Not that we thought it was possible but today was even foggier with almost zero visability. There was a possible penguin out in central harbour, but then again it could have been Robin?

Today there was fog…and lots of it. The only known highlights were a Merlin seen chasing a Meadow Pipit at Holton Lee and 2 Spoonbill and a Spotted Redshank in Holes Bay

So with the total lack of any birding opportunities we’ve provided two short write ups relating to areas recently featured on Winterwatch. The first is a look into the current Starling murmuration and its history at Studland and the second is a a delve into the Woodcock research we’re currently conducting in Poole Harbour with the Stour Ringing Group.

Wow, what a run of great weather we’re experiencing at the moment. If there was ever a day to be out then today would have been it. Vigils from Slepe Heath saw a Hen Harrier, 4 Marsh Harrier and a Bittern out over Arne moors and the Piddle Valley. At Lytchett Bay/Fields there were singles of Jack Snipe, Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper and the Lesser Yellowlegs was out in the bay. At Swineham there were 2 Jack Snipe off the point, 1 Marsh Harrier and up to 16 Bearded Tit in the reedbeds. At Norden Sewage Works the Siberian Chiffchaff was again on the filter beds with 15 Common Chiffchaff and a Firecrest was in the near by park and ride car park. Over Arne Moors, viewed from Slepe Heath a ringtail Hen Harrier and a Marsh Harrier were seen near dusk. Our first proper Woodcock ringing session of 2017 saw c20 birds present at our site near Hartland Moor but only 3 were caught and ringed. The redhead Smew is still in Holes Bay SE and there were 13 Spoonbill on Shipstal Point, Arne. The Starling murmurations at Studland attracted a crowd of up to 300+ people. Interestingly, this is a historic Starling roosting site with totals varying year on year. Thanks to Phyl England for her photo of a murmuration that took place during the winter period of 2006/07. At Arne up to 10 Firecrest have been reported around the reserve. Out in Ower Bay the 14 Barnacle Geese still seem to be happy hanging out with the Canada Geese.

Historical Starling murmuration FEB 2007 at Shell Bay, Studland – Phyl England

Conditions today were perfect for a good trudge around the harbour with open water species being a particular focus. A really great count of 4 Slavonian Grebe off Ower Point resembles counts of years gone by for this bird and it was joined by 6 Black-necked Grebe with and 12 off Middle beach, Studland. There were also 3 Great Northern Diver off the Brownsea southern shores along with 1 Common Scoter, 100+ Red-breasted Merganser, 60+ Goldeneye and 45+ Great Crested Grebe. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 3 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank and 3 Pintail but due to a mostly frozen lagoon numbers of other waders and wildfowl were really low.  Also on Brownsea 1 Woodcock, 3 Firecrest, 60+ Siskin and a pair of Raven. At Fleets Corner an incredible 21 Chiffchaff were ringed including a Siberian Chiffchaff and a Firecrest. This site has historically been good for over-wintering Chiffchaff but for some reason, mid-January (certainly over the last 2 years) has seen a spike in numbers from just a few birds present to 20+. This phenomena was also represented at Norden Sewage Works where recently only 4-5 Chiffchaff have been present, yet today there were 18 on the filter beds. In Lytchett Bay 5 Spoonbill were roosting and the Lesser Yellowlegs was in the bay on the low tide. The Smew was still out in Holes Bay SE and late news from yesterday at Swineham Point 6 Jack Snipe were flushed and several Bearded Tit were calling. At Arne 15 Spoonbill were on Shipstal Point. 

Lesser Yellowlegs – Lytchett Bay – 19/01/17 

Redhead Smew – Holes Bay – Chrys Mellor

The cold crisp winter mornings continue to impress with a stunning sunrise over the Purbecks today. As the blanket of gold spread out across the Frome and Piddle valleys both Marsh and Hen Harrier were stirring as the fleeted over the moors and out towards Swine. 4 Raven ‘cronked’ low over Slepe Heath and Dartford Warbler warmed up along Soldiers Road by seeking sheltered, frost free sun-spots. On calm waters the redhead Smew was easy to find in Holes Bay NW and then SE and at the PC World Drain 4 Chiffchaff and a Firecrest were feeding. At Lytchett Bay the Lesser Yellowlegs was feeding just off the black pipe again. At Arne, a wonderful spectacle of a Merlin utilising a ringtail Hen Harrier as she flushed Meadow Pipits from the ground was observed as a Marsh Harrier then joined in. The Starling murmuration at Studland is now causing quite a stir with roughly 250 people enjoying the show now. 

Sunrise over Slepe Heath – Paul Morton

Today was picture perfect day in all respects with a vibrant energetic sunrise and a glowing magical sunset. Finally a Short-eared Owl turned up in the harbour with one along the Keysworth shoreline briefly. A remarkable sighting of a Goshawk over Slepe Heath/Arne Moors was a good record as this species is still incredibly rare in Dorset despite populations outside the county increasing. In Lytchett Bay a ringtail Hen Harrier was hunting at dusk and the Lesser Yellowlegs was in the Bay. The redhead Smew is still in Holes Bay NW and at the PC World drain a Siberian Chiffchaff and Firecrest were seen. At Arne, there were 14 Spoonbill late afternoon and 5 in Lytchett Bay in the morning. On Hartland a Merlin was sat on a post. Firecrests were in the car park at Arne and off Shipstal Point 7 Black-necked Grebe were in central harbour. 

We’ve been fairly lucky this winter with weather and coinciding our school bird boats with cold, crisp still winter days. Unlike it winters gone by in recent years when storm after storm threatened every trip we had planned throughout the whole winter. Well today we needn’t worry about that as millpond like conditions allowed for easy birding and great birds. Highlights included 13 Barnacle Geese sat on the water off Ower Bay with c400 Brent Geese, 1 Great Northern Diver in South Deep, 4 Common Scoter, 3 in Brands Bay and 1 off Shipstal, c10 Black-necked Grebe in central harbour, c50 Goldeneye, c 150 Red-breasted Merganser and c50 Great Crested Grebe around all bodies of open water. There were 24 Spoonbill flying over and around Shipstal Point and the lagoon was partly frozen so only several hundred Avocet were present. The Smew was feeding in both Holes Bay NW and NE over the course of the morning. The Lesser Yellowlegs was at Lytchett Fields and at the PC World drain 3 Chiffchaff were feeding and a Firecrest was seen. At Arne a ringtail Hen Harrier passed the Raptor Hide and 2 Marsh Harrier were in Middlebere with a Merlin seen dashing through. 

Goldeneye – Poole Park boating lake – Paul Morton

Barnacle Geese – Ower Bay – Paul Morton

Winter sea watches can often go one of two ways…very productive or more often than not…a total waste of time. Today however a seawatch from Branksome Chine was well worth the effort as an easterly wind kept passing birds close to the shore. Divers were the main highlight with all 3 regular species seen including 1 Great Northern Diver settled on the water and another heading west. Then 6 Red-throated Diver flew in from the west, settled on the water for several minuets before continuing east whilst another 5 Red-throated Diver and a Black-throated Diver fed as a group before they then upped and headed east with then another 3 Red-throated Diver passing east further out. Also seen were 2 Common Scoter east, 1 Kittiwake east, 5 Gannet west, 1 dark-bellied Brent Goose west and 2 Med Gulls east. It was also fairly busy with Razorbill with c30 heading east and another 14 settled on the water with 8 Great Crested Grebe. There was a report of 3 Slavonian Grebe from Ower Bay and also 2 Black-necked Grebe with 9 Crossbill on Rempstone Heath. From Middle Beach, Studland 14 Common Scoter passed and a few Gannet were ‘milling around’ with only 6 Black-necked Grebe present. A single pale-bellied Brent Goose was in amongst c500 dark-bellied Brents near Middlebere. At Norden Sewage works near Corfe 10 Chiffchaff, 1 Siberian Chiffchaff and a Firecrest were on the filter beds. The Starling murmuation at Shell Beach was again enjoyed by good numbers of people and a Merlin was on the post in front of the Middlebere hide. Finally the Smew was in Holes Bay SE. Sadly there was no sign yesterdays Waxwing from Canford Heath. 

Waxwing – Canford Heath garden – David Ayrton (16/01/18)

Finally, FINALLY a Waxwing was reported within the harbour with one in a private garden on Canford Heath. One of the last big Waxwing eruptions Dorset experienced was also at Canford Heath back in 2008 with several hundred birds present. We know, we know, but at least 1 single bird is a start! Just keep an eye out on those treetops on your drive to work…you just never know…there could be one on a street near YOU! Elsewhere around the harbour, reports were pretty quiet with 17 Spoonbill on Shipstal, Arne, the Lesser Yellowlegs and Green-winged Teal at Lytchett Fields and 2 Great Northern Diver near the harbour mouth. 

There was a nice mix of species in the harbour today starting at Hartland Moor where the Great Grey Shrike was close to the road along Soldiers Road then viewed out across the Moors 14 Barnacle Geese and a Marsh Harrier were counted and an unusual record of a Golden Plover flew over Hartland heading west calling. At Middlebere there was 4 Spotted Redshank and a Marsh Harrier and in Shell Bay 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Black-necked Grebe, 15 Sanderling and a few Gannet moving east. There was a single Firecrest in the middle Beach car park. At Arne 22 Spoonbill were in Shipstal Point and from an RSPB bird boat 3 Common Scoter, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 8 Black-necked Grebe, 3 Great Northern Diver and a Merlin on Brownsea. In the Wareham Channel a ringtail Hen Harrier was seen from the train and at Lytchett Fields the Lesser Yellowlegs and Green-winged Teal were still present. The redhead Smew was also still in Holes Bay south. The Starling murmuration at Shell Beach, Studland still had the crowds wowed with what seems to be an increasing rather than decreasing sized flock. 

Starlings – Shell Beach, Studland – Paul Morton