A nice arrival of a vocal Snow Bunting overhead at Shell Bay, close to the chain ferry this morning. It couldn’t be re-found at Studland, but could easily be hiding somewhere in the sand dune system, so worth checking in the next couple of days. In Studland Bay there were 1 Black-necked Grebe and 3 Great Northern Diver off Middle Beach, with 3 Slavonian Grebe off South Beach. 1 Jack Snipe was also seen from Shell Bay and 5 Red-throated diver passed south. 1 Siberian Chiffchaff was still in the PC World Drain and another was found at Norden Sewage Works.

43 Russian White-fronted Geese were again in the field just East of Ridge, this time with 1 Barnacle Goose. 1 Purple Sandpiper was still on the Sandbanks Groynes. In Lytchett Bay on the falling tide early morning, there was a season high count of 321 Lapwing, 67 Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Avocet, 1 Green Sandpiper and later in the morning there were 13 Spoonbill and 1 Spotted Redshank.

The 9 Glossy Ibis moved up the River Frome today, outside of the harbour boundary and were feeding at Waddock Cross Cress Beds with 2 Green Sandpiper. The 17 Tundra Bean Geese were feeding in the fields south of Binegar again. 1 female Goosander flew upriver from Holmebridge. The 1 Yellow-browed Warbler was seen at Hatch Pond, although not showing very well and only seen briefly. 85 Bar-tailed Godwit were feeding on this morning’s low tide in Whitley Lake. Late reports included a drake Goosander on Swineham this evening.

From our Young Birders Boat Trip this morning, Dorset fledged White-tailed Eagle G834 was again in the Wareham Channel, this time sat out on the mudflats devouring a fish. On the low tide there were c500 Avocet feeding, c400 Dunlin, 2 Marsh Harrier and 3 Goldeneye with 2 Pochard on Swineham Gravel Pit. In South Deep there were at least 7 Black-necked Grebe, 16 Goldeneye and 3 Great Northern Diver with a further 4 between the north shore of Brownsea and Poole. 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Black-necked Grebe and 6 Great Northern Diver were seen flying into the harbour at first light but no sign of the Black-throated Diver that has been flying into the harbour every morning.

Great Northern Diver – South Deep from our Winter Safari Cruise – Alastair Swinnerton

There was a minor hint of a cold weather movement this morning with a few small flocks of Redwing and a single Fieldfare passing over Poole Quay, but after that, there didn’t seem to be much response from the colder weather further north.

That said, there was still plenty to be enjoyed, including 6 Great Northern Diver spread across the northern fringes of the harbour and South Deep, plus 5 Black-necked Grebe near the harbour entrance and 12+ Goldeneye off Redhorn Quay. There were 34 Russian White-fronted Geese back in the Fields at Ridge and 17 Tundra Bean Geese were in the field at Binneagr again, but were seen flying around Holmebridge (within our harbour recording area) around lunchtime as they were flushed by a White-tailed Eagle.

Talking of eagles, last year obviously saw the first successful breeding of White-tailed Eagle in Dorset for the first time in c300 years, however the youngster soon departed the harbour and has spent the last 3-months ‘out of county’, teaching it’s self to hunt. However yesterday he returned and we saw him from our Winter Safari Cruise this morning in the Wareham Channel as he sat looking out across the landscape before disappearing off towards Rockley Park. This is the first time ‘G834’ has been seen out in the harbour by people, and it’s just incredible to know we already have ‘second generation’ White-tailed Eagles now active and present in the area for people to enjoy.

Elsewhere, at the PCW Drain at Holes Bay there was definitely 1, but likely 2 Siberian Chiffchaff present opposite KFC, with both seemingly very pale, but only one calling, giving the diagnostic Siberian Chiffchaff call. There were also 15+ Common Chiffchaff present too. At Swineham 2 Bearded Tit were feeding at Swineham Point. Cattle Egret are very numerous around the western reaches in the Frome Valley with c50 moving around various cattle fields. At Sandbanks there were 2 Purple Sandpiper on the groynes just east of the Haven Hotel, 13 Spoonbill were in the Wareham Channel and the Yellow-browed Warbler was at the northern end of Hatch Pond again.

One (possibly 2) Siberian Chiffchaff – PCW Drain, opposite KFC

Definite Siberian Chiffchaff – PCW Drain, opposite KFC

Questionable Siberian Chiffchaff – PCW Drain, opposite KFC

Cattle Egret – Piddle Valley

Although the ice had largely gone, the cold was very much still in the wind, but with a lot of snow forecast for much of the country over the coming days, will we see the birding benefits? This afternoon a fantastic count of 52 Russian White-fronted Geese landed on Swineham GP, having gone missing from their favourite fields at Ridge since January 5th. The Tundra Bean Geese were also at Binnegar again this morning, but were seen heading in from the harbour direction about 9:15am, so they could be roosting somewhere in the Frome Valley at night? The Yellow-browed Warbler was pleasing crowds at Hatch Pond pretty much all day and this morning the Black-throated Diver entered the harbour just after sunrise. There was 1 Purple Sandpiper on the angled groyne at Sandbanks near the Haven Hotel, 5 Great Northern Diver were spread across northern areas of the harbour and there was 1 each of Black-necked Grebe and Slavonian Grebe off Jerry’s Point. The roaming Glossy Ibis of 10 flock were seen around Wareham and headed to the Swineham roost at dusk, plus there were 20+ Cattle Egret in fields around the west of Wareham. A Green-winged Teal was found out from Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne this afternoon.

We also received some fascinating extra news today in relation to a sat-tagged dark-bellied Brent Goose, ring number ‘SY’, that was seen and photographed by Simon Johnson on December 29th at Baiter, and again by our team member Mya Bambrick at the start of the year. Not only have we received the ringing location back which was in March 2025 at Butjadingen, Lower-Saxony in NW Germany, we’ve also received tracking maps highlighting the birds migration route, breeding grounds and over-wintering site from the last 11 months. Plus, a detailed map of this birds movements around Poole Harbour since it’s arrival in early November. This is such great data for a bird that we see so frequently, but often don’t take too much notice of!

Dark-bellied Brent Goose ‘SY’ photographed on Dec 29th by Simon Johnson – Baiter Park

Data highlighting ‘SYs’ migration route, breeding location and over-wintering location

Data highlighting ‘SYs’ movemnets around Poole Harbour since it’s arrival in early November. 

Tricky to photograph Yellow-browed Warbler – Hatch Pond – Rene Goad

Absolutely freezing once again, but winter beauty welcomed us all at dawn. With potential snow at the end of the week will we see a potential big weather movement? There have definitely been Lapwing on the move this last 4 days, not in huge numbers, but small parties of 20+ have been passing west, north of the harbour, and once again Redwing are still very numerous, entering urban gardens since New Year. The settled weather seems to have put everything else on hold though with no other new arrivals with todays highlights consisting of pretty much the same as yesterday with 10 Glossy Ibis moving over Wareham at dawn, 44 Russian White-fronted Goose at Ridge/RSPB Arne Moors, 1 Black-throated Diver in through the harbour entrance at dawn, 2 Slavonian Grebe and 4 Black-necked Grebe, 10 Goldeneye, 3 Great Northern Diver and 1 White-tailed Eagle were off Jerry’s Point, 2 Purple Sandpiper were on the Sandbanks groynes by the Haven Hotel and 14 Tundra Bean Geese in the Frome Valley, just beyond Holmebridge.

Purple Sandpiper, Sandbanks groynes

So, so cold, but also so, so beautiful. The bright winter sun, and HUGE full moon rising this evening was just perfect in all regards. The full moon and cold weather is certainly seeing some cold weather movements occurring with Holes Bay hosting nearly c4000 wildfowl alone including 1912 Wigeon, a Holes Bay record of 288 Pintail, 1070 Teal and 191 Shoveler. There were no new scarcer arrivals (as of yet) but all the hangers on were still present including the c40 Russian White-fronted Geese moving between RSPB Arne Moors and the field at Ridge, the 10 Glossy Ibis were briefly in the Frome Valley but then flew into Swineham GP to roost this evening, 7 Black-necked Grebe were off Jerry’s Point along with 2 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Great Northern Diver, 8 Goldeneye and 1 Black-throated Diver. There was 1 Purple Sandpiper on the Groyne around from the Haven Hotel, 8 Mandarin Duck were on the River Piddle this afternoon. A Barnacle Goose was on the Piddle Flods early doors then relocated to the Swineham paddocks, and 46 Cattle Egret flew up the Frome Valley this morning, the 15 Tundra Bean Geese were still frustratingly a few hundred meters just outside our harbour recording area at Binnegar, just up from Holmebridge and what seems to be the final Studland Ring-necked Parakeet was in trees at Fort Henry, Studland. Finally there was 1 Slavonian Grebe and 1 Great Northern Diver off Middle Beach, Studland.

Russian White-fronted Geese – Ridge, Wareham 

Once again, it was another bird-packed day across the harbour recording area, with this morning seeing our first ‘Safari Cruise’ of 2026 which logged a great mix of winter species including the drake Scaup off Goathorn, 7 Black-necked Grebe out in South Deep, 4 Great Northern Diver spread across the harbour, 18 Spoonbill and c200 Avocet roosting on the Gull Islands in the Wareham Channel, 1 White-tailed Eagle in the Wareham Channel and 7 Marsh Harrier and 1 Merlin around Swineham. Other highlights from the day included the flock of c40 Russian White-fronted Geese moving between their favourite field at Ridge and RSPB Arne Moors, 1 Barnacle Goose at Swineham, the 10 Glossy Ibis were feeding in the mid-Frome Valley, just off the by-pass and later flew into Swineham to roost along with c50 Cattle Egret, 2 Great White Egret and a Bittern flew across the pit at dusk. There was also 1 Black-throated Diver that flew into the harbour at dawn and 1 Slavonian Grebe was off Jerry’s Point and a drake Pochard was on Swineham GP. Elsewhere there were 15 Tundra Bean Geese just outside the recording area between Holmebridge and Wool, just below Binnigar.

Female Merlin – Swineham GP from this mornings Winter Safari – Martin Wright

Happy New Year everyone! What a stunning start to 2026……cold, crisp and full of birds. Many a folk now ‘year list’, whether it be logging and tallying the birds they see in their gardens over the year, in Dorset or even across the country. Over the calendar year Poole Harbour offers a great opportunity to see and count a great range of birds, and New Years day often see’s many people out searching high and low for some of the tricker/scarcer species to ensure they’re on their lists nice and early. The big question for today was whether yesterdays Smew would hang around and provide a nice early 2026 gift. The short answer is no…..they didn’t hang around….or at best, simply weren’t found. Maybe, just maybe they’ll reappear somewhere in the coming days?

Regardless of the absent Smew, there were still loads of birds logged today, starting off at dawn with 4 different Great White Egret flying down/around the Lower Piddle Valley at first light as 3 Woodcock headed back to their woodland day time roosts and a Little Grebe called, passing in the dark overhead. As the light built 35 Cattle Egret then headed towards Wareham Common to feed. The 10 Glossy Ibis appeared from the Swineham direction about 8:30am, looking as if they were going to settle in the fields just south of Wareham train station, but in fact, took a detour and headed to the Frome Valley instead where they were later found feeding just west of the bypass. The White-fronted Goose flock grew to 43 today, still feeding in teh field just east of Ridge with a lone Barnacle Goose there too. The Tundra Bean Geese hadn’t been seen for a few days, but an amazing total of 14 were found further up the Frome Valley, just west of Holmebridge in fields below Binnegar. Whilst searching for the Smew, incidental finds included 7 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Great Northern Diver and 1 Scaup. There were also 3 White-tailed Eagle soaring over Brands Bay along plus another was in the Wareham Channel. Merlin were seen out on Arne Moors and at Middlebere, a Pochard was on Swineham GP, Spoonbills were on the Gull Islands (6), Lytchett Bay (7), Brands Bay (1) and Holes Bay (2). being early January some birds are already starting to sing with Crossbills seen and heard displaying at Greenlands Farm and Slepe Heath. There were 2 Spotted Redshank, one in Upton CP and 1 in Lytchett Bay. Marsh Harrier totals are still good with no less than 7 floating around the west of the harbour. This afternoon a Great White Egret was at Holmebridge and 53 Cattle Egret were seen flying over Wareham Common into roost. Finally, there was a late but unconfirmed report of a White Stork at Sunnyside, Ridge.

Two juvenile White-tailed Eagles over Brands Bay – Mark Wright