Despite the drizzly conditions today, the harbour waters were flat calm making for excellent conditions to be spotting open water species during our Winter Safari Cruise this morning. We had 12 Great Northern Diver, with 8 seen in the North Channel just 10 minutes into the cruise, and a further 4 in South Deep! We managed to catch up again with the Red-necked Grebe, with 1 seen in usual place, southeast off Brownsea Island. The calmer conditions today allowed for some stunning views. Other sightings included a flock of 8 Black-necked Grebe and 5 Goldeneye. At the mouth of the River Frome we were treated to views of Marsh Harrier interacting with 1 Juvenile Peregrine Falcon, which attempted to catch a Teal (unsuccessfully). Elsewhere in the harbour, 2 drake Pintail were in Lytchett Bay, 1 Goosander was in Holes Bay northeast, and 1 Mandarin Duck was in the small lake next to the cricket pitch in Poole Park. The flock of 10 Glossy Ibis were on Wareham Common, viewable from the Wareham Bypass, as well as 26 Russian White-fronted Geese on the Frome Flood Field also off the bypass. 1 Spotted Redshank, 383 Avocet, and 1 Great White Egret were seen from the Middlebere Hide.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon (left) and Marsh Harrier (right) – Arne Moors – Annabel Sharpe

7 Black-necked Grebe – from this mornings Winter Safari Cruise – Annabel Sharpe

Red-necked Grebe – from this mornings Winter Safari Cruise – Annabel Sharpe

Another productive day. Nothing new in, but good to see the decent birds are sticking around. The Red-necked Grebe was off Jerry’s Point again, between the point and Brownsea Island, where there were also 12 Black-necked Grebe, 7 Great Northern Diver and 2 Slavonian Grebe. The 10 Glossy Ibis were feeding off the Wareham bypass again and 37 Russian White-fronted Geese were moving up and down the Frome Valley. This morning 2 Black-throated Diver were reported flying into the harbour and at least 1 Purple Sandpiper was on the Sandbanks groynes. Once again, on another still, mild morning, Woodlark were singing again near Soldiers Road/Hartland.

Good work by Martin Adams for getting data back on a colour-ringed Avocet seen in Holes Bay yesterday. The info from martin read: NB/YR was ringed as a chick in Chichester Harbour, Sussex in June 2024, and seen by Ian in Lytchett in August of that year. It was seen in Farlington Marshes, Hants between March – June 2025 before being recorded on Brownsea yesterday. Article here about the ringing, including a baby picture of NB/YR!

https://www.conservancy.co.uk/colour-ringing-avocets/

Woodlark – Southern harbour heathland – Garry Hayman

Yesterday things were dire due to the weather, but things were way rosier today with a multitude of highlights during daylight hours. We hosted two Winter Safari’s today due to yesterdays cancelled trip, an AM and a PM trip, both jam packed with good birds. Highlights included the Red-necked Grebe 30m off the side of the boat between Jerry’s Point and Brownsea from this afternoons trip, plus a grand total of 18 Black-necked Grebe spread between Shipstal, South Deep and Middle beach. There were 3 different White-tailed Eagle including 2024 Dorset wild-fledged juvenile G834 in the Wareham Channel this morning, and both adults G463 and G466 this afternoon in the Wareham Channel and along the southern shores. A total of c10 Great Northern Diver, most between Poole Quay and Sandbanks, but also several off Jerry’s Point. On the falling tide this afternoon 2 Spotted Redshank were in the mouth of the River Frome, 2 male Bearded Tit were feeding on the water surface on the edge of the reed beds and the there was a minimum of 5 Marsh Harrier around the Swineham area, one of which was sat on top of a cluster of reed heads that it had strategically bent over and formed a platform to roost on last night, before rising this morning to go and hunt. Other sightings included the 10 Glossy Ibis back feeding again within the recording area, just off the Wareham by pass in the Frome Valley, where they were joined by 15 White-fronted Geese….a pairing you wouldn’t normally expect to see as north meets south! There were also 29 White-fronted Geese that flew in over Swineham early this afternoon and settled on RSPB Arne Moors. There were 2 Slavonian Grebe off Redhorn Quay, near Brands Bay, 12 Spoonbill between Shipstal and Ower Bay where there were also c800 dark-bellied Brent Geese. Finally, more signs of spring were observed this morning with 3 Woodlark in almost full song close to the Soldiers Road/Hartland area.

Red-necked Grebe – South Deep from this afternoons Winter Safari

Bearded Tits – River Frome from this mornings Winter Safari Cruise

Marsh Harrie on it’s roosting platform from this mornings Winter Safari Cruise

Thankfully Sundays Red-necked Grebe did the right things and re-appeared in the same area, which was out off Jerry’s Point, out towards Brownsea. It was always a little distant, but was also viewable from the Sandbanks side at North Haven if you can’t get round to Studland, but a scope will be needed. Also out in the South Deep area were 8 Great Northern Diver, 5 Goldeneye and 12 Black-necked Grebe, plus 2 Slavonian Grebe were off Redhorn Quay. The Yellow-browed Warbler was at Hatch Pond again, along the path at the northern end and a Siberian Chiffchaff was the PCW Drain. Lytchett Fields held 1 Ruff and 1 Spotted Redshank, there were 2 Red-throated Diver out in Poole Bay. At Shipstal 21 Spoonbill were roostingTonight we hosted our January winter ringing demo and the Sunnyside Farm area held c8 Jack Snipe and c10 Woodcock with 2 each of Common Snipe, Jack Snipe and Woodcock ringed for the demo.

Jack Snipe – Sunnyside Farm ringing demo

Another challenging day weather-wise, with torrential rain for much of the day. Between downpours the only highlights consisted of an adult female Hen Harrier hunting in the Lower Piddle Valley, 11 Cattle Egret were at Holmebridge, 11 Spoonbill were on Shipstal Point, 1 Siberian Chiffchaff was at the PCW Drain and 2 Great Northern Diver off Jerry’s Point. Also there were 3 Goldeneye at Jerry’s Point with 3 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Razorbill was off Brownsea. Better luck tomorrow!

Meadow Pipit – Holme Lane 

The weather was slightly better today and hopes were high that yesterdays Red-necked Grebe would re-appear after only being seen briefly from our Winter Safari yesterday afternoon before more wind and rain set in. Much searching was carried out around the Studland peninsular but sadly it initially looks as if its ‘Smewed off’ and disappeared for now. Theres every chance it could be elsewhere in the harbour so when the water settles a bit, hopefully it will get re-found. Whilst searching for the Red-necked Grebe incidental sightings included 7 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Black-necked Grebe, 218 Pintail, 10 Goldeneye,  2 Great Northern Diver and 1 Razorbill were between Jerry’s Point and Brands Bay. A White-tailed Eagle is in Brands Bay this afternoon, 10 Spoonbill and 1 Spotted Redshank were in Lytchett Bay. There were 35 Russian White-fronted Goose moving between Ridge and Middlebere, 2 Purple Sandpiper were on the groynes at North haven, Sandbanks and 1 Siberian Chiffchaff was at the PCW drain, Holes Bay.

Red-necked Grebe in the murk yesterday from our Winter Safari Cruise – Megan Boardman

Red-necked Grebe in the murk yesterday from our Winter Safari Cruise – Megan Boardman

A nice arrival of a vocal Snow Bunting overhead at Shell Bay, close to the chain ferry this morning. It couldn’t be re-found at Studland, but could easily be hiding somewhere in the sand dune system, so worth checking in the next couple of days. In Studland Bay there were 1 Black-necked Grebe and 3 Great Northern Diver off Middle Beach, with 3 Slavonian Grebe off South Beach. 1 Jack Snipe was also seen from Shell Bay and 5 Red-throated diver passed south. 1 Siberian Chiffchaff was still in the PC World Drain and another was found at Norden Sewage Works.

43 Russian White-fronted Geese were again in the field just East of Ridge, this time with 1 Barnacle Goose. 1 Purple Sandpiper was still on the Sandbanks Groynes. In Lytchett Bay on the falling tide early morning, there was a season high count of 321 Lapwing, 67 Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Avocet, 1 Green Sandpiper and later in the morning there were 13 Spoonbill and 1 Spotted Redshank.

The 9 Glossy Ibis moved up the River Frome today, outside of the harbour boundary and were feeding at Waddock Cross Cress Beds with 2 Green Sandpiper. The 17 Tundra Bean Geese were feeding in the fields south of Binegar again. 1 female Goosander flew upriver from Holmebridge. The 1 Yellow-browed Warbler was seen at Hatch Pond, although not showing very well and only seen briefly. 85 Bar-tailed Godwit were feeding on this morning’s low tide in Whitley Lake. Late reports included a drake Goosander on Swineham this evening.

From our Young Birders Boat Trip this morning, Dorset fledged White-tailed Eagle G834 was again in the Wareham Channel, this time sat out on the mudflats devouring a fish. On the low tide there were c500 Avocet feeding, c400 Dunlin, 2 Marsh Harrier and 3 Goldeneye with 2 Pochard on Swineham Gravel Pit. In South Deep there were at least 7 Black-necked Grebe, 16 Goldeneye and 3 Great Northern Diver with a further 4 between the north shore of Brownsea and Poole. 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Black-necked Grebe and 6 Great Northern Diver were seen flying into the harbour at first light but no sign of the Black-throated Diver that has been flying into the harbour every morning.

Great Northern Diver – South Deep from our Winter Safari Cruise – Alastair Swinnerton

There was a minor hint of a cold weather movement this morning with a few small flocks of Redwing and a single Fieldfare passing over Poole Quay, but after that, there didn’t seem to be much response from the colder weather further north.

That said, there was still plenty to be enjoyed, including 6 Great Northern Diver spread across the northern fringes of the harbour and South Deep, plus 5 Black-necked Grebe near the harbour entrance and 12+ Goldeneye off Redhorn Quay. There were 34 Russian White-fronted Geese back in the Fields at Ridge and 17 Tundra Bean Geese were in the field at Binneagr again, but were seen flying around Holmebridge (within our harbour recording area) around lunchtime as they were flushed by a White-tailed Eagle.

Talking of eagles, last year obviously saw the first successful breeding of White-tailed Eagle in Dorset for the first time in c300 years, however the youngster soon departed the harbour and has spent the last 3-months ‘out of county’, teaching it’s self to hunt. However yesterday he returned and we saw him from our Winter Safari Cruise this morning in the Wareham Channel as he sat looking out across the landscape before disappearing off towards Rockley Park. This is the first time ‘G834’ has been seen out in the harbour by people, and it’s just incredible to know we already have ‘second generation’ White-tailed Eagles now active and present in the area for people to enjoy.

Elsewhere, at the PCW Drain at Holes Bay there was definitely 1, but likely 2 Siberian Chiffchaff present opposite KFC, with both seemingly very pale, but only one calling, giving the diagnostic Siberian Chiffchaff call. There were also 15+ Common Chiffchaff present too. At Swineham 2 Bearded Tit were feeding at Swineham Point. Cattle Egret are very numerous around the western reaches in the Frome Valley with c50 moving around various cattle fields. At Sandbanks there were 2 Purple Sandpiper on the groynes just east of the Haven Hotel, 13 Spoonbill were in the Wareham Channel and the Yellow-browed Warbler was at the northern end of Hatch Pond again.

One (possibly 2) Siberian Chiffchaff – PCW Drain, opposite KFC

Definite Siberian Chiffchaff – PCW Drain, opposite KFC

Questionable Siberian Chiffchaff – PCW Drain, opposite KFC

Cattle Egret – Piddle Valley