This morning was definitely one of those ‘ergh’ mornings until around midday when things brightened up the sun even tried to come out. Sightings-wise it was rather quiet with a ringtail Hen Harrier over Hartland, a good arrival/passage of thrushes, mainly Blackbird and Redwing around the Middlebere area with a male marsh Harrier near the channel too. The Lesser Yellowlegs was on Lytchett Fields with a single Water Pipit.

Every winter we see a handful of dates when the open areas of the harbour look like glass and not a breath of wind stirs amongst the marker buoys. Today was one of those days and we were lucky enough to be hosting a school bird boat too. This made seeing open-water species so much easier with the highlights being 1 Scaup off Arne, 7 Common Scoter, 3 Goldeneye, 50+ Red-breasted Merganser, 50+ Great Crested Grebe, 1 Sandwich Tern, a feeding flock of 120 Cormorant, 20 Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon and 20 Sanderling that flew past the boat. Talking of boats, we’ll soon be launching two public ‘Harbour Cruise’ trips that will place early next year, so keep an eye out. Off Middle Beach, Studland 3 Goosander were feeding. A round up of raptor news from Poole Harbour south now sees up to 7 different Marsh Harrier and 4 Hen Harrier with 2 Merlin still active on Hartland Moor. In Whitley Lake, Sandbanks and all along Baiter Beach on low tides, Turnstone can be found feeding with 12 Ringed Plover at the latter site too. At Arne the Great White Egret was seen again and in the lower Frome Valley the seasons first Woodcock was ringed. At Lytchett Fields the yesterdays Ruff was again present along with the Lesser Yellowlegs. A late Swallow passed over Ridge late afternoon.

Common Scoter – South Deep (near harbour entrance) 

Red-breasted Merganser – South Deep (near harbour entrance) 

Spoonbill – Brownsea Lagoon

Very few reports today, although what is great is that there are obvious opportunities to see great birds around the harbour, with a little bit of ‘scouting out’ and exploring. The inner, sheltered bays in the south of the harbour such as Brands and Bramble Bush Bay are holding Grey Plover, Turnstone, Ringed Plover (on low tides) and on the water, Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser and Brent Geese, all of which offer great, close viewing opportunities with a bit of field craft. The Studland Beaches will now hold Black-necked Grebe right the way through to March whilst other species such as divers and sea-ducks will come and go like the days, so you just never know what you’ll see on any given visit.  Lytchett Bay/Fields still hosts the Lesser Yellowlegs, along with a newly arrived Ruff but the whole Lytchett Bay area can be good right the way through the winter waders, wildfowl and birds of prey. And, although they’re not back yet, it won’t be long until our small over-wintering Purple Sandpiper flock comes back to North Haven, Sandbanks. 

Grey Plover – Jerry’s point, Brands Bay – Simon Kidner 

Turnstone – Jerry’s point, Brands Bay – Simon Kidner 

Highlights from today included 14 Common Scoter off Middle Beach, Studland with 3 Black-necked Grebe. At Arne the Great White Egret was present with 15 Spoonbill on Shipstal. 

Again, today the conditions proved excellent watching conditions out in the harbour as wind fell silent and grey sky offered “squintless” viewing opportunities. There was a good variety of species out in central harbour, viewed from Hamworthy Beach which included 1 Scaup off Arne, 1 Eider off Green Island, 1 Great White Egret feeding on the beach at Shipstal, 9 Common Scoter out in central harbour with the first 11 Goldeneye of the winter, 48 Red-breasted Merganser, 54 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Spoonbill were feeding on the southern shores of Rempstone. There was no question as to the birds of the day as 4 Common Crane flew over Ower on the Rempstone Estate along the southern shores which unfortunately didn’t stay long and ended up over at the Fleet, Portland by early afternoon. In Holes Bay NE a handful of birders were eagerly awaiting the arrival of some Spoonbill with the rising tide, and they were rewarded with 4 coming in to feed around 10am with 85 Avocet, 500+ Wigeon, 2 Pintail and good numbers of common wader species. There was another Spoonbill on the Upton CP side of Holes Bay too. Out off Middle Beach, Studland, there were 23 Black-necked Grebe feeding.

We also have an update regarding Lytchett Fields which is that we’re pleased to state that it now re-opened again. Many thanks for your patients. Today the Lesser Yellowlegs was still on site and 8 Spoonbill were on the fields too. 

As we’ve mentioned a couple of times this week, Holes Bay NE can offer a great viewing experience and opportunity to get close to some of the harbour’s most familiar over-wintering species. We hope you enjoy this sequence of photos taken by local birder Ian Ballam, all of which were taken from the main cycle path along Holes Bay and just meters away from the birds in shot!

Curlew – Holes Bay NE

Little Egret – Holes Bay NE

Spoonbill – Holes Bay NE

Wigeon – Holes Bay NE

Teal – Holes Bay NE 

One of the great things about Poole Harbour is the numerous urban birding opportunities it provides during the winter. The whole of the northern shore of Poole Harbour is an urbanised and developed environment, which conveniently provides close access to shorelines, sheltered bays, freshwater bodies and great views out across central harbour. One of the real delights is Holes Bay, which starts to provide a true winter spectacle in early November and especially when colder weather sets in. This morning, true to form, just as the wind became a cold, biting inconvenience Holes Bay filled up with birds with the highlight being 7 Spoonbill that fed just meters off the cycle path in the NE corner of the bay, close to the outflow that channels down from behind PC World. This location has to be one of the best in the country to watch and observe Spoonbill at close quarters as they feed without fear as amazed birders and non-observant cycles stand and pass at times just meters away. Spoonbill aren’t the only show offs in Holes Bay north, there were around 50 Avocet feeding on the falling tide with, 50+ Dunlin, 200+ Redshank, 200+ Black-tailed Godwit, 700+ Wigeon, 200+ Teal and 3 Great Crested Grebe. All viewable within the center of town! Another great place to get close to harbour species is ‘the stone bench’ at Upton Country Park which is just on the NW outskirts of the park at the beginning of the cycle path which leads you around Holes Bay. This morning big numbers of Wigeon, Teal, a handful of Pintail, 110 Avocet, 97 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Grey Plover and 50 Curlew. At Middlebere a ringtail Hen Harrier passed the NT hide and out in Middlebere there is still a decent Avocet flock roosting at the top end on the high tide. 

Spoonbill feeding in Holes Bay NE – Filmed from the cycle path

We’re currently waiting for Wood Pigeons here in Poole harbour, an odd thing to be waiting thing I’m sure you’ll agree and you may be thinking why not just look out in our gardens? There are plenty there? Well, that is true, but what we’re actually waiting for is the big Wood Pigeon migration that takes place every year in early to mid November when tens of thousands pass along the south coast but mostly concentrated over the Poole and Christchurch Harbour area. To give you an example on November 7^th 2010 a whopping 160,000+ Wood Pigeon migrated over Poole Harbour in a single morning! So as you can understand, although this is a very common species to witness this type of migration is quite something. There has already been some big passage in central England as birds move south and we’re hoping that they get to us over the coming days. When they do start moving in big numbers they pass high over the Sandbanks peninsular across over Brownsea and carry on west. At Arne today there were 28 Spoonbill out on Shipstal and both Lesser Redpoll and Brambling in the Arne car park. In Middlebere two late Curlew Sandpiper were with Dunlin along with 700+ Avocet and 600+ Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Sandpiper and several passes of ringtail Hen Harriers from the National Trust hide and along the approach lane Redwing, Fieldfare, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest were seen. Up on Hartland a Merlin was seen dashing across the heath. At Holes Bay a late Wheatear was on the cycle path near the PC World outflow along with a Kingfisher there too and in Lytchett Bay 2 Spoonbill were feeding on the low tide. There was still a late bit of passage with a Woodlark over a view point in Poole Harbour north. 

IMPORTANT Lytchett Fields temporary closure notice –

RSPB is suspending public access to the Lytchett Fields Reserve due to the risks present from unauthorised cattle being present. RSPB regrets any inconvenience caused and access will be re-opened as soon as the unauthorised trespass has been removed. Access to other areas of Lytchett Bay remain open.

Spoonbill – Lytchett Bay – Shaun Robson

Little Egret – Middlebere – Keith Rawling

Winter is really taking grip now with wind chills forcing hands into gloves and faces into scarfs but don’t let that put you off heading out around the harbour as the birds will be there to find. Starting off at Shipstal (now Autumn Watch have gone) 30 Spoonbill are back on the spit and a Siberian (tristis) Chiffchaff was in the Arne car park. A ringtail Hen Harrier was on Hartland mid-morning and in Middlebere the Great White Egret showed briefly and 300+ Avocet were in the Middlebere Channel. If you’re around the Sandbanks area then keep in eye out in Whitley Lake/Shore Road on a high tide as Red-breasted Merganser and Goldeneye numbers begin to rise and on low-tides Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling and Turnstone can all be seen at closeat close quarters.Doing a sea-watch from Branksome Chine or the harbour mouth should produce Red-throated Diver with 2 passing early morning and Gannet and Kittiwake are present too. 

IMPORTANT Lytchett Fields temporary closure notice –

RSPB is suspending public access to the Lytchett Fields Reserve due to the risks present from unauthorised cattle being present. RSPB regrets any inconvenience caused and access will be re-opened as soon as the unauthorised trespass has been removed. Access to other areas of Lytchett Bay remain open.

Although the rain set in and stayed set in for most of the day, there was still a nice selection of birds to be seen starting out in the harbour where there was a imm/female type Eider out in central harbour along with 3 Common Scoter off Goathorn Point and a marked increase in Red-breasted Merganser with around c50 in total, most in or around the Brands Bay area. At dusk a Red-throated Diver flew out of the Wareham Channel and headed towards the harbour mouth. The Great White Egret seen in Middlebere along with 250+ Avocet. At Lytchett Bay a Water Pipit was caught and ringed, a first for the site. The Brownsea Lagoon had plenty of bird on it including 200+ Cormorant, 28 Spoonbill, 300+ Avocet and 13 Spotted Redshank. The raptor numbers keep on building with now 4 different Hen Harrier in Poole Harbour south with two adult males, a juv ringtail male and a female, also at least 5 different Marsh Harrier  and 2 Merlin have been recorded. Finally, there was a report of a Red-breasted Flycatcher on Brownsea Island, near the Mac Hide which is annoying for two reasons, firstly the island is closed for the season and secondly, if accepted then it would constitute the first ever Poole Harbour record for this species. 

IMPORTANT Lytchett Fields temporary closure notice –

RSPB is suspending public access to the Lytchett Fields Reserve due to the risks present from unauthorised cattle being present. RSPB regrets any inconvenience caused and access will be re-opened as soon as the unauthorised trespass has been removed. Access to other areas of Lytchett Bay remain open.

Common Scoter – Goathorn, nr Brands Bay

The harbour is getting better and better by the day at present with winter species building in numbers and getting easier to see. On low tides at Baiter, Turnstones and Ringed Plover can be found feeding along the shorelines whilst in Holes Bay the first Avocets (for this part of the harbour) were feeding fairly close to the cycle path in Holes Bay north along with big numbers of Wigeon and Teal still. Brent Geese numbers are still building with 100+ along the Studland Beaches and Red-breasted Merganser numbers are building nicely out in Bramble Bush Bay, Brands Bay and near the harbour mouth. In Middlebere the Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit flocks are something you should try and get to see either from Arne or from the Middlebere Hide as frequent visits from Marsh Harriers and Peregrines turn lazy autumn afternoons into a portrait of excitement and panic.  The 3 Hen Harrier were still present in Poole Harbour south today with a single Merlin. At Lytchett Fields, counts included 271 Dunlin, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Grey Plover, the Lesser Yellowlegs and 2 Water pipit.

IMPORTANT Lytchett Fields temporary closure notice –

RSPB is suspending public access to the Reserve due to the risks present from unauthorised cattle being present. RSPB regrets any inconvenience caused and access will be re-opened as soon as the unauthorised trespass has been removed

Brent Geese – Studland – Phyl England

Wigeon – Holes Bay – Ian Ballam

Water Pipit – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam