a Kittiwake.

Our Holes Bay Guided Walk this morning enjoyed a Peregrine flush all the waders and wildfowl we were working through in the northern bay. The large Dunlin flock and several hundred Black-tailed Godwit and Avocet eventually settled back down, offering wonderful views of these winter visitors among Redshank, Curlew and several Lapwing. The stone bench offers some of the best views of Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Shoveler and Gadwall in the harbour, accompanied by Water Rail regularly calling.

Harbour Update – posted 16/01/20

Posted on: January 16th, 2020 by Birds of Poole Harbour

To say today’s urban bird walk was blustery would be an understatement. The winds were fierce and the rain drenching. But the birding was fantastic! The recent storms meant large numbers of birds were seeking shelter in the harbour and a relatively calm Poole Park produced superb views of a juvenile Great Northern Diver, male Red-breasted Merganser and 5 Goldeneye. Another Great Northern Diver was recorded distantly off Baiter Beach. Turnstone could be found along the Quay, with many feeding among the large flocks of Brent Goose, Starling and Oystercatcher on Baiter Park. Smaller numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit Redshank and Greenshank were also feeding at Baiter. An enjoyable visit to PC World Drain this morning produced c10 Chiffchaff, including one in full song and the Siberian Chiffchaff showed very well, calling twice. The Lytchett Fields Water Pipit was still present long with the 4 Spotted Redshank at Middlebere. This monrning saw 16 Spoonbill feeding out in Wareham Channel and a ringtail Hen Harrier quartering over Arne Moors. With huge auk movements off Portland Bill in the last few days (c30,000/hour early morning on 13th and min. 50,000 yesterday) there may well be big movements elsewhere along the Dorset coast. A seawatch from Branksome could be very fruitful…

Red-breasted Merganser – Poole Park – Clare Slade

Siberian Chiffchaff – PC World Drain – Paul Morton

Harbour Update – posted 15/01/20

Posted on: January 15th, 2020 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Our School Bird Boat today capitalised on the recent stormy weather, picking up 15 Great Northern Diver mostly around the harbour mouth, Brands Bay, South Deep area. The trip didn’t visit any of the northern shoreline or Wareham Channel which often holds several more, so it is possible that 20+ individuals could currently be in the harbour at the moment. Let’s see how many Divers we can pick up off Baiter on our urban guided walk (leaving BoPH HQ at 10am tomorrow).

Lytchett Fields continued to hold 2 Water Pipit and 1 Rock Pipit in front of French’s Pool Viewpoint, along with 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank. 1 Spotted Redshank and 23 Dunlin. The Wareham Common Siberian Chiffchaff was still at base of Northwest Walls in ditch by River Piddle. A total of 5 Goldeneye and a Red-breasted Merganser on Poole Park Lake while a very wet Sunnyside Scrape produced Gadwall new in. The Morden Bog Great Grey Shrike was again observed west of Decoy Pond this morning.

Harbour Update – posted 14/01/20

Posted on: January 14th, 2020 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Rough waters today as Storm Brendan comes in. From the DWT bird boat there were reports of Great Northern Diver, Slavonian Grebe and Common Scoter in the harbour, as well as ~15 Spoonbill at Shipstal Point. The highlight was a Black-throated Diver south of Brownsea Island, near Furzey Island pier. This will be the first Black-throated Diver on record in winter in the harbour.

Elsewhere, 1 Knot and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit reported at Baiter Park. The Siberian Chiffchaff on Wareham Common is still present.

Harbour Update – posted 13/01/20

Posted on: January 13th, 2020 by Birds of Poole Harbour

The day (very briefly) started with a bit of sun, but by sunset a force 8 storm had rolled in battering our office on the quay. Still, there were a few decent sightings including some great views of both Marsh and Hen Harrier hunting out in front of Holton Pools with a Water Pipit on the scrape there too. At Lytchett Fields there were a further 4 Water Pipit along with 4 Green Sandpiper, 235 Lapwing and 2 Greenshank. Just outside the harbour the Great Grey Shrike was again at Morden Bog. Off Baiter the 2 Great Northern Diver were still present but a bit distant.

Harbour Update – posted 12/01/20

Posted on: January 12th, 2020 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Juvenile male and female Hen Harriers were quartering between Swineham & Arne Moors mid-afternoon. Middlebere held c450 Avocet, 120 Lapwing, 78 Redshank, 34 Curlew, 27 Shelduck, 4 Spotted Redshank, 2 Pintail and good numbers of Teal & Wigeon. A Firecrest showed well in the brambles outside of the hide. A flooded Swineham Point offered 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Spotted Redshank, c50 Redshank, 2 Mute Swan, Snipe, 1 Cetti’s Warbler and c150 mobile Lapwingover Keysworth Point. The Morden Bog Great Grey Shrike was again to the west of Old Decoy Pond this morning.

If you’re thinking of birding over the next week, why not join us on a free guided walk. Next Thursday we are exploring the often-overlooked wonders of Poole Quay, Batier and Poole Park. Then Friday we work Holes Bay NE to learn about the harbour’s winter visitors whilst enjoying views of Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Pintail, Wigeon and more. More details of our events can be found here.

Harbour Update – posted 11/01/20

Posted on: January 11th, 2020 by Birds of Poole Harbour

The high tide and strong winds at Middlebere produced highlights of Merlin and ringtail Hen Harrier, large flocks of Wigeon and Teal, c50 Brent Goose, c20 Curlew, c30 Dunlin, 10 Pintail, c300 Avocet and numerous Redshank. A Pochard was among the Tufted Duck and Gadwall at Hatch Pond this morning. The Great Grey Shrike showed well on Morden Bog this morning around Decoy Pond. Also noted were 3 Stonechat, c70 Redwing and 4 Siskin. A Blackcap visited garden feeders in Parkstone, keep an eye out for these increasingly regaular over-wintering warblers.

Harbour Update – posted 10/01/20

Posted on: January 10th, 2020 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Jerry’s Point again offered some of the best birding opportunities in the harbour, featuring the 2 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 5 Black-necked Grebe, 3 Great Northern Diver, 2 Common Scoter, 3 Goldeneye and a Spoonbill on the far side. Additional species observed from the Jerry’s Point included 20+ Great Crested Grebe, 26 Red-breasted Merganser, 50 Oystercatcher, 31 Sanderling, 7 Ringed Plover and a single Avocet.

Middle Beach saw 4 Black-necked Grebe, while Fort Henry / Redend Point held another 4 Black-necked Grebe, 57 Brent Goose, 2 Common Scoter, 3 Ring-necked Parakeet and 1 very vocal Marsh Tit in the woods between Middle Beach and Fort Henry. Redhorn Quay produced 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Sandwich Tern on a post offshore and 1 Great White Egret on the Goathorn shore. Norden sewage treatment works held at least 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Grey Wagtail and 15 Pied Wagtail. A total of 9 Marsh Harrier left the West Harbour roost this morning.

Harbour Update – posted 09/01/20

Posted on: January 9th, 2020 by Birds of Poole Harbour

A Slavonian Grebe was among the more numerous Great Crested Grebe, Brent Goose and Red-breasted Merganser off Jerry’s Point this morning. Upton Heath featured a Kingfisher at main pond. Baiter Park (offshore) boasted 3 Great Northern Diver and a Sandwich Tern. A single Water Pipit remained on Lytchett Fields, as well as 1 Spotted Redshank and 3 Green Sandpiper. Shipstal Point, Arne saw 23 roosting Spoonbill and a Great Northern Diver.

Month:

Call 01202 641 003

© 2025 Birds of Poole Harbour Registered Charity No. 1152615