Another wet day resulting in little birding activity with the only reports coming from Studland Bay where a single Great Northern Diver, 12 Black-necked Grebe, 31 Mediterranean Gull and a Sandwich Tern were all seen from Middle Beach.

Five Common Scoter were off Middle Beach along with 2 Great Northern Diver and 13 Black-necked Grebe with 5 of the latter in Shell Bay. Just over the peninsula there was another Great Northern Diver with 2 Black-necked Grebe in Brand’s Bay where there was also 2 Common Scoter and 2 Sandwich Tern. In the Lytchett Bay area 4 Spoonbill were toing and froing whilst at least 1 Green Sandpiper was on the Fields. 2 Purple Sandpiper are still managing to feed unobtrusively on groynes at Sandbanks in addition to 29 Sanderling. A Hawfinch was seen again flying over Norden Sewage Works and a Firecrest was still foraging on the filter beds in the company of several Chiffchaff and Goldcrest.

Clear but windy conditions meant that choppy waters in the harbour made it difficult to count birds on the water for today’s WeBS count. Brand’s Bay highlights included singles of Red-necked Grebe, Whimbrel, Greenshank and Peregrine as well as 45 Knot, 8 Sanderling and 7 Turnstone. In Lytchett Bay there were 4 Spoonbill, 1 Water Pipit and 1 Green Sandpiper whilst a ringtail Hen Harrier was still touring the general area also being seen at Holton Lee. A Great Northern Diver was slightly unusual so far up the harbour in Holes Bay opposite the Premier Inn. At Sunnyside there was a Green Sandpiper with good numbers of Redwing in the area. 2 Hawfinch were seen flying over Policemans Lane at the extreme west of Upton and 1 was seen again near Norden Sewage Works where there was also a Marsh Tit, 3 Chiffchaff and about 15 Siskin.

With wet miserable weather for most of the day birding opportunities were somewhat limited. 3 Spoonbill were still on Lytchett Fields RSPB and in the early morning, before the rain set in, a ringing session at a site in north Poole yielded an adult male Brambling and several Siskin. At Norden park and ride car park 3 Hawfinch were seen whilst on the nearby sewage works were a Firecrest and 7 Chiffchaff.

The first winter drake Velvet Scoter was off Middle Beach with 3 Common Scoter as well as a Great Northern Diver and 14 Black-necked Grebe. A single Spoonbill was on Lytchett Fields and 4 were at Middlebere where a ringtail Hen Harrier was also seen.

Birds of Poole Harbour Volunteer Opportunities :

Passionate about Poole Harbour and its bird life? Like talking to people about the beauty of Poole Harbour and the surrounding area? You could be just who we’re looking for to help volunteer in our new Birds of Poole Harbour HQ which opens on March 1st 2018. We’re looking for a small team of enthusiastic, knowledgable and dedicated volunteers to help build our charity presence around Poole Harbour with volunteer roles in our new HQ on Poole Quay. If you’re interested and think this could be for you please email us at info@birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk and we’ll get a volunteer role specification form out to you right away!

A nice selection of waders were in Brand’s Bay this morning and included 2 Greenshank, 3 Grey Plover, 12 Ringed Plover and 30 Sanderling amongst the usual throng. 2 Spoonbill were again in Lytchett Bay and a lone bird was on Lytchett Fields before relocating to the Holton Lee scrape. Raptors are still featuring strongly and there are at least 6 Hen Harrier in and around the harbour as well as 4 Marsh Harrier and 2 Merlin in addition to several Peregrine. A Hawfinch was seen again in trees just behind Norden Sewage Works where there were 4 Chiffchaff and a Firecrest was nearby along Holme Lane.

4 Black-necked Grebe were in Shell Bay as well as a couple of Sandwich Tern whilst nearby a female Marsh Harrier was seen around Little Sea. 30 Spoonbill were gathered together on Shipstal Point with a lone bird still on Lytchett Fields RSPB where there was also at least 1 Green Sandpiper. Arne RSPB, as ever, produced some good birds with both Hen and Marsh Harrier being seen in addition to Firecrest and Lesser Redpoll. A Black Redstart was reported at Shipstal yesterday but could not be relocated today. In Holes Bay the overwintering Spotted Redshank was again just off the outflow and a Peregrine was buzzing around in search of prey.

Nuthatch – Upton CP © Ian Ballam

Black-tailed Godwit and Spotted Redshank – Holes Bay © Ian Ballam

Green Sandpiper – Lytchett Fields RSPB © Ian Ballam

Teal – Lytchett Fields RSPB © Ian Ballam

Passionate about Poole Harbour and its bird life? Like talking to people about the beauty of Poole Harbour and the surrounding area? You could be just who we’re looking for to help volunteer in our new Birds of Poole Harbour HQ which opens on March 1st 2018. We’re looking for a small team of enthusiastic, knowledgable and dedicated volunteers to help build our charity presence around Poole Harbour with volunteer roles in our new HQ on Poole Quay. If you’re interested and think this could be for you please email us at info@birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk and we’ll get a volunteer role specification form out to you right away!

The Velvet Scoter was seen again from the School Bird Boat today in the company of two female Common Scoter and better views in good conditions allowed us to determine that this individual is a 1st winter male and thus a different bird to the 1st winter female which was present in the harbour towards the end of last year. These three birds seem quite faithful to the area in between Brownsea and Goathorn but sadly are nearer to the island and are consequently difficult to see from land but could be viewed distantly from Jerry’s Point. Also seen from the boat were at least 3 Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-necked Grebe whilst around 15 Spoonbill were on Patchins Point with 2 more on Shipstal and a further 4 on Lytchett Fields RSPB. At first light around 600 Brent Geese were roosting on the east side of Green Island on the exposed mud over the very low tide. At least 25 Goldeneye were on the main boating lake in Poole Park which is the highest count of the winter there so far. Single Peregrine were seen over Brownsea Island as well as in the Middlebere Channel. At least 7 Greenshank were on Brownsea Lagoon and a Spotted Redshank was again on Lytchett Fields RSPB. There are currently 6 Hen Harrier in and around the harbour at the moment with the increase probably due to the hard weather further north. The best places to try and see these majestic creatures are the viewpoints at Arne RSPB, the Avocet hide at Middlebere or in Lytchett Bay.

Common Redshank – Holes Bay – John Pick Grendon

Spotted Redshank – Holes Bay – John Pick Grendon

A Great Northern Diver and 2 Black-necked Grebe were seen in Bramble Bush Bay, best viewed from near the House Boats. Over on Lytchett Fields RSPB 2 Spoonbill were once again feeding there as was a Water Pipit whilst a ringtail Hen Harrier hunted around the Bay. At Hatch Pond numbers of Snipe are starting to build again with at least 50 in “Elborn’s Cut” which is the section of cut reeds that can be observed from the viewing area in the conifers towards the north of the pond. The Sunnyside Tramway (near Ridge) held a Lesser Redpoll as well as several Greenfinch and Bullfinch.

Snipe at Elborn’s Cut, Hatch Pond © Ian Ballam

Turnstone at Hamworthy Park © Ian Ballam