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

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

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.

Lytchett Fields held 7 Water Pipit, 4 Spotted Redshank, 3 Dunlin, 3 Greenshank and 40 Redshank. Brownsealagoon webcams offered views of c50 Avocet, c100 Dunlin, c20 Curlew, Grey Plover and numerous wildfowl. A morning along Holes Bay NE and NW produced c500 Black-tailed Godwit, c600 Wigeon, 29 Avocet, 84 Dunlin, c120 Redshank, c60 Curlew, c60 Oystercatcher, c50 Shoveler, c20 Pintail, 3 Kingfisher and 1 Brent Goose. Baiter Park featured singles Sandwich Tern and female Goldeneye.

A very flooded Middlebere produced c400 Avocet, c500 Black-tailed Godwit, 76 lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 37 Curlew, 5 Spotted Redshank, 47 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 19 Pintail numerous Redshank and a male Marsh Harrier. A flock of 20 Fieldfare and hundreds of Starling were feeding among the surrounding hedges. A count of c150 Dark-bellied Brent Goose were recorded at the mouth of Middlebere Lake.

Lytchett Fields harboured a minimum of 3 Water Pipit, 2 Spotted Redshank, 103 Lapwing and 4 Tufted Duck. A Firecrest was observed at Holton Lee today, while the Pools logged a single Green Sandpiper. Holes Bay South featured a Kingfisher early afternoon and a Grey Wagtail from the cycle path along Holes Bay East. A Black Redstart was reported on Brownsea Island this afternoon.

Sightings were a bit thin on the ground today, with Wareham Common and Swineham some of the few areas covered. The floods next to Wareham Bypass on Wareham Common held 2 Egyptian Goose and 163 Black-tailed Godwit. There was a Grey Wagtail at North Mill. On the Big Pit at Swineham there were 4 Pochard and 1 Pintail, but no sign of the Phalarope.

There was also no sign of the Phalarope on the pools, however, there were three species of wader on the Curlews Pool namely Lapwing 7, Curlew 10 and 4 Black-tailed Godwit. On Stilt pool there were 160 Canada Goose and a single Black-tailed Godwit.

Outside the recording area a Pomerine Skua flew past Durlston Country Park and a Hoopoe was also reported.