With the SE wind a sea watch was attempted from Branksome Chine early morning, but visibility soon decreased to 200m and the watch had to stop. From 8am to 9am 2 Common Scoter, 1 Red-throated Diver, 11 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Razorbill, 9 Brent Geese and 4 Shelduck were noted. In Middlebere a male Merlin was sat on a post in front of the hide, plus there was at least 1 Marsh Harrier, 500+ Avocet, 350+ Lapwing and 10 Spotted Redshank. There were finally 3 Purple Sandpiper back on the rocks in front of the Haven Hotel, Sandbanks. In Holes Bay the Smew was still in Holes Bay south and a Common Sandpiper was near the out flow in HB north. On Baiter Beach both Turnstone and Ringed Plover were feeding on the low tide near Fishermas Dock. 

There was a lovely selection of birds in the harbour today including the discovery of a Black Guillemot off the SE corner of Brownsea Island. It was in exactly the same spot as the bird from the 20114/15 winter period so more than likely it’s the same bird. There was a Great White Egret on Round Island which then later moved to Long Island (viewed from Arne) with a Great Northern Diver off Shipstal too. The Smew was again in Holes Bay south near the railway bridge. On the Brownsea Lagoon 34 Spoonbill huddled together to shelter from the SE wind. A new grey male Hen Harrier joined the harrier party at dusk with a Short-eared owl hunting on Arne Moors and only 3 Marsh Harrier in the west harbour roost. From South Haven there were 6 Great Northern Diver, 3 Sandwich Tern and an auk sp. In Brands Bay there were 12 Black-necked Grebe and an adult Yellow-legged Gull and 7 Gannet out from Middle Beach. A Black Redstart was having a ding dong with a Robin above the entrance to Salterns Marina, Poole mid afternoon. 

Finally a calm, still day and overcast which actually makes watching the harbour a bit easier. At Lytchett Bay there were still 2 Water Pipit on the Poole Field and 2 Green Sandpiper there too.  In Brands Bay the Great White Egret reappeared and there was also a Spoonbill there too. The ‘inner’ Poole Harbour evening Black-necked Grebe roost was off Jerry’s Point and was comprised of 24 individuals with another 14 off Knoll Beach in the ‘outer’ Poole Harbour Black-necked Grebe roost, also a Slavonian Grebe off Knoll Beach too and the Red-necked Grebe remained. In the north of the harbour another Woodcock was ringed by the Stour Ringing group and a Firecrest was ringed in Upton. Today also saw the first joint partnership bird boat trip between the National Trust and RSPB. A good day was had by all with 5 Great Northern Diver, 2 Black-necked Grebe, plenty of Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser and 32 Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon. There were another 3 Great Northern Diver in Studland Bay. The Smew was in Holes Bay again with a Common Sandpiper and a Sandwich Tern was near the harbour mouth.

There was a male Lesser-spotted Woodpecker in Chads Copse, Boarder Road in Lytchett Bay in the morning.  A Great Northern Diver was off Shore Road, Whitley Lake and another off Baiter. The Spoonbill flock was mostly on Brownsea and a Merlin dashed by there. A Short-eared Owl was again along the Arne Road at dusk and 2 Woodcock were flushed from Slepe Heath. In Holes Bay there were 10+ Pintail, 100+ Avocet and 200+ Black-tailed Godwit.

Another quiet day in terms of birds reported, but there’s plenty out there to see!  It seems the Christmas rush has taken over priorities at present with not many birds being reported, but that’s not to say there isn’t much about. Winter in the harbour is an exceptionally busy time of year and on the low tides, big numbers of waders can be seen out feeding from places like Arne, Brands Bay, Middlebere, Holes Bay and Lytchett Bay. We’ve recently published the WeBS data (Wetland Bird Survey) from Poole Harbour which shows peak counts of each wetland bird species from 2009-2014, highlighting the importance of the harbour for a number of key wetland species. The heathlands and harbour fringes can seem quiet without the buzzing of bees and songs of grasshoppers but Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and Stonechat are all super active this time of year and birds of prey such as Merlin, Peregrine, Kestrel, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier and Hen Harrier are all real possibilities. Visiting a local feeding station can be great fun too at places like Holton Lee, the Arne car park, Corfe Castle visitors center where you can great views of species such as Great Spotted Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Marsh Tit, Lesser Redpoll and Siskin. So why not just get out over Christmas and explore. You’ll almost certainly experience or learn something you never knew before!

Not much to report from today other than 18 Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon, 2 Marsh Harrier in Middlebere and 200 Brent Geese out on Baiter Park with 2 Turnstone and 20+ Ringed Plover also in the vicinity. 

For a second day in a row a school bird boat disembarked from Poole Quay taking students out Kingston Maurward College. In terms of birds seen it wasn’t too dissimilar for Tuesdays trip but the Red-throated Diver was again off Shipstal Beach, Arne with 3 Great Northern Diver dotted around (1 off Brownsea, 1 near the harbour mouth and 1 centrail harbour). There were 34 Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon and a great full supporting cast of Avocet, Black and Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank and Spotted Redshank. A Peregrine passed over Long Island and the harbour saw good numbers of Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe and Red-breasted Merganser. The Smew had moved from Holes Bay south to north. Up on Hartland Moor a male Merlin was buzzing around and a was hunting on Slepe Heath at dusk. Up to 5 Marsh Harrier are now roosting again and only a single ringtail Hen Harrier was noted. 

Today we ventured out on a school bird boat and we were rewarded with a Red-throated Diver feeding just off Shipstal Beach, Arne plus 3 Great Northern Diver out in central harbour. There were a minimum of 25 Spoonbill on Shipstal Point, Arne and out in central harbour, Goldeneye, Red-breasted merganser and Great Crested Grebe numbers continue to grow. A Merlin was being harassed out in Brands Bay by a crow and 3 Marsh Harrier came out of the west Poole Harbour roost. The redhead Smew was again present in Holes Bay south with 3 Goldeneye. A male Merlin zoomed past Middlebere and at Lytchett Pools there was still a minimum of 2 Water Pipit with 1 Green Sandpiper and a Marsh Harrier passed over. 

Smew – Holes Bay North – Ian Ballm

Finally some sun and light winds meant some birds could be found today, a real novelty! Starting with some good news that there are still at least 2 Short-eared Owls alive and well with one hunting out over Arne Moors at dusk with another around the Middlebere Farm entrance track. A good count of 7 Marsh Harrier went into the west harbour roost and there are still 2 ringtail Hen Harrier booting around the Middlebere/Arne area. From Studland the Red-necked Grebe was still off Middle Beach with 10+ Black-necked Grebe and in Studland Bay the 7 Common Scoter were still present with 3 Great Northern Diver.  The family of 5 pale-bellied Brent Geese has now been reduced to 4 with one unfortunately found dead off Middle Beach early morning and out past Old Harry 20+ Kittiwake, 3 Razorbill and several Auk sp past south. A Smew was found in Holes Bay south (just near the railway bridge) which was the same place as last years bird (possibly even the same bird)?.  On the Littlesea Nature Trail there were 2 Chiffchaff and 1 Firecrest. Brands Bay held 2 Great Northern Diver, 4 Black-necked Grebe, 164 Wigeon, 83 Pintail, 76 Grey Plover, 161 Lapwing, 16 Turnstone and 1. Sandwich Tern

Still no let up in the weather but singles of Slavonian Grebe, Black-necked Grebe Great Northern Diver and Chiffchaff were counted at South Haven, Studland with 22 Sanderling on the beach. And from on the water from Middle Beach there were 3 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 6+ Black-necked Grebe, 5 pale-belled Brent Geese, 7 Common Scoter with another 2 Common Scoter, 19 Kittiwake and 9 Razorbill passing south past Old Harry. A Marsh Tit was feeding at the Corfe NT car park feeding station. Up to 35 Spoonbills were again off Shipstal (they seem to have deserted Brownsea all together now) and were seen feeding in the Wareham Channel and in Middlebere.