It was slim pickings from around the harbour today, but a slight break in the weather early morning allowed for some quick pleasant birding before the wind and rain set in…again! From the Middle Beach car park there were 7 Common Scoter, 5 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 3 Great Northern Diver, 5 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Red-necked Grebe and 1 Sandwich Tern. In Brands Bay just 3 Black-necked Grebe were counted and the first Slavonian Grebe of the winter appeared in Shell Bay with 4 Great Northern Diver and another Black-necked Grebe. A Firecrest and Redpoll were at Boarder Road, Lytchett Bay and there were 4 Green Sandpiper at RSPB Lytchett Fields with a good number of Lapwing, Dunlin and Snipe. 

In driving rain and strong winds a small team from Stour Ring Group went out to ring Woodcock around the Hartland/Slepe area and despite the conditions it was a successful session with 5 new birds ringed and a re-trap that had been ringed in February this year. In total 15-20 Woodcock were seen with 10+ Common Snipe. In Middlebere there were 4 Spotted Redshank. At Shell Bay 1 Chiffchaff and 10 Lesser Redpoll were in the trees around the boardwalk and 25 Sanderling were on the beach. Whilst out in the bay a Little Auk passed south from Middle Beach with 6 Razorbill and 7 Kittiwake in tow and on the water 3 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 7 Common Scoter, 5 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 2 Razorbill were noted with 17 Black-necked Grebe in the evening Middle Beach roost. 

A few bits and pieces from across the harbour today included 1 Great Northern Diver off Baiter Park with 17 Ringed Plover and 11 Turnstone there too. At Lytchett Bay there were 2 Red-breasted Merganser out in the Bay with 14 Brent Geese, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Peregrine over and 12 Fieldfare and 2 Water Pipit on the Pools Field. From South Haven there were 5 Great Northern Diver, 5 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 2 Sandwich Tern and 2 Razorbill. In Brands Bay 3 Black-necked Grebe, 57 Grey Plover, 12 Knot and 1 Greenshank were counted whilst from Middle Beach the Red-necked Grebe remained with 7 Common Scoter and 10+ Black-necked Grebe. There now seems to be only 3 or 4 Marsh Harrier roosting in the west harbour roost now and a single ringtail Hen Harrier remains, with no sign of the grey male. Finally a male Merlin was seen dashing across Hartland at dawn. 

Much of the same today, however the discovery of a freshly dead Short-eared Owl at RSPB Lytchett Fields was a sorry find. The bird appeared to be a first year male and was very thin with its breast-bone sticking out, indicating likely cause of death…starvation. The recent weather has not been kind to hunting owls, birds that rely almost 100% on hearing the quietest of rustles or squeaks in amongst the grass. With wind and rain hampering their hunting efforts, plus the likely hood of having just arrived exhausted possibly from continental Europe, its no surprise one of these poor, yet beautiful birds perished. We just hope all the others that have arrived here in Dorset over the last month are doing slightly better. Although, having talked to some colleagues up in Buckton, East Yorkshire today, in the last couple of days they’ve found dead Short-eared and Long-eared Owls both having starved. On a slightly more cheery note, there seem to still be 3 Hen Harrier in the harbour with the grey male seen at Middlebere midday and a ringtail in Middlebere. In Brands Bay there was a Red-throated Diver, 4 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Sandwich Terns. Off Middle Beach 5 Great Northern Diver, 8 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 7 Common Scoter and 6 Razorbill were counted. And from South Haven another 3 Great Northern Diver, 5 pale-bellied Brent Geese and 1 Sandwich Tern. There were 35+ Spoonbill at Shipstal Point, Arne and 1 on the Brownsea Lagoon. Whilst out in central harbour plenty of Red-breasted Merganser can now be found in loose flocks and there were a minimum of 10 Goldeneye present. 11 Sanderlings were seen at Shore road with a Great Northern Diver out in Whitley Lake. 

A dedicated count at RSPB Lytchett Fields produced 192 Dunlin, 112 Black-tailed Godwit, 289 Lapwing, 1 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Kestrel whilst out in the bay there were 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Brent Geese and 52 Avocet. There was also a minimum of 6 Water Pipit still on Lytchett Pools. At the harbour mouth a good count of 8 possibly 9 Great Northern Diver was noted with 4 entering the harbour at dawn and 4-5 in and around the Shell Bay area. Also in Shell Bay was a Red-throated Diver a few meters off the beach, 2 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Razorbill. From Middle Beach, Studland 1 Black-throated Diver, 14 Black-necked Grebe and a Razorbill were counted with another 16 Black-necked Grebe in Brands Bay. The water levels in Poole Park have been lowered slightly with a few Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Dunlin and Redshank taking advantage, also 7 Goldeneye, 1 Brent Goose and a Kingfisher out in the deeper parts. 

Not much to report today other than a minimum of 6 Water Pipit on the Pools Field at Lytchett Bay. Spoonbills were on Brownsea and at Middlebere. So, to make up for the lac of sightings, here is a video of one of the Lytchett Pools Water Pipits.

Water Pipit – Lytchett Pools – 29/11/15

To watch in HD click on cog shaped symbol and select 1080

Another blustery day with no let up it seems. Few reports but a Short-eared Owl and Marsh Harrier were hunting over Hartland at dawn and a ringtail Hen Harrier was near the cottages at Middlebere. At Lytchett Fields there were a minimum of 8 Water Pipit around the site plus the usual array of waders and wildfowl. From Middle beach, Studland 1 Red-throated Diver, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 9 Black-necked Grebe 7 Common Scoter and 2 Razorbill were seen. 

Nice to see all three diver species present within the recording area today with a Red-throated Diver off the Houseboats at South Haven with 2 Great Northern Diver and 6 Black-necked Grebe and a Black-throated Diver off Middle Beach with another Red-throated Diver, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 14+ Black-necked Grebe, 5 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 7 Common Scoter, 1 Razorbill, 1 Guillemot, 5 Kittiwake and a Sandwich Tern. From South Haven another Red-throated Diver, 1 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Merlin. The Smew was seen again off Shipstal Point, Arne. At Lytchett Fields there were an incredible 13 Water Pipit with 10 on the pools field and 3 next to French’s Pools. From a school bird boat 35 Spoonbill were on the Brownsea Lagoon and the dark looking Peregrine, also c300 Avocet, 10+ Spotted Redshank and c300 Dunlin. Out in central harbour Red-breasted Merganser, Goldeneye and Great Crested Grebe numbers are building nicely and a Guillemot was several yards off Poole Quay. 

The big low tides are exposing huge areas of mud and sand at the moment, giving wading birds and gulls lots of space and opportunity to feed. In Brands Bay, Arne, Holes Bay, Middlebere and off Baiter good numbers of the usual waders such as Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Dunlin the odd Bar-tailed Godwit and Greenshank could all be seen really easily and in the shallow channels out in central harbour many Red-breasted Merganser, Great-crested Grebe and Goldeneye fed in close quarters to each other. The best bird of the day was a redhead Smew 300m off Shipstal Point, Arne closely followed by a Red-throated Diver which up’d and left, heading towards Poole late afternoon. There were 4 Water Pipit on the pools field at Lytchett Bay, along Slough Lane. From Middle Beach, Studland the Red-necked Grebe remained plus 20 Black-necked Grebe and 7 Common Scoter with another 6 Black-necked Grebe off the Houseboats at South Haven. At PC World there were 7 Common Chiffchaff in the channel and 6 Spoonbill were in Holes Bay north. 

Birds of Poole Harbour Logo Competition

Don’t forget we’re inviting YOU to help design our official Birds of Poole Harbour logo in our new competition that runs from November 15^th 2015 to March 31^st 2016.

FOR FULL DETAILS – CLICK HERE

A bit of a slow day with a few odds and sods reported through. Best bird was a Siberian Chiffchaff with c10 Common Chiffchaff at PC World, also there was a Kingfisher and 2 Lesser Redpoll. There were 28 Red-breasted Merganser out in Whitley Lake, Shore Road with 1 Great Northern Diver and 2 Goldeneye. At Lytchett Pools there were 5 Water Pipit all together at the back of the field and good numbers of Lapwing, Dunlin and Snipe out on the fields. Out in Brands Bay 20 of the over-wintering Spoonbill were feeding off Jerry’s Point. Via Ian Ballam we’ve also had info back on a colour-ringed Spoonbill that was noted in Holes Bay on the 23^rd of November. The bird was ringed as a chick in the Netherlands on the 10/09/06 and has been visiting Poole Harbour annually since the 09/11/07.

Starlings of Poole Harbour – A winter roost survey

Each winter many thousands of Starling enter the UK from mainland Europe often forming large evening murmurations in rural, urban and semi-urban areas. Roost sizes can vary greatly year on year, and in this report Nick Hopper focuses on the winter roost behavior during the 2014/15 winter period within Poole Harbour.

Starlings of Poole Harbour – A winter roost survey

Poole Park Photo Mosaic

Many of you will have a soft spot for Poole’s favourite park. Over the years it’s hosted some great birds and no doubt you’ve spent some quality time with friends and family around the park grounds over the years.

Poole Park is 125 years old. It is getting tired and needs a refresh so Borough of Poole are currently preparing a funding bid to help give Poole park the refurb it thoroughly deserves. Part of the funding bid relies on community-raised match funding and here is how you can help.

One of the ways they are trying to raise funds is by creating a photo mosaic in the refreshed park. This creates the opportunity for you, your family or your business to have your photos permanently placed in a wider art installation. The photos can be of anything you like, a scenic shot of the harbour, a family photo or of course some stunning bird photos.

Take a look at the link. I hope that it is of interest and that some will support this opportunity to improve the park for people and wildlife.

We’ve already uploaded our photos!

http://www.poolepark.org/