Another beautiful February day, although the slight NE wind added an edgy chill. There was both a male and female Hen Harrier in Middlebere briefly this morning, and a Goshawk was seen going over too. Off Jerry’s point it was still the same crew of Long-tailed Duck hanging out with the Red-breasted Mergansers and 3 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Slavonian Grebe socialising on and off during the course of the day. There were some good February counts of wildfowl made for Holes Bay including 111 Shelduck, 26 Shoveler, 1036 Wigeon , 218 Pintail and 782 Teal.

Ringtail Hen Harrier – Middlebere – Chris Snook

What a day to be out and around the harbour, where ever you decided to go. A very early spring warmth set in by 11am, and with the harbour absolutely flat calm, viewing conditions were absolutely perfect. Our Winter Safari this AM showcased the harbour at it’s best with a feast of birds logged right across the area. Highlights included 1st year juvenile White-tailed Eagle G644 (not to be confused with resident adult female G466!) which was in the top end of the Wareham Channel hunting, before then getting into a scrap with a Marsh Harrier near the mouth of the Piddle Valley. There were 8 Great Northern Diver spread across the harbour and a stunning sight of 5 Black-throated Diver feeding together off Baiter/Salterns Marina. Off Jerry’s Point the Long-tailed Duck was with c10 Red-breasted Merganser and there were 7 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Slavonian Grebe with another 7 Black-necked Grebe in central harbour. A male Hen Harrier was seen in Middlebere with 2 Spotted Redshank there. The Peregrine pair on the Asda building did a half-hearted/reluctant food share/pass which possible bodes well for this coming breeding season. Spoonbills were thinly spread out with 2 on the gull islands, 1 in Ower Bay and 2 in Middlebere. Avocet numbers still seem healthy with 340 in the top end of the Wareham Channel and c300 on the Brownsea Lagoon. Out in Studland Bay 9 Black-necked Grebe were feeding together and a Spotted Redshank was in Lytchett Bay late this afternoon.

Black-throated Diver flock – Off Baiter, seen from Winter Safari Cruise this AM – Alison Copland

Juvenile White-tailed Eagle G644, Wareham Channel seen from Winter Safari Cruise this AM – Alison Copland

Juvenile White-tailed Eagle G644, Wareham Channel seen from Winter Safari Cruise this AM – Alison Copland

Common Seal, Wareham Channel seen from Winter Safari Cruise this AM – Alison Copland

Despite the cold, grey, easterly wind, our School Bird Boat still headed out and braved the waves this morning, with Haymoor Jr School being rewarded with a White-tailed Eagle, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Spoonbill and the Ruddy Shelduck again in the Wareham Channel. A Barnacle Goose was on the Brownsea Lagoon, the Long-tailed Duck and 3 Slavonian Grebe were still off Jerry’s Point and 3 Black-necked Grebe were out in Studland Bay. In Middlebere a ringtail Hen Harrier was logged and there were 2 Spotted Redshank there too. Once all the grot had passed through this afternoon, it was a stunningly cold, crisp night which saw some of our team head out for some night surveying and ringing, and saw us head towards some National Trust owned fields up near the Half Way Inn. There was no shortage of Woodcock seen with c15 counted and 1 caught and ringed, along with this stunning Woodlark which was also ringed.

Woodlark – ringed under license – Hartland Fields

Things started off pretty grim today but the day soon sorted it’s self out. Plenty to be seen with 3 Slavonian Grebe, 4 Black-necked Grebe and the Long-tailed Duck between Jerry’s Point and Redhorn Quay and out in Brands Bay there was a Barnacle Goose and a Spoonbill. There was another (the same?) Barnacle Goose out on Arne Moors this afternoon where a ringtail Hen Harrier was also seen. A male Hen Harrier was seen at Middlebere where the 3 Ruff were still present and 1 Spotted Redshank. The Short-eared Owl was seen again out over Slepe Heath then Arne Moors late this afternoon and the Cattle Egret was still in the Highland Cattle field at Norden.

We were also out today starting to service our various Osprey nest platforms and swapped out the trail cameras and retrieved in last years and have just looked through the memory cards. This was a very magic and historic moment from last spring when our first ever wild fledged juvenile from 2022, female 5H1, returned and settled briefly on the Middlebere nest platform at RSPB Arne, with her Dad 022, before disappearing off. 5H1 was the first wild-fledged Osprey in Southern England for nearly 200 years, and was a direct result of the translocation project we carried out with the Roy Dennis Wildlife foundation. Later in the spring of 2024 she was seen briefly on a nest in the Usk Valley in south Wales, and was then seen later in the summer on a nest in Rutland! Where will she appear this spring?

Our pair CJ7 and 022 have now succsfuilly bred at the Careys Secret Garden for the last three years, and this spring we’ll be on the look out for any of the juveniles from the 2023 nest, ring numbers, 5H3 (presumed male), 5H4 (presumed male) and 5H5 (presumed female). If any are to return then it will likely be some time in May.

Plus, last year saw CJ7 and 022 return the earliest they’ve ever returned with 022 on March 25th and and CJ7 on March 26th. This was aided by a decent southerly airflow during the early part of March which saw a lot of Ospreys arrive early. Lets keep everything crossed for their safe return in just over a months time!

Iconic and historic photo retrieved from camera trap memory card today of 5H1 and 022 together on May 14th 2024

Osprey nest prep at RSPB Arne.

Ruff – Middlebere – Mark Wright

As much as we love the New Year, it’s always ‘nice’ to get January out of the way, especially when February welcomes us in with nice calm conditions. It’s all still much of the same currently, but it won’t be long before we start seeing some change as birds start moving and thinking about heading back towards breeding grounds and various territories. The Long-tailed Duck, 2 Black-necked Grebe and 3 Slavonian Grebe were off Jerry’s Point and out in Studland Bay there were 2 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver and 5 Common Scoter. An adult male Hen Harrier passed over the Puddle Town Road, near Trigon, the male Snow Bunting was still on Hamworthy Beach and c20 Spoonbill were on Shipstal. In Middlebere there were 2 Spotted Redshank, the single Cattle Egret was still in the Norden Fields with the Highland Cattle, there were 3 Spoonbill in Brands Bay this afternoon, a Merlin bombed across the harbour entrance this morning and 2 White-tailed Eagles were seen over Middlebere mid-morning.

Cattle Egret and Highland cow – Norden – Mark Wright

Cattle Egret and Highland cow – Norden – Mark Wright

It was good to hear the Short-eared Owl was seen again along the southern section of Slepe Heath this evening meaning it must now be ‘over-wintering’ in the vicinity and could be around for a few weeks more? Off Jerry’s point the Long-tailed Duck was still present along with 2 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Great Northern Diver. This morning 2 White-tailed Eagles were over Middlebere/Hartland, seen heading towards the Purbecks. A Cattle Egret was in fields again with the Highland Cattle at Norden and 12+ Chiffchaff and 1 Firecrest were at Norden Sewage Works.

Common Chiffchaff – Norden Sewage Works – Clive Hargrave

It was all about the raptors today. Not surprising considering the weather, as sunny, slightly mild days in January often get birds of prey up and running, and it seems the sun did the job today. In Middlebere there was a sub-adult Hen Harrier, 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine, 1 Goshawk and 1 Marsh Harrier. During the course of the day 4 different White-tailed Eagles were moving between the harbour and the coast, with sightings over Middlebere and 2 sat out in Brands Bay this afternoon. A Short-eared Owl was over Slepe Heath this evening and seemed to track over towards Arne Moors, and for most of the day Common Buzzards started to actively display over traditional sites. This evening an incredible 232 Magpies came into the Hatch Pond roost which was quite a sight, seeing them all sat in a flock on the western edge before they then dropped down deep into cover as it got dark. Off Shipstal there were 3 Black-necked Grebe and a Cattle Egret was in fields along the Arne to Corfe back road. The Long-tailed Duck was off Jerry’s Point this morning along with 1 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Slavonian Grebe. Out off Middle Beach 3 Common Scoter remain with 2 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Great Northern Diver. There was a minimum of 3 Cattle Egret on Wareham Common, near the mill and 14 Spoonbill were on Shipstal Point. Finally, having not been reported for several days (perhaps people have had enough of it now), the Snow Bunting was still on Hamworthy Beach/Park this afternoon.

Some of the 232 Magpies gathering in pre-roost at Hatch Pond before dropping down into deeper cover after dark

Slightly better today weather wise, and actually quite a lot going on for a blustery Tuesday. The Long-tailed Duck and Slavonian Grebe were off Jerry’s Point and seen during our Winter Safari this AM, along with 14 Spoonbill near Gold Point, 1 Black-necked Grebe in central harbour, 9 Great Northern Diver were spread across the harbour, 2 Marsh Harrier were at Swineham and a ringtail Hen Harrier was in the Wareham Channel. Mid-morning saw 2 juvenile White-tailed Eagles soaring over Corfe Castle and this afternoon 3 Ruff were in Middlebere with Lapwing and a Short-eared Owl was on Hyde’s Heath, at Arne. Out in Studland Bay there were 10 Common Scoter, 3 Great Northern Diver and 5 Black-necked Grebe. Finally, we received some great info of whats quite a rare occurrence in Poole Harbour which was of a record of a bill saddle found on a Mallard in Middlebere over the weekend. This method of marking ducks is an alternative to ringing them, and allows for birds to be identified as individuals, just like the blue rings we put on Ospreys. The bill saddles have no negative impacts on the birds and allows researchers to track a variety of duck species. The finders of the duck in Middlebere have already heard back from the group who tagged the duck, providing the origin as Sao Jacinto Dunes Nature Reserve in NW Portugal. This is a great recovery and highlights that some of our over-wintering Mallard are true visitors from elsewhere and not just from Poole Park or released up the river valleys for shooting!

Saddle-billed Mallard – Middlebere over the weekend – Richard Stephenson

Origin of saddle-billed Mallard in Portugal and distance to Middlebere 1225km (761.5 miles)