Today’s undoubted highlight for one lucky observer was of 2 Crane watched flying over Stoborough Heath. A Spotted Redshank was still present in Lytchett Bay and at Norden sewage works there was 1 Firecrest, 5 Goldcrest, 2 Grey Wagtail but there was no sign of the 2 Hawfinch just north of there. 

The 1^st-winter Great Northern Diver is still in Poole Park and at Lytchett Bay there was a ringtail Hen Harrier early morning plus 1 Spoonbill. Arne Bay held 9 Black-necked Grebe with just 3 Spoonbill on Shipstal Point. The number of Purple Sandpiper has doubled (!) at North Haven with 2 seen today in front of the Sandbanks beach office. A Marsh Tit was on feeders in the NT car park at Corfe Castle which is just inside our harbour boundary. Lastly, the Hooded Crow was seen again at Manor Farm, Studland.

The Great Northern Diver continues to delight visitors to Poole Park along with 5 Goldeneye and 4 Red-breasted Merganser. 1 Spoonbill was feeding in Lytchett Bay whilst there were another 2 on nearby French’s Pools. After a bit of an absence a Great White Egret was seen on East Lake, Studland. A single Spotted Redshank was present in Lytchett Bay. The Hooded Crow made another appearance at Manor Farm, Studland. 2 Crossbill flew over Salterns Copse, Arne, and 2 Hawfinch were seen again in trees to the north of Norden sewage works. 

As yet another wet and wild winter storm hit these parts it was perhaps unsurprising that nobody appeared to venture out and consequently no records were received.

The resident Great Northern Diver was still in Poole Park along with 6 Goldeneye and a pair of Red-breasted Merganser. In Lytchett Bay there were 3 Spoonbill whilst a ringtail Hen Harrier quartered the reedbed at the far side from Turlin Moor and nearby 2 Lesser Redpoll were along Lytchett Way. An adult white-winged gull was also seen heading south over Arne Moors mid morning bust sadly a confimred ID couldn’t be had.

We also had an incredible piece of news this evening from our project partners in the Poole Harbour Osprey translocation project. Tim Mackrill received news from a warden friend of his in Western Senegal that one of our chicks from the 2017 release, LS7, has been seen safe and well in the Sine-Saloum Delta. This is just brilliant. This area is a well know Osprey over-wintering hot spot that Tim has visited before in which he states “you couldn’t choose to be anywhere better during the winter if you’re an Osprey than there…LS7 has chosen well”

The worry and mystery we felt after all 8 of our chicks left Poole Harbour during August and September last year was so intence, not knowing how they were going to fare. To know one is safe and well and in an good over-wintering spot fills the project with so much promise. We’d like to thank Adama Lene for getting the news to us quickly from Africa and we hope for more reports and sightings like this of other Poole harbour chicks over the coming years. Tim Mackrill will be writing a blog post about LS7 and its over-wintering spot which will be available tomorrow. TOP WORK LS7!!!!!

LS7’s original UK and current African location

The adult Black Brant again paid a brief visit to Middlebere but coinciding a visit for when it is in view remains a lottery. From today’s School Bird Boat the Velvet Scoter, 2 Common Scoter, 3 Black-necked Grebe and a Great Northern Diver were all seen in Bramble Bush Bay. The resident Great Northern Diver remains in Poole Park now gaining local celebrity status. Spoonbill were in their usual haunts around the harbour with 20 on Shipstal Point, 2 on Brownsea Lagoon and 1 still on Lytchett Fields RSPB. The lone Purple Sandpiper was again on the groynes and small outcrops at North Haven with 25 Sanderling in attendance. At Holton Lee a couple of Woodlark were seen as well as 1 Common Crossbill, 5 Lesser Redpoll and 45 Siskin. The scrape there held singles of Green Sandpiper and Greenshank whilst a Marsh Harrier patrolled the reeds.

Purple Sandpiper – North Haven – Ian Ballam

Dunlin in amongst Sanderling – North Haven – Ian Ballam

It may have been a rather damp and miserable day but that didn’t deter the enthusiasm on today’s public bird boat and we were duly rewarded for our efforts. Undoubted highlights were a Red-necked Grebe out in the middle of the harbour and as we returned to the quay an adult Little Gull flew between the boat and Brownsea heading towards the Wareham Channel. At least 7 Great Northern Diver were dotted around the harbour but just 1 Black-necked Grebe was seen. Brownsea Lagoon was busy with 20+ Pintail and good numbers of Shoveler, Wigeon, Teal and Gadwall in addition to 70+ Bar-tailed Godwit including the breeding-plumaged bird. Other waders on the lagoon included a couple of Greenshank, 3 Turnstone, Black-tailed Godwit and plenty of Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Curlew and Avocet. 3 Spoonbill were tucked up in the far corner of the lagoon and a further 15 birds were in their usual spot on Shipstal Point. A single Razorbill was bombing around between Brownsea and Brand’s Bay and 2 Guillemot were off Poole Quay. Rafts of Red-breasted Merganser were a delight to see so close to the boat and probably numbered around 150 with lesser numbers (c20) of Goldeneye. Lastly, a Peregrine was seen over the boat near the docks and c10 Ringed Plover were on the quay wall.

Starling – Baiter – Ian Ballam

Great Northern Diver – Central Harbour – Paul Morton

The Velvet Scoter and Common Scoter were off the houseboats again along with 1 Great Northern Diver and 3 Black-necked Grebe. Just around the corner in Shell Bay there were 2 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Great Northern Diver and 30 Sanderling and further along in Studland Bay were 4 Common Scoter, 1 Slavonian Grebe and 8 Black-necked Grebe off Knoll Beach car park. Two Spoonbill were in Lytchett Bay and in the west of the harbour there was an adult male Hen Harrier with two ringtails and 2 Merlin.

2 Egyptian Geese were again near East Holme from Holmebridge. The friendly Great Northern Diver was still in Poole Park with 3 more in Bramble Bush Bay and a further 3 in Middle Beach where there was also 3 Common Scoter and 2 Black-necked Grebe. Inside the harbour there was a Slavonian Grebe off Green Island and 6 Black-necked Grebe were seen from Shipstal Point first thing where there was also c20 Spoonbill, 1 Hen Harrier and 2 Common Crossbill. At North Haven there was just the 1 Purple Sandpiper with 5 Ringed Plover.

The Black Brant was seen again amongst 200 or so Brent Geese from the Coombe Heath Hide. Nearby 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-necked Grebe and 3 Black-necked Grebe were viewable in Arne Bay from Shipstal Point and the Poole Park Great Northern Diver is still in residence. The only report of Spoonbill today was of 1 in Brand’s Bay. Middlebere continues to be the most reliable site to see Hen Harrier in the habour where a ringtail was seen in the afternoon. Single Spotted Redshank were on Lytchett Fields and in Holes Bay. Lastly, 2 Water Pipit were on Lytchett Fields.