It was an exciting day for other parts of the Dorset coast with a massive passage of large shearwaters moving west past Durlston and Portland, mostly Great and Cory’s Shearwaters. The movement seemed to be happening too far west for Poole Bay to see any of this excitement although a Great Shearwater was logged out at sea from the top of Ballard, meaning we were able to record at least one for the Poole Harbour recording area records this year, the first since 1877! There was also a Balearic Shearwater logged out at sea from the top of Ballard and good numbers of Gannets. Efforts were made to try and log some in Poole Bay from Branksome Chine, but sadly no luck, although an ‘eared owl’ species (most likely Short-eared Owl) came in off the sea this morning and an Arctic Skua passed mid-morning, then this afternoon 3 Golden Plover came in off the sea, a decent passage of Swallow were heading west and c20 Common Scoter also moved west. This afternoon the Forster’s Tern was in the Middlebere Channel as was male Scottish Osprey ‘511’. A Merlin was seen dashing over Middlebere this evening and a Marsh Harrier over Slepe Moor. At Lytchett Fields 2 Spoonbill were on Sherford Pools this AM and off Jerry’s Point there were 2 Red-breasted Merganser.
Poole Harbour sightings blog
A record of all interesting and notable sightings from around the harbour throughout the year.
Latest Sightings
Harbour Update – posted 13/10/23
Harbour Update – posted 12/10/23
Another excellent school bird boat round the harbour this morning with some very good species to show the kids. The first passage Red-throated Diver of the season was in the Wareham Channel and all the children got their binoculars on it with encouraging levels of enthusiasm! An Osprey also flew over the boat along the Arne shoreline, unfortunately it was while the kids were eating their snacks downstairs! Luckily good views of at least 2 Marsh Harrier around Swineham made up for this. On the Brownsea Lagoon the Spoonbill gave great views with 74 being present along with c150 Avocet, 10+ Grey Plover and c200 Oystercatcher. From Poole Quay 2 Ringed Plover were on the rocks and a Peregrine flew over the town.
Elsewhere in the harbour at Lytchett Fields there were 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank and 3 Greenshank. The 1 Red-breasted Merganser was still in Brands Bay along with 1 juvenile Osprey, 1 Peregrine, 5 Pintail, 1 Avocet, 6 Grey Plover, 2 Sanderling, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Red Knot and 1 Greenshank. In Holes Bay 1 Spoonbill and 1 Cattle Egret were present NW first thing, but they soon departed and a Peregrine was seen hunting in the area. A Ruff was on the scrapes at Swineham and the Forster’s Tern is still around, showing well at Shipstal from RSPB Arne.
One of two Sanderling – Brands Bay – @HargraveClive on Twitter
Harbour Update – posted 11/10/23
It was great to get our School Bird Boat program going today with our first outing of the season seeing us take out Stoborough Primary School. It’s always good to get the kids connected to decent birds and this morning they were treated to 2-3 Marsh Harrier and a Great White Egret at Swineham, c250 Cormorant feeding in the Wareham Channel, 64 Spoonbill, c150 Avocet and c200 Oystercatcher on the Brownsea Lagoon and 2 Sandwich Tern at Poole Quay. It was frustrating they didn’t arrive for their trip a few minutes earlier as an Osprey flew over Poole Quay and headed towards Holes Bay as we were getting the boat prepped for the trip. In Holes Bay this morning the Great White Egret was feeding in the NE section again along with the Spoonbill and a Cattle Egret also flew over the bay mid-morning where there were c300 Wigeon, c400 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Rock Pipit were back along the cycle path. At Lytchett Bay there was 2 Great White Egret on the fields and 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, 175 Dunlin, 10+Greenshank, 150 Black-tailed Godwit, 137 Redshank, 130 Wigeon, 300 Teal, 2 Great Crested Grebe and a White-tailed Eagle out in the bay. A juvenile Hobby flew over the harbour entrance.
Great White Egret – Holes Bay – Rene Goad
Harbour Update – posted 10/10/23
Signs of winter were in much evidence this morning with a range of new arrivals entering the harbour including the first small groups of dark-bellied Brent Geese through the harbour mouth, a small arrival of Redwing and Song Thrush over South Haven and 3 Red-breasted Merganser off Jerry’s Point. There was also a grounded Ring Ouzel at South Haven, Studland and a group of 7 Cattle Egret arrived through the harbour entrance. There were still several Great White Egret around with 1 in Holes Bay with a Spoonbill, 1 off Ham Common and 1 at Swineham. The White-tailed Eagle pair were in the Wareham Channel all day and seen from our Autumn Safari this afternoon along with 3-4 different Marsh Harrier, 64 Spoonbill and c100 Avocet on the DWT Brownsea Lagoon, 3 Swallow were also at Swineham and c500 Black-tailed Godwit were out on the mud in the Wareham Channel. This morning an incredible c1000 Jackdaw left the roost on Pergin’s Island, in north Holes Bay and at Lytchett Fields there were 2 Curlew Sandpiper and 20 Greenshank. At Middlebere 8 Spotted Redshank remained.
Harbour Update – posted 09/10/23
The first Redwing of the season have arrived with birds both heard over night and seen in the Harbour today including, Lytchett Bay, Holes Bay and Upton. Other good records as well with 7 Great White Egret seen in Holes Bay, closely followed by a single Spoonbill. 1 Hobby and 1 Firecrest were also present here. The first Red-breasted Merganser of the autumn also arrived in today at Brands Bay as well as 10 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Pintail and 10 Greenshank being present. At Lytchett Fields RSPB there were 1 Red Knot, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Snipe, 19 Greenshank, 1 Peregrine and 1 Marsh Harrier. Middlebere had a similarly good mix of waders as well with 30 Avocet, 1 Ringed Plover, 11 Grey Plover, 3 Red Knot and 3 Spotted Redshank. On Hartland Moor there was 1 Woodlark and 1 flyover Lesser Redpoll.
Lots of thrush movement going on at the moment with the first Redwing arrivals as well as many Ring Ouzel being reported throughout the county so it’s worth looking in the coming days to find any within the harbour.
Immature Spoonbill – Holes Bay – @petey632 on Twitter
Harbour Update – posted 08/10/23
Stunning conditions for this morning’s Autumn Safari Cruise delivered two Osprey, including a Scottish-ringed adult male (thought to be two-year-old 511 who has been hanging around in recent weeks) which flew right past the boat with a flatfish, having been briefly chased by a Marsh Harrier. Also present in the area were several passage Skylark moving overhead, 4 Kingfisher in the mouth of the Frome, 3 Grey Plover crossing the channel, a distant Merlin perched on the Keysworth shore, and both White-tailed Eagles on the gull islands, who watched nonchalantly on as two paddle-boarders cruised right past. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 70 Spoonbill, 40 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank, and 2 more Kingfisher, and as we returned to Poole Quay 8 Ringed Plover were sat on the marina wall. Highlights from elsewhere were 19 Greenshank on Sherford Pools in Lytchett Bay, and in Brands Bay there were 191 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot and 1 Brent Goose.
Scottish-ringed adult male Osprey in Wareham Channel from Autumn Safari Cruise – Alison Copland
Kingfisher on the Brownsea Lagoon wall – Alison Copland
Harbour Update – posted 07/10/23
Apologies for our delay in posting sightings for today. Another excellent count of 82 Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon today, the highest record we’ve had so far. Across Holes Bay was a count of 360 Wigeon, 167 Teal, 11 Shoveler, 5 Pintail, 499 Black-tailed Godwit, 112 Redshank, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Turnstone and 17 Curlew. 1 Red Kite was also reported over Holes Bay and Upton Country Park during the morning. Highlights from the Middlebere Channel included 1 Great White Egret and 1 Marsh Harrier. The Forster’s Tern was present again at Shipstal Point from RSPB Arne.
Harbour Update – posted 06/10/23
A brighter day has brought some more movement today with the first Lesser Redpoll of the Autumn appearing in the harbour. 4 flew over Lytchett Bay calling loudly this morning. Also at Lytchett were 3 Marsh Harrier interacting with each other as well as 1 Greenshank, 1 Kingfisher and 5 Firecrest feeding in the trees around the Turlin Screen. Hartland had 2 Wheatear and the Forster’s Tern was still at Shipstal, RSPB Arne today. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 76 Spoonbill, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 36 Avocet and 3 Mediterranean Gull.
Harbour Update – posted 05/10/23
A real feel of migration again today with hundreds if not thousands more swallows and martins passing through the harbour. Certainly the number of Spoonbill keep building with a total of 81 seen on the Brownsea Lagoon today. Osprey are still around as well with one unringed adult being seen in Brands Bay along with 5 Pintail, 6 Ringed Plover, 7 Grey Plover, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Red Knot and 5 Mediterranean Gull. In Lytchett Bay the 6 Curlew Sandpiper were still present mixed amongst 136 Dunlin and 1 Red Knot. At Lytchett there were also 1 Spotted Redshank, 21 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Bearded Tits, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine. Holes Bay is similarly seeing very good numbers of wetland species with numbers of winter ducks building up nicely to 250+ Eurasian Teal and 300+ Eurasian Wigeon and double figures of Pintail and Shoveler. Also present in Holes Bay were singles of Spotted Redshank and Greenshank. Finally the Forster’s Tern was still visible from the Arne shoreline.
Chiffchaff – RSPB Arne – @brucetownsend on Twitter
Harbour Update – posted 04/10/23
A great Autumn Safari Cruise this morning provided a good diversity of species in different parts of the harbour. Around Swineham 2 Marsh Harrier were quartering the reeds as well as plenty of waders on the mud at the top of the Wareham Channel during low tide. This included 5+ Greenshank, 2 Common Snipe, 2 Green Sandpiper, c200 Black-tailed Godwit and c50 Curlew. The Forster’s Tern was still visible at Shipstal from the boat amongst Sandwich Terns. By the time we reached the Brownsea Lagoon it was now high tide and the Spoonbill were all roosting here with the total building up to 77 for the harbour. There were also 3 Avocet, 10+ Dunlin, 1 Turnstone, 3 Greenshank, c300 Oystercatcher and many more. One Osprey was also seen very distantly on the Holton shoreline.
Elsewhere in the harbour at Middlebere it was another good day for birds of prey with 1 Peregrine being seen again as well as 1 Osprey. Good numbers of Avocet building here with 25+ being seen as well as 9 Spoonbill and 1 Great White Egret. In Lytchett Bay there were 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 19 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Great White Egret and 1 Peregrine.
Peregrine Falcon – Coombe Heath – Kate Plater
Avocet and Common Redshank – Middlebere Channel – Kate Plater
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