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/

As expected, a pretty dark grey, damp day didn’t produce too much but with all the nonsense on the news there’s no better time to get out and enjoy the true beautiful things in life. A Song Thrush in full voice at Upton CP this morning was enough to pick anyone’s mood up off the floor. Behind PC World there were a minimum of 10 Common Chiffchaff and 1 possibly 2 Siberian Chiffchaff. A Red-throated Diver was out in the Brownsea Channel and off the Houseboats at South Haven there were 2 Great Northern Diver and 4 Black-necked Grebe. In Shell Bay a Great Northern Diver and 1 Black-necked Grebe were feeding and 5 pale-belled Brent Geese were off Middle Beach. On the Pools Field at Lytchett Bay there were 2 Water Pipit and in Upton CP two Bearded Tit (male and female) were feeding in front of one of the viewing areas.

Birds of Poole Harbour Logo Design Competition

Since our charity launched in 2013 we’ve never had an official logo so we’re turning to you, the public for help.

Over the next 4 months we are inviting anyone and everyone who has an interest in local conservation and an artistic eye to help us design our official Birds of Poole Harbour logo.

This is a great opportunity to get creative and have the chance to see the winning logo popping up around Poole Harbour. So why not take the chance and have a go at helping us build our presence in and around the harbour by designing our official ‘crest’

For Full Competition details CLICK HERE

The first real frost of the winter hit the ground (and our cars) hard as crisp and crunchy footsteps broke the silence of a still calm morning. It was once again great conditions for Wood Pigeons as more began to move north in good numbers with 17,785 passing over Lytchett Bay in just 40 minuets. Spoonbills are now focusing on new feeding areas on the low tides with 2 in Lytchett Bay and 9 in Holes Bay often giving incredible views of down to 10 meters, especially by the outflow channel in Holes Bay north. Up at Gleblands, small numbers of finches were moving but it seems a Woodlark is over wintering somewhere with one calling from the ploughed Ballard fields and a Marsh Tit was in scrub at the entrance gate to Glebelands. There were also 2 Marsh Tit at Holton Lee. Off Middle Beach there were 12 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Great Northern Diver and 2 Common Scoter. Out in central harbour, viewed from Shipstal Point, Arne the evening duck/grebe roost consisted of of over 100 Red-breasted Merganser, c50 Great Crested Grebe, c20 Goldeneye and a Great Northern Diver.      

  Spoonbill – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam

Today finally saw the first cold, crisp and still morning of the winter, a beautiful day with lots of birds to see. There were two undoubted highlights, the first being from Lytchett Bay when a vis-mig session was being conducted from Lytchett Bay and 2 Penduline Tits passed low overhead calling and disappeared into some scrub. The birds were searched for over the next hour, but unbeknown to the search party the birds had made their way all the way over to Longham Lakes by early afternoon! This was the second record of this species in Lytchett Bay, with one over-wintering in Jan-Feb 1998. Its not inconceivable to think that perhaps with the amount reedbed in Poole Harbour, Penduline Tit could actually be a regular over-winterer but finding them is a different matter. The other highlight was a mass Wood Pigeon movement over the harbour where an incredible 140,618 had flown NW by late morning. At times a huge snake like trail of Wood Pigeons, made up of thousands of birds could be seen stretching across the skyline. This phenomenon is actually an annul occurrence but the volume of birds is very weather dependent year on year. This is the latest (as far as I’m aware) that the Pigeons have decided to move, but with all the grotty, windy weather recently its no surprise they decided to wait for a beautiful still day. Other sightings from around the harbour included 1 Red-necked Grebe, 4 Great Northern Diver, 25 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Goosander, 10 Common Scoter 9 Spoonbill and 5 Pale-bellied Brent Geese around the Studland peninsular. At Lytchett Bay view, just prior to the Penduline Tit excitement a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker passed overhead and 17 Shoveler (a bay record) were counted. There was also a late Swallow over Lytchett Fields. Spoonbill are now using Holes Bay with 11 at lunch time along with several Avocet and good numbers of wildfowl. On Brownsea an over-wintering Common Sandpiper was found and on the lagoon were 10 Spoonbill, 16 Spotted Redshank and a Brownsea rarity…5 Lapwing. Along Shore Road, Sandbanks 28 Bar-tailed Godwit and 14 Sanderling are now feeding on the exposed sand on a low tide, giving views of down to a few meters! The Short-eared Owl was again over the Wareham bypass near the Red-footed Falcon bridge and Marsh and Hen Harriers were noted at Middlebere, Arne and the Wareham Channel. 

What started off an exceptionally breezy day, actually turned out to be a beautiful cold crisp winter evening. Bird was made very difficult first thing but around 5000 Wood Pigeons tried their best to migrate across the harbour just after dawn. At Arne a Snow Bunting was reported on Shipstal Beach by 3 people but unfortunately couldn’t be relocated. There were 3 separate Short-eared Owls before dusk with one out hunting on Arne Moors (viewed from up on Slepe Heath), another hunting along the edge of Hartland Moor and a third from the bridge on the Wareham bypass looking west (on the opposite side of the road from where the Red-footed Falcon was earlier in the year. A Great Northern Diver was off Jerry’s point. Hen Harriers were seen from Middlebere, Arne’s new raptor hide and Hartland Moor. Also from Middlebere were 2 Peregrines and a Merlin. At South Haven a hard going vis-mig was tried with the best being 3 Brambling north. 

There was a nice selection of winter species in the harbour today starting with 25 Barnacle Geese flying low east across Littlesea, Studland. A redhead Goosander was on the beach at Shipstal, Arne with a few Red-breasted Merganser. There were 3 Firecrest in a garden in Wareham with another 2 in the Arne car park. In Brands Bay, Studland the Great White Egret appeared, also there 1 pale-belled Brent Goose, 90 Pintail, 3 Goldeneye, 29 Grey Plover, 282 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot and 4 Fieldfare. There were 3 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Great Northern Diver off the houseboats at South Haven and off Middle Beach 4 Great Northern Diver, 17+ Black-necked Grebe, 1 Red-necked Grebe and 1 Razorbill. A single Great Northern Diver was off Baiter. At Lytchett Bay 2 Spoonbill were in the bay and 2 Water Pipit were on the fields. 

Apologies for the lack of updates recently, our team has been away for a short while. Below is a full over view site by site.

Lytchett Bay/Fields

Most interesting was a Kittiwake sat out in the middle of the bay on the 16^th, which was the record breaking 158^th species to be seen in the Lytchett Bay recording area this year. Between 1-4 Water Pipits are still around the site and a maximum 4 Marsh Harrier have been using the site. 6 Spoonbill have now started to use the bay for feeding, meaning they may also start using the Holes Bay outflow soon.

Brownsea Lagoon

Up to 11 Spoonbill have been using the lagoon, also 13 Spotted Redshank, 40 Grey Plover, 10 Greenshank, 4 Turnstone, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Peregrine, c300 Avocet and 4 Knot

Baiter Park

There were 4 Sandwich Tern hunkering down in the wind also 214 Brent Geese, 11 Ringed Plover and 16 Turnstone.

Hartland Moor/Slepe Heath

A minimum of 3 Short-eared Owl were counted on the 16^th with 2 hunting over Slepe Heath at dawn and dusk and another over Hartland Moor. The 3 Hen Harrier are still circumnavigating the harbour but are present mostly around Middlebere and Hartland. 10 Marsh Harrier left the west Poole Harbour roost.

Studland/Poole Harbour Entrance

At the harbour on the 18^th , 87 Shag flew in with 6 Red-breasted Merganser, 2 Common Scoter, 1 Black-throated Diver and 5 Sandwich Tern were fishing. In Studland Bay there was 2 Great Northern Diver, 1 Black-throated Diver, 4 Common Scoter, 12 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Razorbill. There were another 7 Black-necked Grebe in Brands Bay. Another Short-eared Owl was noted, this time flying off the sea at South Haven along with 2 Merlin. There were 15 Sanderling and 11 Ringed Plover on Shell Beach. A Red-necked Grebe was off South Beach

Other sites

There were 4 Lesser Redpoll in Poole Park. 108 Magpie flew into roost at Hatch Pond. 2 Firecrest were at Creekmoor Ponds

Sandwich Terns – Baiter park – Ian Ballam

Three days of wind, rain and misery have made birding very difficult, but today was a slightly improved picture. Highlights from the last few days include now 10 Marsh Harrier and 3 Hen Harrier working the Wareham Channel, Middlebere area. A Short-eared Owl was on Hartland Moor. Off Middle Beach, Studland a quick scan found the first returning Great Northern Diver of the winter, 7 Black-necked Grebe and 3 Common Scoter. At Lytchett Bay up to 5 Water Pipit have been seen with the easiest to be seen on Lytchett Pools, along Slough Lane. Also at Lytchett Fields up to 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 2 Spotted Redshank and good numbers of Snipe, Dunlin, Redshank and Lapwing. There were 22 Spoonbill on Brownsea plus 4 in Middlebere where 326 Avocet, 455 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Spotted Redshank and a Barn Owl were seen.

The number of over-wintering, open water species is increasing slowly day by day with a minimum of 50 Red-breasted Merganser out in South Deep (near the inner harbour mouth) and a Common Scoter there too. The Brownsea Lagoon was looking good with 25 Spoonbill, c300 Avocet, c400 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Spotted Redshank and good numbers of the common duck and waders species. At Holton Lee 2 Marsh Tits are regular visitors to the feeding station there where they also had the first over-wintering Lesser Redpoll and a few Siskin. A Great White Egret was in the Wytch Channel and then moved to Middlebere mid morning. A Short-eared Owl posed nicely along the Arne Road on the edge of Slepe Heath. There was also possibly a second Short-eared Owl out in the Wareham Channel early morning. A total of 8 Marsh Harrier left the west Poole Harbour roost at dawn with a possible 2 more appearing from the east around the same time. The 2 ringtail Hen Harriers were active again throughout the day visiting Middlebere, Keysworth, Swineham and Shipstal. At Lytchett Fields 3 different Marsh Harrier were present as were 3 Water Pipit (2 on Lytchett Pools), 65 Dunlin, 154 Lapwing and 101 Redshank. From Middle Beach, Studland there were 3 Common Scoter and 5 Black-necked Grebe plus a Firecrest in Knoll beach woods.    

Short-eared Owl – Arne Road, Slepe Heath – Paul Morton

Today Durlston CP saw a massive movement of birds, mainly finches, which was unprecedented to say the least, and not something we would have expected here in Poole Harbour with a strong SW wind. So, we don’t know if any of the birds that Durlston saw passed by/over our Poole Harbour counting areas, but judging on Christchurch Harbours daily report it looks like we could well have seen a good vis-mig count from up at Glebelands. That said, South Haven, Studland was covered but the counts certainly didn’t reflect what was going on elsewhere in the county with only 148 Goldfinch, 461 Linnet, 12 Siskin, 28 Meadow Pipit, 12 Chaffinch and 1 Brambling (Durlston had 468)! Also at South Haven were 2 Black-necked Grebe, 4 Common Scoter, 1 Peregrine, 13 Grey Plover, 5 Sanderling, 1 Rock Pipit and 1 Cetti’s Warbler. In Brands Bay there was 1 Merlin, 213 Black-tailed Godwit, 9 Greenshank, 13 Grey Plover and 5 Dunlin.  At RSPB Lytchett Fields there were 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Greenshank, 50+ Fieldfare and 3 Goldcrest. At Middlebere the Great White Egret dropped in in front of the hide for a while, also noted were 572 Avocet, 552 Black-tailed Godwit, 120 Redshank, 60 Lapwing, 20 Dunlin, 2 Yellow-legged Gull and a Merlin. A night recording session from a listening station in Stoborough produced a really late Tree Pipit, 688 Redwing calls, 48 Song Thrush, 15 Blackbird, several passing Brambling, Bullfinch and Skylark.

Chris Thaine, the DWT Warden on Brownsea has had some infor back regarding one of the colour-ringed Spoonbill that’s been present on the lagoon since mid October.

Colour-ringed Spoonbill B[AE]a/W[AE]– Brownsea Island

It is quite a wanderer and first ringed as a pullus (chick) in the Netherlands in 2006.

It was subsequently seen in France and Netherlands in 2006 and 2007 and first seen on Brownsea in Nov. 2007.

It was in Poole Harbour in March 2008 and France and the Netherlands again later that year.

In Jan and Feb 2009 it was in Devon then Cornwall then again in Devon (Yealm estuary) in January 2010. Briefly in Cornwall (Tamar) the same month then back to France.

October 2010 it was  on the lagoon. December on the Tamar and back in Poole Harbour in Jan 2011.

Since January 2011 all the sightings (in total 18 of them) are from Shiermonnikoog (where it was originally ringed) and Poole Harbour only. It appears to spend April-July at least in the Netherlands and was on Brownsea in Aug 2011, Poole Harbour in February 2012, Sept, Oct, Dec 2012, Jan and March 2013.

April and July 2014 it was back in Netherlands and seen on Brownsea in Oct 2014 and not seen again until turning up on Brownsea again this year.

Great White Egret, Grey Heron and Little Egret in Middlebere – Peter Moore

Below is a recording made earlier this month of a flock of Redwing and Fieldfare flying in over Ballard Down before sunrise. Most thrush species move at night apart from Mistle Thrush it seems, with no records of Mistle Thrush calling at night during recording sessions. The calls of Fieldfare and Redwing as they pass overhead in the darkness has to be one of the best and most magical sounds of the birding year.

 Redwing & Fieldfare passing over Ballard Down before sunrise