The Holme Lane Cattle Egret did a disappearing act today, in fact out of all of yesterdays goodies only the Lesser Yellowlegs was seen again today out on Lytchett Fields. The 22 Barnacle Geese were out feeding again on Arne Moors which could be viewed from the top edge of Slepe Heath looking north. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 33 Spoonbill and at the PC World Drain just 2 Chiffchaff still. At Sandbanks there was just a single Purple Sandpiper on the groynes. At Lytchett Fields there were 3 Water Pipit and a Marsh Harrier. Finally, we’ve had all data back from our December WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) and an incredible 26,007 birds were counted with highlights being 1710 Avocet, 5606 Wigeon, 1000+ Brent Geese and 2000+ Black-tailed Godwit.

Poole Harbour does well for scarce and rare species over the course of the year, with most (as you’d expect) occurring during peak migration times. What you wouldn’t necessarily expect is to have four cracking rare/scarce birds in the harbour the week before Christmas! For a brief moment today both the Green-winged Teal and Lesser Yellowlegs could be seen in one scope view on Lytchett Fields, with both birds hanging around the site all day. At Holme Lane the Cattle Egret was again feeding in the cattle field half way along the road and during the weekly ‘Wednesday walk’ at Arne RSPB reserve a Great Grey Shrike was seen. 

Cattle Egret – Holme Lane

Great Grey Shrike – Arne RSPB Reserve 

Today we also hosted a school bird boat trip, which was actually fairly quiet, probably due to the enormous high tide which allowed birds to venture elsewhere and spread out. Highlights included 24 Spoonbill out on Shipstal Point, 2 Common Scoter in Brands Bay, 1 Great Northern Diver flying over the Hamworthy shoreline and big numbers of waders on the Brownsea Lagoon. At Holme Lane up to 5 Woodlark were feeding in the same field as the Cattle Egret and at least 2 Firecrest were still in the woods on the left. In Middlebere a female Marsh Harrier passed by and up to 400 Avocet were at the top end of the channel. Dartford Warbler were out enjoying the winter sun on Coombe Heath, Arne as were 2 Red Admiral Butterfly. At Bramble Bush Bay, Studland there were 40 Sanderling, 20 Ringed Plover and 1 Goldeneye. At Poole Park Lake there were still 8 Goldeneye out on the main lake and a female Red-breasted Merganser. The 22 Barnacle Geese were seen again on Swineham GP. 

Green-winged Teal – Lytchett Fields – Shaun Robson

Cattle Egret – Holme Lane – Paul Morton

Great Grey Shrike – Arne RSPB Reserve – Paul Morton

Lesser Yellowlegs – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam

The Cattle Egret that was found late yesterday evening was found first thing in the cattle field on your right as you head down Holme Lane from the Springfield Hotel end. It was feeding with 12 Little Egret before moving off to the next field along feeding amongst and on the cattle (as photographed excellently by Ian Ballam). Within the same first field a flock of c10 Woodlark were feeding with a large Chaffinch flock and 2 Firecrest were in the woods next to the field. Another night ringing session in the Lower Frome Valley near Swineham produced 5 new Woodcock ringed and c20 seen along with 3 Jack Snipe. At the PC World Drain 3 collybita Chiffchaff were feeding on the waterline, there has to be either a tristis or Yellow-browed Warbler over-wintering in there somewhere! At Arne 21 Spoonbill were on Shipstal and a Great Northern Diver was off Shipstal Beach with Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser.

Cattle Egret – Holme Lane – Paul Morton

Cattle Egret – Holme Lane – Ian Ballam

Woodcock – Frome Valley – Paul Morton

There was a nice selection of scarcities around today starting off with a newly found Cattle Egret along Holme Lane, near the Springfield Hotel. There’s been a mini influx of this species into the UK this autumn/winter and it was just a matter of time before one was found within our harbour boundaries. It was feeding with 12 Little Egret, but easily distinguishable with its smaller structure and short, thick orange bill. On Canford Heath the Great Grey Shrike was seen again in its favored area and at Lytchett Fields the Green-winged Teal rooting up on one of the newly created islands. More general sightings came in the form of a Great Northern Diver off Baiter, 3 Marsh Harrier in the lower Frome Valley, 2 Water Pipit at Holton Lee and 15 Black-necked Grebe off Middle Beach.  

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Green-winged Teal – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

What a great day to be out around the harbour, which although was hampered by fog first thing, it soon cleared giving way to another picture perfect day. There was plenty of coverage today as we led the commentary of an RSPB/NT bird boat, plus it was the Poole Harbour WeBS in the afternoon too. Starting with off with the bird boat where highlights included 23 Spoonbill (15 on Brownsea and 8 on Shipstal), 4 Common Scoter, 5 Great Northern Diver, 3 Black-necked Grebe, c100 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Common Seals, 1 Goosander (in Fishermans dock Poole Quay), 2 Spotted Redshank and 4 Greenshank on the Brownsea (Full species list for the trip can be FOUND HERE). Off Middle Beach, Studland there were 35 Black-necked Grebe and off Jerry’s Point 2 Great Northern Diver and 22 Sanderling with 1 Sandwich Tern in Brands Bay and a Merlin near the hide. In Holes Bay south-east, 2 pale-bellied Brent Geese were a surprise. At Swineham the 22 Barnacle Geese were back on the main pit again with 244 Canada Geese and 17 Greylag Geese. Also around the Swineham area was a Jack Snipe off the point with 14 Common Snipe, 2 Bearded Tit and 11 Skylark. At Swineham Farm there is an over-wintering Chiffchaff and on the pit 104 Gadwall, 198 Coot and 25 Shoveler with 2 Marsh Harrier in the Frome Valley. At Lytchett Bay the Lesser Yellowlegs was recorded in the WeBS count for a 4^th month in a row, also a ringtail Hen Harrier there too. Along the southern shore there were a minimum of 1330 Avocet in the mouth of both Wytch Lake and the Middlebere Channel, mostly viewable from the Arne side, also a ringtail Hen Harrier over and 2 Marsh Harrier over Wytch Lake with several Water Pipit present. Along Shore Road, Sandbanks there were 71 Bar-tailed Godwit and in Blue Lagoon 48 Ringed Plover and 19 Turnstone. Off Fitzworth Point the over-wintering Whimbrel was seen again and there were 71 Red-breasted Merganser, 60 Great Crested Grebe and 33 Goldeneye and on the Wytch Causeway 6 Water Pipit. On Poole Park Lake there were 8 Goldeneye including 6 drakes. Finally, two night ringing sessions in the lower Frome Valley produced 2 Woodcock and 2 Jack Snipe.  

Jack Snipe – Lower Frome Valley – Terry Elborn

A bit grim today but some decent birds reported to us. Around the Studland area there were c25 Sanderling, 1 Great Northern Diver and c150 Brent Geese off Pilots point. Both Merlin and Peregrine were seen near Brands Bay. Bramble Bush Bay was busy with another Great Northern Diver, more Sanderling and both Ringed and Grey Plover present. Off Middle Beach there were 25 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Razorbill, 14 Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver and several Med Gulls.

On Canford Heath the Great Grey Shrike was seen again in its favored area (SZ03190 95529 see map below). At Lytchett Fields the Lesser Yellowlegs was still present with a single Avocet also on the fields which was notable. Off Hamworthy Beach a single Great Northern Diver was feeding and on Shipstal 11 Spoonbill.

Map showing location on Great Grey Shrike location just NW of Tower Park – SZ03190 95529

Today was pretty quiet on what was a really very gloomy, yucky day in the harbour. The Lesser Yellowlegs was out on at Lytchett Fields and 21 Black-necked Grebe were photographed off Middle Beach, Studland with a possible smaller additional flock suggesting possibly up to 30 birds present. In Holes Bay NE, the rising tide again offered opportunities to see good birds close up as groups of Avocet, Dunlin, Redshank, Curlew, Wigeon, Teal and a Spotted Redshank all fed really close to the path. 

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After going missing for a day the Green-winged Teal reappeared on Lytchett Fields showing really well on Sherford Pools mid-morning and the Lesser Yellowlegs was again feeding out in Lytchett Bay on the low tide with 2 Spoonbill and a Marsh Harrier there. At Middlebere a ringtail Hen Harrier past the hide several times where it was superbly photographed by local photographer Simon Kidner. At Arne 2 Merlin were seen dashing about in Middlebere and a male Marsh Harrier was also present. At the mouth end the Middlebere Chanel up to 1000 Avocet were feeding in a single flock with Grey Plover, Black-tailed godwit, Dunlin and Curlew also feeding. Off Middlebere 11 Black-necked Grebe were in a single flock. 

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Hen Harrier – Middlbere – Simon Kidner

The Green-winged Teal couldn’t be relocated today but efforts to find it were rewarded when a Great White Egret passed over-head going north and a high count of 7 Water Pipit on the fields. The Lesser Yellowlegs was again off the Black Pipe in Lytchett Bay and a Jack Snipe was flushed from the path. A Marsh Harrier and ringtail Hen Harrier flew by the Middlebere hide mid-morning but there was no sign of the Black Brant that was reported yesterday. There was a (re)sighting of the Great Grey Shrike on Canford Heath again on Saturday and the below map shows the area its been favoring since its stay. Thanks Terry Elborn for the map. At Arne, Firecrests can still be found (with a bit of searching) in the car park and there seem to be good numbers of Dartford Warbler visible around the paths on Coombe Heath.

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Lesser Yellowlegs – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam 

Map of favored Great Grey Shrike area on Canford Heath just NW of Tower Park