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.

With the continued pressure on Hen Harrier elsewhere around the country it is good to know that Poole Harbour provides a safe haven for this magnificent creature with a total of 4 currently using the harbour to feed and roost. Middlebere is still the best place to wait patiently for this species to perform an all too brief fly-past – wrap up warm though! 4 Spoonbill were feeding out on Lytchett Fields and the Spotted Redshank was showing well again in Holes Bay northeast. A Merlin continues to appear late in the day in the west of the harbour and winter thrush numbers swelled with birds moving down from further north.

Holes Bay is always a good place to see birds up close and personal and today a Spotted Redshank was performing admirably just off the PC World Drain outflow. Wigeon, Teal, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Redshank and Dunlin can usually be seen close to the cycle path in the northeast section of the bay as well it being a good spot to see Little Egret and, occasionally in very cold weather, Spoonbill.  At the moment the Spoonbill are a bit spread out around the harbour but haven’t visited Holes Bay much yet this winter, today’s reports were of 9 on Shipstal Point and 2 in the Middlebere Channel. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen again from the Avocet Hide at Middlebere.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE and many thanks for all your support in 2017. We’re really looking forward to an exciting and full 2018 and hope you can join us along the way!

All of today’s avian action was at Middlebere where a Black Brant was found amongst 238 (Dark-bellied) Brent Geese. This is presumably last years returning bird which proved quite difficult to track down as most likely its favoured feeding spot is not easily viewable from public areas. The following were also noted in the channel: Teal 248, Yellow-legged Gull 1 1cy (first calendar year), Avocet 488, Spotted Redshank 1, Spoonbill 2, Hen Harrier 1 ringtail and a Peregrine.

Few reports were received today the best of which was 4 Common Scoter off Hamworthy Park as well as a Guillemot in amongst the usual Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebe. A lone Spoonbill was feeding out in Lytchett Bay along with 80 Avocet.

Dark and overcast day today, made brighter with the discovery of 4 Hawfinch in East Holme, at Priory Farm. They were in trees right next to the ford that crosses the road. A large Yew Tree is situated there, which is why we assume the birds are present. In Poole Harbour west 3 Hen Harrier were present late afternoon as were 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine and a Kestrel. Spoonbills were on Lytchett Fields (with 1 Spotted Redshank, and 3 Avocet), Shipstal Point, Arne and on Brownsea.