SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR 2010: a reminder, these are now due. Please forward your cheques to Ian Southworth. Rates remain at £5.00 for single or £7.00 for joint.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON STANPIT MARSH
As part of the Stanpit Marsh 5-Year Management Plan, there is a proposal that would require dogs to be kept on leads while on the Nature Reserve. The proposal is currently in the Public Consultation phase, whereby Christchurch Borough Council (CBC) are seeking your thoughts on the issue. CHOG would ask that you let CBC know your opinion by filling out this short questionnaire and mailing it back to the FREEPOST address shown. This proposal is possibly one of the most important factors affecting the future of Stanpit Marsh as a genuine Nature Reserve, and if you would like to know more about it please click here. If you have any other questions, please email here.

Skylark Chris Chapleo

Otter Alan Crockard
Over the last few weeks, we have featured photos of Otter taken a few miles outside of the area at a location in the Avon Valley. During that time, there were also reports received of animals being seen regularly not far upstream from Tuckton Bridge, which is much closer to the recording area. However, this weekend produced two sightings right on the borders of the harbour. On Saturday, around 11:00, the individual portrayed above was fishing in the small marina at Priory Quay, before moving to the boats around Christchurch Sailing Club. Then, at 8:45 yesterday, a female and two cubs were watched diving for food at a spot described as being near to the harbour.

January 8th

All the regulars were present and correct today: namely, the 6 Avocet back together off Fisherman's Bank, from where the Spotted Redshank could be seen working the fringe of East Marsh; and the Red-necked Grebe was in the normal spot just north of Holloway's Dock, Hengistbury. Fisherman's Bank also chipped in with an adult Mediterranean Gull, 6 Pintail, 2 of them drakes, 15 Bar-tailed Godwit, singles of Grey Plover and Turnstone, 20 Ringed Plover and an increase of Dunlin to around 320 birds. After yesterday's alarm about the apparent lack of Cetti's Warbler at Stanpit, it was nice to hear of one calling around Priory Marsh, where 2 Chiffchaff, the first since the cold, were also recorded; as well as a Shoveler. A brief look at the sea saw a Red-throated Diver and 2 Common Scoter from the head, while 224 Great Crested Grebe were just outside the confines of the area off Southbourne. The only other news concerns a Peregrine, which have been relatively scarce this winter, over Stanpit.

Tides 9th January: L00:45 H04:05 H06:20 L13:15 H17:30 H21:05

Avocet Alan Hayden & Alan Crockard

...and the Red-necked Grebe that continues to misbehave for the cameras! Alan Hayden

February 7th

A windless morning made picking out the Red-necked Grebe relatively easy on the calm water. As yesterday, it started the morning close to Mudeford Quay, but as river traffic increased pushed back towards Holloway's Dock. A mill pond like sea also allowed over 150 Great Crested Grebe to be counted from Double Dykes, while a female Scaup was seen in flight on a couple of occasions and a Great Northern Diver, 3 Red-throated Diver, 2 Common Scoter and 4 Gadwall all moved purposefully past. The mild weather encouraged many birds into song - the most welcome, after the cold start to the year, being a couple of Cetti's Warbler in the Wick area, but the traditional sites at Stanpit remain worryingly quiet. Also vocal around the Wick Fields, where singles of Bullfinch, Mediterranean Gull and Jackdaw were logged visually, were a Skylark and 4 Song Thrush, The best of the month's WeBS count included 4 Avocet, but also 15 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Grey Plover, 18 Ringed Plover, 282 Dunlin and 92 Redshank; with the waterfowl made up of a Goldeneye, a good number of 621 Wigeon, 197 Teal, 170 Coot, 15 Shelduck and 3 Pintail. At Hengistbury, a startled Water Rail flew 6-7 meters out over the river, dived into the water and was not seen to reappear, but presumably made it to cover beneath the surface. Finally, around 25 Redwing were at Stanpit in the Old Depot Site.

Blue Tit Alan Hayden

February 6th

By lunchtime, the early cloud gave way resulting in clear blue skies for the remainder of the day. The Red-necked Grebe was again inside the harbour; at one point it was just off Mudeford Quay, but was more often than not around the ferry jetty. Also at least 1 Goldeneye off Rushy Piece. The sea produced a Black-throated Diver east, 2 Red-throated Diver west, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 3 Common Scoter and a fishing flock of 35 Shag. There are no reports from Stanpit, but a single Avocet in Holloway's Dock during the morning could well have been the 'missing' bird. Meanwhile, a few Redwing were in the Nursery, a Mistle Thrush moved east along Hengistbury, Redpoll were heard from the Wood, a further adult Mediterranean Gull and a single Black-tailed Godwit were on the HHC bar, at least 10 Little Grebe were spread across the harbour and a single Canada Goose was around.

Adult and first-winter Black-headed Gull Alan Crockard

January 5th

A spring-like day that, for a change, made it a pleasure to get out. The Red-necked Grebe was again present and early this afternoon was kipping amongst mooring buoys just off the sandspit Noddy Train Terminus; also the 3 Goldeneye still in the harbour. Around the same time, 5 adult Mediterranean Gull were with a few hundred Black-headed Gull in Stanpit Bight, where there were also 15 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Turnstone. A couple of looks at the Avocet confirmed only 5 birds present, so perhaps we have lost one, but the Spotted Redshank is still safe and sound. Also at Stanpit, a pair of Gadwall, around 200 Dunlin, 90 Brent Goose, 15 Ringed Plover and 12 Shelduck; while the leaf litter just north of the Visitors Centre is still appealing to Redwing, with 25 or so grubbing around there.

 
Record shots of Red-necked Grebe Alan Hayden

...and the 3 Goldeneye inside the harbour Alan Hayden

January 4th

A Red-necked Grebe, found this morning and remaining inside the harbour all day, was a nice surprise given how quiet it's been of late. Although initially quite close, the bird then seemed to favour the main navigation channel north of Holloway's Dock and could be viewed from the shore there or Mudeford Quay. The attention the water received also produced 3 Goldeneye, a female and 2 first-winter drakes, a drake Red-breasted Merganser and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. After a couple of blank days, Fisherman's Bank was again visited and turned up the 6 regular Avocet, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit, 18 Ringed Plover, 5 Pintail, 3 of them drakes, around 120 Brent Goose and 4 Shelduck.

February 3rd

Unfortunately, there are no reports for the day.

February 2nd

There is little to report for the day. For example, 3 Avocet from Argyle Road, 15 Turnstone at Mudeford Quay and 40+ Lesser Black-backed Gull on South Marsh. Actually, the gull count would have featured on even the busiest of days, as it's a significant number for the area.

Redshank Alan Hayden

February 1st

After another night of heavy frost, there isn't too much new to report. The exception perhaps being a count of 123 Brent Goose on East Marsh, which is a number far in excess of recent averages. Also on Stanpit, the Spotted Redshank, the 6 Avocet, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Grey Plover, c300 Dunlin, 11 Pintail, including 5 pairs, 3 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall and 19 Shelduck. To conclude a rather short post, a morning trip to Hengistbury saw a Red-throated Diver past and 2 Raven over.

Otter tracks at Stanpit recently Jimmy Main

...and an Otter in the Avon Valley yesterday Jimmy Main

Evidence of Otter using Christchurch Harbour is becoming more frequent, including these tracks from late last year. Given the species can have territories covering 20-miles, it may be a fair assumption that the photographed individual has ventured into the harbour on at least one occasion. For more images of this animal, please click here

January 31st

A heavy overnight frost and clear skies made Stanpit a picture this morning, as well as tempting 2 Marsh Harrier to move over. Firstly, a male that had just entered its third calendar year appeared low over Priory Marsh, gained height over Central Marsh and subsequently pushed off west. Then, just 10-minutes later, a younger bird, but again probably a male, headed directly northwards off Hengistbury. A combination of the high spring water and ice pushed Jack Snipe into the open, at least 2 being seen on the marsh during the early part of the day; in addition to a Ruff that arrived with 250 Black-tailed Godwit from the valley, the Spotted Redshank, 3 Avocet, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Pintail, 2 Shoveler, 19 Shelduck and 55 Brent Goose. Meanwhile, a couple of Redwing were in the North Scrubs. On the other side of the water: a Firecrest was in the Wood and 3 Raven headed over west; 4 Goldeneye, one of then a drake, and a Grey Wagtail were recorded by the HHC; and other notables were made up of 8 Redpoll, 6 Redwing and 16 Little Grebe.

Curlew Alan Hayden

January 30th

Clear blue skies for the entire day and a moderate, but cold, north-westerly wind perhaps gave rise to the small arrival of raptors at Hengistbury this morning. In a 10-minute spell around 10:30, 2 Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard were seen coming in-off the sea and heading inland. Prior to that, however, it had been largely quiet, punctuated only by 4 Red-throated Diver, 8 Great Crested Grebe and a Common Scoter past; while a couple of hundred Wigeon, along with a few Pintail and Shoveler, that were sat on the sea had presumably been displaced from the Avon Valley or elsewhere. Inside the harbour, there were 6 Goldeneye, including 2 full drakes, and 9 Gadwall, but little else of note other than 7 Curlew and several Water Rail around the Wick Fields. A party of 5 Redpoll and 2 Bullfinch by the HHC were worthy of note and the Treecreeper was briefly heard in the Wood.

Additional news: the information services are reporting a Pale-bellied Brent Goose at Stanpit, as well as 6 Avocet and the Spotted Redshank.

Teal Alan Hayden

January 29th

Gull watching is a relatively low-key activity in the harbour, so it was nice to get a count of 5 Mediterranean Gull, 4 adults and a first-winter, from Mudeford Quay this afternoon. With more coverage, who knows what else might be lurking out there? Particularly as several thousand birds regularly spend the night on the sea off nearby Steamer Point and a great many of these pre-roost bathe inside the area. The day started with a westerly breeze, but by mid-morning this had switched to the north, bringing rain and even a flurry of snow with it. Consequently, activity was fairly limited but did produce: 4 Avocet, 8 Bar-tailed Godwit, 7 Grey Plover, a Ringed Plover, c200 Dunlin and 4 Shelduck, all from Fisherman's Bank.

 
Redwing and Mistle Thrush on Stanpit recreation ground Alan Hayden

January 28th

It was something of a surprise to learn there are still Redwing hanging around the area. Today, there were 10 or so feeding close to the Stanpit Visitor's Centre, on the recreation ground and in the adjacent leaf litter, along with a single Mistle Thrush. On the marsh itself, there are still 4 Avocet, split as 3 and 1, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Grey Plover, as well as 260 Dunlin, 38 Ringed Plover, 50 Lapwing and 4 Shelduck.

Great Crested Grebe Alan Hayden

January 27th

A late morning trip to Hengistbury perhaps explained the recent, frequent absences of the Spotted Redshank from Fisherman's Bank, as it was seen on the sandspit before heading off towards Holloway's Dock. Also on the spit, by the Black House, were 16 Turnstone, while 15 Fieldfare had earlier headed north-west off the head. At Stanpit, just 2 Avocet were on show today, as well as 9 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Grey Plover, 21 Ringed Plover, 230ish Dunlin and a healthy number of Shelduck, 19 in fact. A single Great Crested Grebe that chose it's spot inside the harbour, around the ferry jetty, was presumably oblivious of the 332 that were sat just outside the area off Southbourne - a number that possibly constitutes a Dorset record.

January 26th

Again, it's all down to Fisherman's Bank, a Black Redstart and 6 Avocet; with the support comprising 11 Grey Plover, 22 Ringed Plover and 210 Dunlin.

Omission: the Spotted Redshank was in Stanpit Creek.