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 22/11/19

Posted on: November 22nd, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Wednesday saw the beginning of our Sunnyside Ringing Demos, and what a start! Within the hour we had terrific views of the trio – Woodcock, Common Snipe AND Jack Snipe. Not only that, but we were able to compare juvenile and adult Woodcock in the hand at the same time. Six other Ringing Demo events are available between December and February. A full list of Ringing Demo events can be found here. Please note booking is essential as places are limited per event.

Returning to today, Sunnyside Scrape received an uncommon visitor in the form of a Little Grebe. Brownsea Lagoon saw 2 Greenshank, 18 Curlew, 4 Brent Goose, 1 Green Woodpecker amongst numerous Avocet, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit and Dunlin. A small flock of Shoveler spent the day shoveling but not wildfowl numbers on the lagoon today were relatively low. Holton Pools held Redshank, Greenshank, Stonechat as well as a Marsh Harrier making a welcome appearance. A total of 85 Brent Goose were feeding at Baiter Park and a Firecrest and Grey Wagtail frequented Norden sewage works, Corfe Castle. A notable flock of 65 Pintail frequented Shipstal, amongst numerous Curlew and 17 mobile Spoonbill. Great Northern Diver was close in at Baiter this morning and a pair of Goldeneye were close in at Parkstone Bay this morning.

Woodcock – Sunnyside Ringing Demo – Dorothy Widnall

Common Snipe – Sunnyside Ringing Demo – Dorothy Widnall

Great Northern Diver – Baiter – Ian Ballam

 Goldeneye – Parkstone Bay – Ian Ballam

Harbour Update – posted 21/11/19

Posted on: November 21st, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Jerry’s Point at midday offered 2 Velvet Scoter, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver close in, 6 Black-necked Grebe, 7 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Sandwich Tern as well as 10 Sanderling, 7 Turnstone and 3 Grey Plover on beach. Poole Quay produced Great Northern Diver, Common Guillemot, Great Crested Grebe and two small flocks of Avocet from our office window, but we’re still working on picking up the Long-tailed Duck from the office! Excitingly, a Purple Sandpiper was seen near the chain ferry at Studland.

High water levels at Lytchett Bay held good numbers on Approach Field including Dunlin, Greenshank, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Lapwing and Teal. Also, 2 Marsh Harrier quartering about Lytchett Fields this morning with the 2nd bird seen to catch a teal on French’s Pool.

Harbour Update – posted 20/11/19

Posted on: November 20th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Wareham Piddle flood turned up 7 Shoveler, Jack Snipe, c50 Black-tailed Godwit and Little Grebe. Lytchett Fields was more productive this afternoon holding 3 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank, 74 Dunlin, 70 Lapwing and 99 Redshank. Working along from Houseboats to Brand’s Bay produced 3 Sanderling, 3 Grey Plover, 4 Redshank and numerous Turnstone, Brent Goose, Red-breasted Merganser, Wigeon, Teal. The rising tide offered 4 Great Crested Grebe and a Red-necked Grebe.

A Great Grey Shrike has been recorded at Wareham forest over the last few days. This morning the bird was seen at Sugar Hill, south of small car park on Hyde Bog, along with a couple of Crossbill and a flyover flock of c100 Redwing. Holes Bay NE produced a female Scaup and our weekly Poole Town Birding Walk offered views of 2 Goldeneye on Poole Park, 5 Brent Goose towards Whitecliffe and comparison of feeding Black-tailed Godwit and Bar-tailed Godwit at Baiter Park amongst the Oystercatchers.

Harbour Update – posted 19/11/19

Posted on: November 19th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Today saw the first decent frost across the harbour with the water flat as glass across much of the area. Writing the sightings during the winter is always such a pleasure as there’s always so much to comment on. At Swineham the White-fronted Goose was still on the flood plain and a Jack Snipe was flushed from along the two-rivers walk. At Lytchett Fields there was 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, 7 Avocet, 70 Dunlin and 1 female Marsh Harrier. In Middlebere there were 2 Spotted Redshank, 30 Grey Plover, 200 Dunlin, 40 Curlew, 37 Redshank, c350 Avocet, c200 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Great White Egret and 1 Marsh Harrier. In Brands Bay counts included 281 Wigeon, 48 Pintail, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 121 Black-tailed Godwit and 30+ Lapwing. In Bramble Bush Bay 7 Sanderling were on the shoreline along with 6 Ringed Plover, c20 Turnstone and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit. On Hartland Moor c220 Fieldfare were still busy feeding on berries, a Marsh Harrier was sat out in the middle of the moor and 22 Lapwing flew over. In Poole Park a Water Rail was feeding on the small duck pond and there were 28 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebe, 34 Oystercatcher, 36 Coot and 2 Redshank whilst around Baiter 2 Goldeneye were out in Parkstone Bay along with 21 Brent Geese, 20 Turnstone, 76 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit and 1 Med Gull. There were 2 Kingfisher were off Poole Quay, 8 Black-necked Grebe off Middle Beach and the 1st winter Long-tailed Duck was off the northern end of the Brownsea Lagoon.

Water Rail – Poole Park – Samuel Levy

Harbour Update – posted 19/11/19

Posted on: November 19th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Today saw the first decent frost across the harbour with the water flat as glass across much of the area. Writing the sightings during the winter is always such a pleasure as there’s always so much to comment on. At Swineham the White-fronted Goose was still on the flood plain and a Jack Snipe was flushed from along the two-rivers walk. At Lytchett Fields there was 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, 7 Avocet, 70 Dunlin and 1 female Marsh Harrier. In Middlebere there were 2 Spotted Redshank, 30 Grey Plover, 200 Dunlin, 40 Curlew, 37 Redshank, c350 Avocet, c200 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Great White Egret and 1 Marsh Harrier. In Brands Bay counts included 281 Wigeon, 48 Pintail, 4 Red-breasted Merganser, 121 Black-tailed Godwit and 30+ Lapwing. In Bramble Bush Bay 7 Sanderling were on the shoreline along with 6 Ringed Plover, c20 Turnstone and 1 Bar-tailed Godwit. On Hartland Moor c220 Fieldfare were still busy feeding on berries, a Marsh Harrier was sat out in the middle of the moor and 22 Lapwing flew over. In Poole Park a Water Rail was feeding on the small duck pond and there were 28 Tufted Duck, 4 Little Grebe, 34 Oystercatcher, 36 Coot and 2 Redshank whilst around Baiter 2 Goldeneye were out in Parkstone Bay along with 21 Brent Geese, 20 Turnstone, 76 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit and 1 Med Gull. There were 2 Kingfisher were off Poole Quay, 8 Black-necked Grebe off Middle Beach and the 1st winter Long-tailed Duck was off the northern end of the Brownsea Lagoon.

Water Rail – Poole Park – Samuel Levy

Harbour update – posted 18/11/19

Posted on: November 18th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Find of the day was awarded to a 1st year male Long-tailed Duck located off the western end of The Lagoon sea wall around midday. At least 4 Goldeneye were also kicking about the harbour amongst good numbers of Red-breasted Merganser. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were Spotted Redshank 6, Greenshank 7, Redshank 35, Knot 22, Grey Plover 94, Ringed Plover 29, Turnstone 6, Sanderling 5, Dunlin 1,385, Curlew 25, Bar-tailed godwit 37, Black-tailed godwit 542, Avocet 85, Oystercatcher 124, Common Snipe 1, Spoonbill 17, Little Egret 1, Grey heron 11, Cormorant 37, Shelduck 29, Teal 189, Shoveler 55, Mallard 3, Gadwall 50, Eurasian Wigeon 67, Common gull 1, Great black-backed gull 15, Black-headed gull 3 and Moorhen 18

The ringing session at Lytchett Heath began with views of a Marsh Harrier leaving the roost at Lytchett heading west. Yesterday saw 3 Marsh Harrier leaving Lytchett in the morning. Holton Pools also recorded an individual late morning. The ringing session was fairly quiet with a couple of Cetti’s Warbler and a Redwing the highlights.

Harbour Update – posted 18/11/19

Posted on: November 18th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

Find of the day was awarded to a 1st year male Long-tailed Duck located off the western end of The Lagoon sea wall around midday. At least 4 Goldeneye were also kicking about the harbour amongst good numbers of Red-breasted Merganser. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were Spotted Redshank 6, Greenshank 7, Redshank 35, Knot 22, Grey Plover 94, Ringed Plover 29, Turnstone 6, Sanderling 5, Dunlin 1,385, Curlew 25, Bar-tailed godwit 37, Black-tailed godwit 542, Avocet 85, Oystercatcher 124, Common Snipe 1, Spoonbill 17, Little Egret 1, Grey heron 11, Cormorant 37, Shelduck 29, Teal 189, Shoveler 55, Mallard 3, Gadwall 50, Eurasian Wigeon 67, Common gull 1, Great black-backed gull 15, Black-headed gull 3 and Moorhen 18

The ringing session at Lytchett Heath began with views of a Marsh Harrier leaving the roost at Lytchett heading west. Yesterday saw 3 Marsh Harrier leaving Lytchett in the morning. Holton Pools also recorded an individual late morning. The ringing session was fairly quiet with a couple of Cetti’s Warbler and a Redwing the highlights.

Harbour update – posted 17/11/19

Posted on: November 17th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

A visit to Swineham Gavel produced c150 Coot, 37 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kingfisher and 6 Reed Bunting. Nearby, the flood fields opposite Redclyffe Yacht Club held 1 White-fronted Goose with 2 domestic geese, 37 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Cetti’s Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff.

A quiet Sunnyside scrape featured 14 Teal, Little Egret and 2 Meadow Pipit. The second November Scaup was recorded today. A female/1st winter was seen brieflyin Holes Bay NE, before flying south of railway line. The Bay also harboured 427 Dunlin and 2 Knot amongst the more common assemblages.

Harbour Update – posted 17/11/19

Posted on: November 17th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

A visit to Swineham Gavel produced c150 Coot, 37 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kingfisher and 6 Reed Bunting. Nearby, the flood fields opposite Redclyffe Yacht Club held 1 White-fronted Goose with 2 domestic geese, 37 Curlew, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Cetti’s Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff.

A quiet Sunnyside scrape featured 14 Teal, Little Egret and 2 Meadow Pipit. The second November Scaup was recorded today. A female/1st winter was seen brieflyin Holes Bay NE, before flying south of railway line. The Bay also harboured 427 Dunlin and 2 Knot amongst the more common assemblages.

Harbour update – posted 16/11/19

Posted on: November 16th, 2019 by Birds of Poole Harbour

A pair of Bar-tailed Godwit continue to Baiter Park as their main feeding area, amongst the Oystercatcher flock, while a Poole garden featured a male and female Blackcap. Littlesea featured 1 Great White Egret and high Kingfisher activity was logged at Holton Pools.

Brownsea Lagoon saw an increase in Spoonbill numbers in recent weeks.  A total of 21 individuals were recorded with the webcam, accompanied by several hundred Dunlin, Knot, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover and Black-tailed Godwit.

Arne featured its first Brambling of the Autumn, located near the RSPB Welcome Hut and a Marsh Harrier was quartering over reedbeds in front of Raptor screen.

Jerry’s Point offered 1 Great Northern Diver, 5 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Common Scoter, 17 Red-breasted Merganser and abundant Great Crested Grebe. 40 Oystercatcher, 4 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit and a single Grey Plover on opposite spit. Brands Bay held c200 Brent Goose, 40 Pintail, c100 Lapwing, c150 Black-tailed Godwit, 60 Curlew & 30 Redshank. A total of 6 Dartford Warbler were recorded on Studland Heath.

Bar-tailed Godwit – Baiter – Ian Ballam

Month:

Call 01202 641 003

© 2026 Birds of Poole Harbour Registered Charity No. 1152615