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. 

Very few reports today other than the Red-necked Grebe, 6 Black-necked Grebe, 5 pale-belled Brent Geese and 7 Common Scoter viewable from Middle Beach, Studland

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.