The current bitingly cold wind seems to be keeping people indoors as well as pushing birds into the more sheltered inaccessible parts of the harbour. 3 Spoonbill were again in Lytchett Bay near Otter Point. A Slavonian Grebe was seen off Middle Beach in Studland Bay where 47 Sanderling were counted on Knoll Beach. Nearby the Hooded Crow was still hanging around Manor Farm in Studland village.

The Black Brant was seen again at Middlebere associating with 380 (Dark-bellied) Brent Geese. Single Velvet Scoter and Common Scoter were still in Bramble Bush Bay where a Razorbill was just a bit further in to the west. Two Great Northern Diver were in Shell Bay plus 2 in Bramble Bush Bay, 1 in Arne Bay whilst the confiding individual was still present in Poole Park. A Red-necked Grebe was seen from Shipstal Point out in Arne Bay where there was also 10 Black-necked Grebe. c20 Spoonbill were on their usual roosting spot at Shipstal Point. A ringtail Hen Harrier was observed flying over the track between the Middlebere cottages and the farm buildings and the adult male continues to be seen at various spots in the west of the harbour. From the Avocet Hide a Peregrine was watched unsuccessfully chasing after the massed ranks (1,000+) of Avocet in the Middlebere Channel where there was also 5 Spotted Redshank. Shell Bay held 2 Black-necked Grebe, 43 Sanderling, 34 Grey Plover, 5 Mediterranean Gull, 1 Sandwich Tern and 20+ Linnet. In Holes Bay there was a good count of 14 Little Grebe as well as 1 Spotted Redshank and in the nearby PC World Drain there were 2 Grey Wagtail and a Water Rail. One lucky observer inadvertently disturbed a Jack Snipe from a small pool in the Studland area and you have to wonder just how many of these secretive little waders are lurking around the harbour? Arne RSPB car park is still proving to be a reliable site to see Firecrest with at least 1 being seen there today.

In very changeable conditions today observations were somewhat limited. Up to 5 Great Northern Diver were seen from the school bird boat between Brownsea and Brand’s Bay whilst c500 Brent Geese were along the foreshore between Ower and Fitzworth. Spoonbill were spread around the harbour with 10 at Shipstal Point, 4 at Fitzworth, 2 in Lytchett Bay and 1 on Brownsea Lagoon.

There was no news either way on the Poole Park Great Northern Diver but here are some lovely photos of the bird taken on 12^th January:

Great Northern Diver – Poole Park © Nick Mudge

Great Northern Diver – Poole Park © Nick Mudge

Great Northern Diver – Poole Park © Nick Mudge 

The Velvet Scoter was still in Bramble Bush Bay and is best viewed from near the House Boats. Also in that area were 3 Black-necked Grebe, 4 Great Northern Diver, 47 Sanderling and 8 Ringed Plover. The Great Northern Diver is still performing for the cameras in Poole Park, most of the time. A Great White Egret was in the Middlebere Channel in addition to 5 Spoonbill. The male Hen Harrier was hunting once more over Arne Moors. In Brand’s Bay there were 89 Grey Plover, 15 Knot and 249 Brent Geese. The Hooded Crow put in another appearance around Studland village.

The immature female Velvet Scoter was still in Bramble Bush Bay whilst the confiding 1^st winter Great Northern Diver continues in Poole Park with a further 3 in Shell Bay and 4 elsewhere around the harbour. 5 Black-necked Grebe were seen in the centre of the harbour with another 6 in Studland Bay where there was also 5 Common Scoter. 15 Spoonbill were roosting off Shipstal Point with 2 at Middlebere and 1 at Brand’s Bay. 2 ringtail Hen Harrier and a male Merlin were seen from the Avocet Hide at Middlebere late afternoon. A couple of Razorbill were around the harbour mouth and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was briefly off The House Boats. The Spotted Redshank was still in Holes Bay NE by the outflow. A single Hawfinch was seen in trees near Norden Station and at the nearby sewage works there were at least 12 Chiffchaff.

The adult Black Brant was seen again from Coombe Screen in the Middlebere Channel although once again wasn’t on view for long. However, the immature female Velvet Scoter seems to have become quite settled in Bramble Bush Bay were there was also 2 Great Northern Diver. The confiding 1^st winter Great Northern Diver was still in Poole Park. 8 Black-necked Grebe were in the centre of the harbour as well as around 20 Goldeneye and 120 Red-breasted Merganser. 15 Ringed Plover were on the shore near The House Boats (South Haven) with single Spotted Redshank on Sherford Pools and Holes Bay NE by the outflow. There seems to be a few more Redwing on the move at the moment and a flock of 25 in a Lilliput garden must have been a nice sight. A Brambling was seen at Lytchett Bay View.

Numbers of Egyptian Geese continue to rise in the harbour area with 9 to the east of Holmebridge with another flying north over Lytchett Bay. Bramble Bush Bay still held the immature female Velvet Scoter as well as 5 Great Northern Diver and 1 Black-necked Grebe. The Poole Park Great Northern Diver was still in attendance catching crabs on the main boating lake. Four Spoonbill were on Brownsea Lagoon with another 5 on the foreshore in the Fitzworth area and a lone bird on Lytchett Fields. A Spotted Redshank was on Sherford Pools in addition to 3 Greenshank. A single Sandwich Tern was buzzing around Newton Bay where good numbers of Red-breasted Merganser (50+) were present. At Swineham a Bittern flew from the direction of Arne Moors and appeared to drop near Lakeview and in the nearby fields were 250 Black-tailed Godwit, 55+ Curlew and 40 Lapwing. A Dartford Warbler at the far end of Swineham GPs probably represents the first site record.

A welcome bit of sunshine resulted in more reports today – thank you! Studland Bay held 320 Brent Geese, 3 Common Scoter, 2 Great Northern Diver, 6 Black-necked Grebe, 44 Sanderling and in the village 3 Ring-necked Parakeet. Bramble Bush Bay was also productive with 2 Common Scoter, 1 Velvet Scoter, 3 Great Northern Diver, 9 Black-necked Grebe, 5 Sanderling and a Kingfisher. With water levels on Brownsea Lagoon still higher than normal Knot have been quite hard to locate recently so it was pleasing to hear of 38 in Brand’s Bay. In Poole Park the Great Northern Diver was still in attendance as well as several Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser with the drakes displaying in the glorious sunshine. Two Spoonbill were still on Otter Island in Lytchett Bay and at least 11 were seen from Shipstal Point in the afternoon. The adult male Hen Harrier continues to dart around various sites in the west of the harbour. At Swineham a Firecrest was seen and several pinging Bearded Tit remained resolutely hidden in the reeds although a Grass Snake lured out by the winter sun was more cooperative.

The Great Northern Diver was still in Poole Park on the main boating lake and at least one was seen off Poole Quay. 1 Great White Egret was in the Middlebere area as well as a Spoonbill with another of the latter over in Lytchett Bay. A male Hen Harrier is still roaming the harbour and the best place to try and see this majestic species is from the Avocet hide at Middlebere. A Greenshank was with the Bar-tailed Godwit flock in Whitley Bay with 3 Sandwich Tern nearby at ED sailing club.

A freezing cold School Bird Boat this morning was productive in that the number of Great Northern Diver seen from it increased to 8, the highest count so far this winter. Also seen were at least 7 Black-necked Grebe and about 15 Spoonbill hunkered down on Patchins Point. Lytchett Bay still held 3 Spoonbill and the ringtail Hen Harrier was seen there once again. The Great Northern Diver was still on the main boating lake in Poole Park but was stubbornly staying out in the middle. At least two Guillemot were still bobbing around just off Poole Quay with one of them venturing in quite close to the wall. A Siberian Chiffchaff  (Phylloscopus collybita tristis) was seen in amongst the Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita collybita) at Norden Sewage Works.