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Poole Harbour sightings blog

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

Latest Sightings

Harbour Update – posted 06/11/19

Posted on: November 6th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Another exciting day today with plenty of interest. The undoubted highlight (well, for us anyway) was the mass Wood Pigeon migration that took place over the harbour this AM.  It’s one of our favourite days in the birding calendar when the Wood Pigeon migrate…..yes, really sad I know. But its one hell of a spectacle and this morning around 50,000 moved west, south west high above the harbour, passing over Sandbanks and Brownsea. It happens every year, but only on a single morning when the conditions are perfect, normally between Nov 1st – 10th with crystal clear sky’s and a light NE breeze. Below are several videos of the many hundreds of flocks that flew over between 8am and 9am this morning. Annoyingly we missed the peak time which is normally between 7am and 8am. In 2010 a record count of 161,000 were counted on the morning of November 7th……it was quite a sight!

It’s assumed these are all UK Wood Pigeons that have moved south through the country during the late summer and early Autumn and are departing the south coast, heading down into Cork Oak forests of Portugal and Spain.

There was plenty else on offer today too with the Wood Sandpiper still on the Swineham Scrape along with 2 Green Sandpiper, 35 Curlew, 62 Lapwing, 1 Redshank and 2 Common Snipe. In Brands Bay the drake Velvet Scoter was still present along with 3 Common Scoter, also the first 2 drake Goldeneye of the winter and 3 Black-necked Grebe. Off Middle Beach, Studland the summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was still there along with 15 Black-necked Grebe. A flock of 2-3000 Starling left the reedbeds near Swineham at dawn as Marsh Harrier began to stir in the Wareham Channel. Finally, a Great Bustard was seen again in flight over Brownsea this time, heading towards Arne and just outside the harbour boundary an adult male Hen Harrier was seen at Morden Bog.

Wood Pigeon migration over Poole Harbour this morning

Harbour Update – posted 05/11/19

Posted on: November 5th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

It was much of the same today but still all exciting none the less. The Velvet Scoter was out near Brownsea mid-morning but was seen flying towards the harbour mouth and the 3 Common Scoter were still present in Brands Bay along with c30 Red-breasted Merganser and 6 Black-necked Grebe. A summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was off Middle Beach. In Middlebere there were c200 Avocet, c600 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Dunlin, 75 Lapwing, 1 Peregrine, 6 Spoonbill, 17 Grey Plover, 22 Brent Geese and 27 Curlew with a few Fieldfare about too. The best news of the day was that the west Poole Harbour harrier roost saw 10 Marsh Harrier leave this morning, which is the highest since 2016. The Little Owl was seen at Holton Lee first thing this AM and in Holes Bay North, Avocet, Redshank, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Black-tailed Godwit and Gadwall were all on easy show from the Stone Bench at Upton CP and along the cycle path.

Harbour Update – posted 05/11/19

Posted on: November 5th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

It was much of the same today but still all exciting none the less. The Velvet Scoter was out near Brownsea mid-morning but was seen flying towards the harbour mouth and the 3 Common Scoter were still present in Brands Bay along with c30 Red-breasted Merganser and 6 Black-necked Grebe. A summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was off Middle Beach. In Middlebere there were c200 Avocet, c600 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Dunlin, 75 Lapwing, 1 Peregrine, 6 Spoonbill, 17 Grey Plover, 22 Brent Geese and 27 Curlew with a few Fieldfare about too. The best news of the day was that the west Poole Harbour harrier roost saw 10 Marsh Harrier leave this morning, which is the highest since 2016. The Little Owl was seen at Holton Lee first thing this AM and in Holes Bay North, Avocet, Redshank, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Black-tailed Godwit and Gadwall were all on easy show from the Stone Bench at Upton CP and along the cycle path.

Harbour Update – posted 04/11/19

Posted on: November 4th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

There’s no doubt Poole Harbour is easiest to bird than in winter with good numbers of a whole host of species dotted around various parts of the harbour. With yesterdays Long-tailed Duck and Scaup the winter vibe really picked up and it continued this morning too with a Velvet Scoter settled out in Brands Bay along with 9 Black-necked Grebe, 46 Red-breasted Merganser, 28 Great Crested Grebe and a Great Northern Diver was in Shell Bay. Around the Groynes of North Haven 3 Rock Pipit were feeding on cast seaweed and a few Meadow Pipit were moving overhead. Out in Whitley Lake, Sandbanks there were 108 Brent Geese, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit and 11 Turnstone. Off Branksome Chine 3 Sandwich Tern were feeding along the shoreline and 3 Common Scoter were settled on the water at the end of the day before alighting and headed into the harbour where they settled off Jerry’s Point with 2 Great Northern Diver which also flew in at dusk whilst 23 Shag left. At Lytchett Fields there were 4 Avocet, 6 Greenshank, 8 Dunlin, c70 Redshank, 1 Water Pipit and 1 Rock Pipit and out in Lytchett Bay 49 Brent Geese, c100 Cormorant, 3 Little Grebe and 1 Red-breasted Merganser were on the water with 2 Bearded Tit in the reedbed. The Sunnyside Scrape was pretty flooded but held good numbers of Lapwing, Teal, Gadwall and Mallard and in Poole Park there was no sign of the Scaup but 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Little Grebe were logged.

Rock Pipit – North Haven – Sandbanks

Harbour Update – posted 04/11/19

Posted on: November 4th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

There’s no doubt Poole Harbour is easiest to bird than in winter with good numbers of a whole host of species dotted around various parts of the harbour. With yesterdays Long-tailed Duck and Scaup the winter vibe really picked up and it continued this morning too with a Velvet Scoter settled out in Brands Bay along with 9 Black-necked Grebe, 46 Red-breasted Merganser, 28 Great Crested Grebe and a Great Northern Diver was in Shell Bay. Around the Groynes of North Haven 3 Rock Pipit were feeding on cast seaweed and a few Meadow Pipit were moving overhead. Out in Whitley Lake, Sandbanks there were 108 Brent Geese, 8 Red-breasted Merganser, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit and 11 Turnstone. Off Branksome Chine 3 Sandwich Tern were feeding along the shoreline and 3 Common Scoter were settled on the water at the end of the day before alighting and headed into the harbour where they settled off Jerry’s Point with 2 Great Northern Diver which also flew in at dusk whilst 23 Shag left. At Lytchett Fields there were 4 Avocet, 6 Greenshank, 8 Dunlin, c70 Redshank, 1 Water Pipit and 1 Rock Pipit and out in Lytchett Bay 49 Brent Geese, c100 Cormorant, 3 Little Grebe and 1 Red-breasted Merganser were on the water with 2 Bearded Tit in the reedbed. The Sunnyside Scrape was pretty flooded but held good numbers of Lapwing, Teal, Gadwall and Mallard and in Poole Park there was no sign of the Scaup but 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Little Grebe were logged.

Rock Pipit – North Haven – Sandbanks

Harbour update – posted 03/11/19

Posted on: November 3rd, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

With the worst of yesterday’s winds passed there were strong winter vibes out in the Harbour today. Early morning saw a summer plumage Great-northern Diver enter through the harbour mouth, along with a Velvet Scoter heading towards South Deep and Brands Bay where it joined c50-60 Red-breasted Merganser. Meanwhile Bramble Bush Bay sheltered 4 Greenshank, 2 Sanderling, 19 Turnstone, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver and 3 Great-crested Grebes. Also a Peregrine passing over Studland. Over the other side of the peninsula there was a nice surprise of c12 Bottlenose Dolphin just outside the harbour mouth off Pilots Point at Shell Bay, along with 1 Common Scoter and a female Long-tailed Duck which settled briefly before being disturbed by jet skis.

On the North Haven side a Black Redstart was found on Sandbanks Pavilion roof, plus c15 Brent Geese in Whitley Lake. Further round at Poole Park there was a 1st-winter Scaup in south-east corner of boating lake just 3 feet off the duck feeding area!

Lytchett Fields was still half flooded this morning holding only 34 Lapwing, Black Headed Gulls and a Little Egret. These were later joined by 94 Avocet, 10 Dunlin and 2 Red-breasted Merganser.

At Middlebere the channel held good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets, Lapwing, Teal & Wigeon, plus 3 Pintail, 7 Brent Geese, 27 Grey Plover & 6 Spotted Redshank. Raptor wise a Peregrine was making the most of the vacant Osprey pole, whilst a Sparrowhawk and a female Marsh Harrier and also made appearances. Further up the track on Hartland moor there was a Male Merlin eating breakfast early morning and later a female at the end of the tramway. Finally, a late Hobby over the Arne Road this afternoon, and 6 Marsh Harrier in west of the harbour around Swineham/Wareham Channel area.

 

Harbour Update – posted 03/11/19

Posted on: November 3rd, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

With the worst of yesterday’s winds passed there were strong winter vibes out in the Harbour today. Early morning saw a summer plumage Great-northern Diver enter through the harbour mouth, along with a Velvet Scoter heading towards South Deep and Brands Bay where it joined c50-60 Red-breasted Merganser. Meanwhile Bramble Bush Bay sheltered 4 Greenshank, 2 Sanderling, 19 Turnstone, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver and 3 Great-crested Grebes. Also a Peregrine passing over Studland. Over the other side of the peninsula there was a nice surprise of c12 Bottlenose Dolphin just outside the harbour mouth off Pilots Point at Shell Bay, along with 1 Common Scoter and a female Long-tailed Duck which settled briefly before being disturbed by jet skis.

On the North Haven side a Black Redstart was found on Sandbanks Pavilion roof, plus c15 Brent Geese in Whitley Lake. Further round at Poole Park there was a 1st-winter Scaup in south-east corner of boating lake just 3 feet off the duck feeding area!

Lytchett Fields was still half flooded this morning holding only 34 Lapwing, Black Headed Gulls and a Little Egret. These were later joined by 94 Avocet, 10 Dunlin and 2 Red-breasted Merganser.

At Middlebere the channel held good numbers of Black-tailed Godwits, Avocets, Lapwing, Teal & Wigeon, plus 3 Pintail, 7 Brent Geese, 27 Grey Plover & 6 Spotted Redshank. Raptor wise a Peregrine was making the most of the vacant Osprey pole, whilst a Sparrowhawk and a female Marsh Harrier and also made appearances. Further up the track on Hartland moor there was a Male Merlin eating breakfast early morning and later a female at the end of the tramway. Finally, a late Hobby over the Arne Road this afternoon, and 6 Marsh Harrier in west of the harbour around Swineham/Wareham Channel area.

Scaup – Poole Park

Bottlenose Dolphin – Studland Beach

Harbour update – posted 02/11/19

Posted on: November 2nd, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

The winds were howling this morning, making the afternoon winds of 36 mph seem positively light! Conditions limited time spent in the field. However, scanning a blustery Brownsea Lagoon from the comfort of our HQ revealed c220 Dunlin, 21 Avocet, c20 Grey Plover and c60Black-tailed Godwit amongst reasonable numbers of Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Redshank, Greenshank, Teal, Gadwall, and Shoveler.

There were no signs of yesterday’s Hen Harriers over at Middlebere but the conditions were far from ideal. Compensation came in the form of several Marsh Harrier showing well as they battled the strong winds including a stunning adult male which are incredibly rare plumage type and age of Marsh Harrier in Poole Harbour. 

A visit to South Haven early afternoon as the winds eased prodiced 1 Red-throated Diver, 125+ Brent Goose, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 10 Sanderling. Brands Bay held 2 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and 17 Turnstone.

Amazingly, an evening visit to Swineham produced a really late Wood Sandpiper on one of the new scrapes which is probably one of the latest Dorset records. Also on the scrapes were c200 Black-tailed Godwit, 24 Lapwing, 53 Curlew and 2 different Marsh Harrier flew over. On the main gravel pit at Swineham was a single Goldeneye (rare here) and 4 Great Crested Grebe. A Black Redstart was in a private garden on the housing estate opposite Purbeck Sports Centre.

Around Studland there was a Red-throated Diver, 125 + Brent Goose, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 10 Sanderling and in Brands Bay 2 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and 17 Turnstone.

 

Marsh Harrier – Middlebere – Simon Kidner


 

A busy scene on Brownsea Lagoon

Black-tailed Godwit – Brownsea Lagoon

Harbour Update – posted 02/11/19

Posted on: November 2nd, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

The winds were howling this morning, making the afternoon winds of 36 mph seem positively light! Conditions limited time spent in the field. However, scanning a blustery Brownsea Lagoon from the comfort of our HQ revealed c220 Dunlin, 21 Avocet, c20 Grey Plover and c60Black-tailed Godwit amongst reasonable numbers of Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Redshank, Greenshank, Teal, Gadwall, and Shoveler.

There were no signs of yesterday’s Hen Harriers over at Middlebere but the conditions were far from ideal. Compensation came in the form of several Marsh Harrier showing well as they battled the strong winds including a stunning adult male which are incredibly rare plumage type and age of Marsh Harrier in Poole Harbour.

A visit to South Haven early afternoon as the winds eased produced 1 Red-throated Diver, 125+ Brent Goose, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 10 Sanderling. Brands Bay held 2 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and 17 Turnstone.

Amazingly, an evening visit to Swineham produced a really late Wood Sandpiper on one of the new scrapes which is probably one of the latest Dorset records. Also on the scrapes were c200 Black-tailed Godwit, 24 Lapwing, 53 Curlew and 2 different Marsh Harrier flew over. On the main gravel pit at Swineham was a single Goldeneye (rare here) and 4 Great Crested Grebe. A Black Redstart was in a private garden on the housing estate opposite Purbeck Sports Centre.

Around Studland there was a Red-throated Diver, 125 + Brent Goose, 4 Ringed Plover, 3 Grey Plover, 1 Turnstone and 10 Sanderling and in Brands Bay 2 Common Scoter, 9 Red-breasted Merganser and 17 Turnstone.

 

Marsh Harrier – Middlebere – Simon Kidner

A busy scene on Brownsea Lagoon

Black-tailed Godwit – Brownsea Lagoon

Harbour Update – posted 01/11/19

Posted on: November 1st, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Finally, 2 Hen Harrier in the harbour today – sighted in and around Middlebere! And it turned out to be a fine day on the raptor front as 4 Marsh Harrier were observed between Arne Moors and Keysworth shore, a female Merlin was perched in birches below Great Knoll on Hartland and at least one (possibly two) Short-eared Owl were seen from Lytchett Bay View during a watch this morning.

An impressive 56 species were recorded during the Lytchett Bay View watch including a sub adult male Marsh Harrier, 375 Wigeon, 328 Teal, 5 Brent Goose, 185 Canada Goose, 9 Mute Swan, 2 Gadwall, 58 Shelduck, 6 Mallard, 1 Red-breasted Merganser (first of the winter in the Bay), 2 Great Crested Grebe, 104 Avocet, 78 Oystercatcher, 46 Lapwing, 28 Curlew, 253 Black-tailed Godwit, 31 Dunlin, 4 Snipe, 2 Greenshank and 132 Redshank. Crikey! Lytchett Fields also held 2 Water Pipit.

A Great Bustard flew over Studland towards Old Harry earlier this afternoon.

A short stint at the Raptor screen, Arne rewarded views of Marsh Harrier and Kingfisher and Fieldfare. Brownsea Lagoon was teeming with activity and the webcams provided views of abundant Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, Grey Plover, Dunlin, Curlew, Brent Goose and various wildfowl.

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