Four Scaup were seen in the harbour between Brownsea and Arne in addition to the now regular female Velvet Scoter with a female Common Scoter. Up to 4 Great Northern Diver and several Guillemot were scattered around the harbour with 2 more of the former in Studland Bay and unusually one was in Poole Park. Water levels are still high on Brownsea Lagoon but it still held 4 Spotted Redshank, 5 Greenshank and several Knot and Grey Plover. A single Spotted Redshank was in Holes Bay again showing well near the outflow. In the Middlebere Channel a Great White Egret was seen again and a Barn Owl put in an early appearance around 2pm. A few Siskin and Redpoll were seen around Rempstone but no Crossbill could be located.

The Combination of a very high spring tide and low pressure meant that there wasn’t any mud on show in the harbour anywhere during the two-hour school bird boat this morning. Subsequently most birds were pushed up onto the fields surrounding the harbour but one of the few species which appeared to be present in higher than usual numbers was Brent Goose of which at least 500 were seen in the Middlebere Channel. 6 Egyptian Geese were seen on floods in the East Holme area. In Poole Park there was no sign of yesterday’s group of Pochard but there were 12 Goldeneye and 7 Red-breasted Merganser. The female Velvet Scoter was seen again with 2 female Common Scoter between Brownsea Island and Goathorn and just 1 Black-necked Grebe was seen from the boat in choppy waters. 28 Spoonbill huddled together on a small newly formed island on Shipstal Point with another 2 on Lytchett Fields. 20 Little Egret up at East Holme were probably displaced by the high water in the harbour. A single Siberian Chiffchaff was still present in the PC World Drain viewed from the car park by KFC. The Hawfinch was seen again at Priory Farm, East Stoke, where 43 Chaffinch were counted.

Once again the blustery conditions limited the number of reports received. It was good to hear though of a small flock of 6 Pochard in Poole Park in amongst the Coot and other assorted wildfowl. A single Great Northern Diver was off Poole Quay where 2 Guillemot were also seen. Higher than usual water levels pushed the regular roost of Spoonbill onto Gold Point where 28 were present with another 3 on Lytchett Fields. A total of 4 Hen Harrier were scattered around the west of the harbour.

The relative shelter of Studland Bay was where most of the action was today with 2 Common Scoter, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 7 Black-necked Grebe, 4 Great Northern Diver, c220 Mediterranean Gull with single Chiffchaff and Firecrest in Middle Beach car park. A short watch from the harbour mouth at lunchtime produced 6 Guillemot, 1 Razorbill and 1 Great Northern Diver. On Arne Moors 2 Hen Harrier were seen as were at least 3 Water Pipit.

Very stormy conditions meant there was little in the way of records today but the Hawfinch was seen again around Arne Farm and church though it remains elusive. Don’t forget if the weather is too bad to get out then you can always watch the new Feeder Cam at Holton Lee from the comfort of your own home here http://www.falconsflight.org.uk/BoPH%20SD2%20Holton%20Lee%20test%20stream.html

WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OUR READERS AND CONTRIBUTORS A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT PROMISES TO BE A MOST EXCITING YEAR FOR THE BIRDS OF POOLE HARBOUR!

In spite of the persistent drizzle throughout the morning a very successful boat trip around the harbour yielded 95 species of bird setting a new record from the boat – can’t be long before we break the 100 barrier! Highlights from the trip included: Egyptian Goose 4 (Bestwall), Pochard 2 (Swineham), Common Scoter 3, Velvet Scoter 1 (Bramble Bush Bay), Great Northern Diver 4 (2 of which were close in off South Haven), Spoonbill 23 (21 Shipstal, 2 Fitzworth Point), Slavonian Grebe 1 (Fitzworth Point), Black-necked Grebe 21, Hen Harrier 2 (male and female Arne Moors), Spotted Redshank 1 (Arne Moors), Guillemot 1, Sandwich Tern 3 and a Mediterranean Gull. There was also a flock of several hundred Lapwing in the Keysworth area but no Golden Plover could be located amongst them. After the recent heavy rains very little mud was exposed on Brownsea Lagoon resulting in hardly any small waders being present so the Stilt Sandpiper couldn’t be added to the year list just yet.

Elsewhere in the harbour a Great White Egret was again in Middlebere and a Barn Owl and Firecrest were seen in the Arne area.

The final day of the year didn’t yield any great surprises but, as you would expect, did produce some sightings which other areas would be envious of: 2 Great Northern Diver were seen from North Haven and at the opposite end of the harbour a Slavonian Grebe was in Arne Bay. 20 Spoonbill were roosting on Shipstal Point with another 2 feeding in Lytchett Bay where a Peregrine was causing havoc. Single Peregrine and Merlin were seen at Middlebere where 450 Avocet and 650 Black-tailed Godwit were counted. A couple of Spotted Redshank graced Lytchett Bay whilst nearby 2 Water Pipit crept around the Pools Field. Lastly, but by no means least as they are such stunning birds, a Firecrest was at Arne Farm.

A big thank you to all who have contributed during 2017 and without doubt 2018 is shaping up to be absolutely amazing – Happy New Year and good birding to all.

Most of today’s action centred around Arne RSPB where there were 16 Spoonbill out on Shipstal Point, at least 2 ringtail Hen Harrier were seen in the area as were Peregrine & Marsh Harrier. Around the main car park at least 3 Firecrest were in evidence and a Woodcock was seen elsewhere on the reserve. 2 Green Sandpiper were on Lytchett Fields RSPB and in Poole Park there was a tight group of 11 Little Grebe as well as 6 Goldeneye.

After yesterday’s extensive coverage the very changeable weather today clearly deterred people from venturing out for fear of getting drenched. With both Iceland and Glaucous Gull seen further west in the county in recent days we are still hopeful that a “white-winger” gives itself up before the year end especially given the recent weather systems.

The awesome spectacle of last year’s Starling murmuration has yet to be repeated so far this winter but as the winter progresses hopefully the smaller scattered roosts will all come together again to delight the crowds. The only reports received today were of a Greenshank on Holton Lee scrape with the continued presence of the Hawfinch around Priory Farm, East Holme.

The Black Brant was seen again for a short period at Middlebere but remains otherwise elusive. In Holes Bay northeast 20+ Pintail were counted amongst the usual throng of birds feeding here. Poole Park is another good place to see birds close up and today 57 Tufted Duck were present as well as 6 Little Grebe. 3 Common Scoter flew west past Branksome Chine in the morning and another 2 were tucked up in Bramble Bush Bay where the female Velvet Scoter joined them. A single Red-throated Diver flew west past Branksome Chine and 4 Great Northern Diver were off Middle Beach with another in the harbour off Goathorn. The rarer grebe species were better represented today with single Slavonian Grebe off Middle Beach and Ower Bay. Black-necked Grebe numbered 15 off Middle Beach, 6 in Bramble Bush Bay and 2 in Ower Bay. Great White Egret were seen from Coombe viewpoint and along the foreshore at Goathorn. 13 Spoonbill were on Brownsea Lagoon with 22 feeding on Long Island later in the day with another bird present in Lytchett Bay. In the west a male Merlin, 2 Hen Harrier and 2 Marsh Harrier were seen in the afternoon and another 2 Marsh Harrier were watched flying west off Branksome Chine presumably fleeing colder weather elsewhere. Single Merlin and Hen Harrier were also seen at Lytchett Bay. The Stilt Sandpiper was still on Brownsea Lagoon where there was also 4 Spotted Redshank and 10 Greenshank. 30 Knot were counted on the lagoon. Just 1 Ring-necked Parakeet was seen in Studland village, have the rest of them decamped to Swanage where a small group has been seen recently? Along the Wytch Causeway 3 or 4 Water Pipit were present whilst nearby there were 27 Fieldfare along Soldiers Road and at least 10 Chiffchaff were at Norden Sewage Farm. Lastly, a female Hawfinch was again around Priory Farm in East Holme.