It was pretty cold again today and as a result, birds were actively feeding to keep energy levels up, especially on the Norden Sewage Works filter bed where this afternoon there were 17 Common Chiffchaff, 1 Siberian Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest and 2 Grey Wagtail all feeding at the same time, with 2 Lesser Redpoll in the Alders there too. There also currently seems to be more Redwing and Song Thrush around than in recent months which suggests the northward spring passage may have got underway already with birds from Europe already tracking north. In Upton CP there were 110 Redwing, at Sunnyside there was a large mixed flock of Redwing and Fieldfare, and in the corner of a field near Thrashers Lane, Rempstone c50 Song Thrush were feeding. Off of Jerry’s Point there were 2 Slavonian Grebe. Holes Bay is still holding good numbers of birds and today a near record count of 214 Pintail were logged and c30 Knot were in the NE sector. In the still, cold conditions the seasons first Woodlarks began singing at several sites (although a few were heard ‘warming up during the last sunny day).

Black-tailed Godwit – Holes Bay

It was very cold today, and it was very grey….pretty uninspiring for very early spring, but none the less some birds made it out of the gloom. The Long-tailed Duck, 2 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Slavonian Grebe were off Jerry’s Point. In the Middlebere/Wytch Lake area 4 Spoonbill were moving back and fourth and 2 Marsh Harrier were off Shipstal. White-tailed Eagle numbers dropped to about 2-3 individuals in and around the Wareham Channel/Lytchett Bay area. The Siberian Chiffchaff was still at Norden Sewage Works and Spotted Redshank was at Lytchett Fields.

We’ve also been out today prepping and repairing various Osprey nest platforms around the harbour and servicing and installing new trail cameras. With only 3-4 weeks left until the first Ospreys arrive back, what stories will unfold this year, who will return safely and what dramas will we witness?

Re-filling Osprey nest platform with new nest material having blown out over the winter

View from the perch bar looking out towards a harbour pole nest platform on private land

Lining the trail camera up to point towards a harbour pole nest on private land

Installing and setting up new trail camera on Osprey nest platform on private land

Spring seems to be creeping along with more displaying and nest building birds today, including multiple Raven pairs/territories activity tumbling and calling above various sites with some seen carrying nest material to pylons near Keysworth. Talking of Keysworth, one lucky resident had an adult male Hawfinch on their feeders in Keysworth. The Siberian Chiffchaff was still at Norden Sewage works and a Spotted Redshank was still at Lytchett Fields. There were still 5-6 White-tailed Eagles in and around the harbour during the course of the day with sightings at Middlebere, the Wareham Channel, Lytchett Bay and Arne. An adult male Hen Harrier was in Brands Bay and Middlebere and in-between Jerry’s Point and Redhorn Quay 3 Slavonian Grebe and the Long-tailed Duck were still active, with 2 Black-necked Grebe off Jerry’s Point and 5 off Middle Beach, Studland. A Jack Snipe was in Holes Bay, a Red Kite drifted over Middlebere then Lytchett Bay and a Goshawk was in Middlebere.

Red Kite – Mark Wright

Slavonian Grebe – Redhorn Quay 

So cold! Mid-week was delightful with even a hint of spring warmth, but today was proper chilly. Cold enough to bring 2 Eider into Pilots Point and 4 Great Northern Diver into the harbour at dawn. The 2 Mandarin Duck were still in Poole Park and the Cattle Egret was still in the Norden Fields with the highland cattle. There were 6 different White-tailed Eagles in and around the harbour at different points during the day with some new arrivals arriving in from further north and one from the Isle of Wight, plus our local pair and the wandering 1st year individuals. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen again in Middlebere.

Finally, we’re delighted to share that our Osprey Cruises were awarded the GOLD AWARD for ‘Experience of the Year’ at the 2024/25 Dorset Tourism Awards yesterday evening! This award celebrates the culmination of years of hard work for our team and partners, from the delivery of the Osprey reintroduction project, to aspiring to give every one of our customers a memorable, exciting and informative experience on our boat trips. We’re proud to be showing that reintroduction projects not only form a critical part of species recovery, but are drivers of eco-tourism and environmental education too.

Huge thanks goes to Greenslades Pleasure Boats and all our fabulous volunteers who help us deliver our trips to such a high standard. It was also wonderful to see Carey Secret Garden (home of Osprey pair CJ7 and 022) take home 3(!) awards last night! Congratulations to all the winners.
Thanks to the Dorset Tourism Awards for this opportunity and for everyone who has supported our charity by joining our events. We’ll be announcing our Osprey Cruise dates for 2025 very soon, so watch this space.

Mandarin Ducks – Poole Park – John Newman

Collecting our Gold Award at the Dorset Tourism Awards last night

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