There is little news for the last post of 2024. The sandspit held 5 Purple Sandpiper, while at least 6 Grey Plover, 200 Black-tailed Godwit and 25 Snipe were at Stanpit, where a single Marsh Harrier was seen.

All the news for day comes from the sea off the Beach Huts, where the best was a Velvet Scoter, plus a good showing of divers – a Black-throated Diver and 18 Red-throated Diver, all west, and a Great Northern Diver in the opposite direction. In addition, 38 Common Scoter and 4 Great Crested Grebe were settled; while 9 Guillemot, 2 Razorbill, 75 auk sp., 3 Mediterranean Gull and 4 Common Gull, all moved west.

1cy, probably a male, Marsh Harrier. One of eight in the area, early on – Scott Usher

…and even on a gloomy day, the harbour can look appealing – Clinton Whale

A pair of Bearded Tit, briefly seen on Priory Marsh, this morning, is the highlight of the day; but there is quite a bit more to write about. Stanpit Bight held a good total of 19 Grey Plover, as well as 1500 Black-tailed Godwit, 48 Ringed Plover, 91 Dunlin and 70 Lapwing; plus 4 Pintail and 7 Shoveler. Meanwhile, a female Bullfinch was along Roebury Lane, from where a Roe Deer was logged. To wrap up, the White-tailed Eagle was around until 09:25.

There is very little to report, although the arrival of at least 2000 Black-tailed Godwit, in variously sized formations, over Stanpit recreation ground, around 9:00 this morning, was a real sight. From this, it would seem the birds may have developed a routine of night-time feeding in the Avon Valley and day-roosting in the harbour. Otherwise, the continuing mild conditions causing a Great Spotted Woodpecker to drum in the Nursery and 6 Marsh Harrier using the area, this evening, is the only other news.

The Avocet remained in Stanpit Creek today, while 2000 Black-tailed were also still on site – many of those seeming to arrive from the east – as well as 12 Grey Plover, 30 Ringed Plover and 80 Dunlin. The pick of the waterfowl was 8 Pintail, but also 7 Coot, a Great Crested Grebe and a Little Grebe. To finish, a couple of Marsh Harrier were logged about the place.

Black-tailed Godwit – Clinton Whale

Dunlin – Clinton Whale

Other than the continued presence of around 2000 Black-tailed Godwit, the only news is of an Avocet off Fisherman’s Bank at dusk.

A Happy Christmas to you all!

Late in the afternoon, as the mirk set in, a flock of around 40 Golden Plover headed directly west over the area. This was something of a surprise, as such numbers are normally associated with cold weather – not something that looks to be on the cards for the foreseeable, however! Earlier, at first light, 6 Marsh Harrier and 16 Cattle Egret left to the north, all seen from Wick, where there was a single Chiffchaff. To finish, a White-tailed Eagle was around until just before 10:00, up to 1000 Black-tailed Godwit were in Stanpit Bight and up to 4 Grey Plover were about.

Four Velvet Scoter, which grazed the tip of Hengisbury as the travelled towards the Solent, this morning, were nice; when 3 Marsh Harrier were about the area. The Black-tailed Godwit were estimated at somewhere between 2000 and 2750, with 8 Grey Plover and at least 80 Dunlin also inside the harbour. The pick of the wildfowl was 7 Pintail – four drakes and three ducks – but only 10 Brent Goose to mention. To finish this Christmas Eve post – a Chiffchaff was by the Wooden Bridge and 23 Cattle Egret passed over Priory Marsh at dusk.

It’s nice to get some news from Hengistbury, where a Firecrest, a Bullfinch and 3 Goldcrest were seen. Inside the harbour, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Pintail and 4 Shoveler were in Stanpit Bight and, by 16:00, 6 Marsh Harrier had been logged. Earlier, a White-tailed Eagle spent some time on Blackberry Point – before heading into the Avon Valley, where it linked up with another for the afternoon.

Black-tailed Godwit – Scott Usher

Cattle Egret from the Viewing Platform – Scott Usher

The 2000+ Black-tailed Godwit were on South Marsh for much of the day, although, as it got towards dusk, most of them seemed to leave to the north. Meanwhile, at least 9 Marsh Harrier used the area – two adult males, a female and the rest reckoned to be sub-adult males – with 3 Pintail and 2 Shoveler frequenting Stanpit Bight.

Some of the Black-tailed Godwit – Tim Burdock (upper) & Charles Stubbs

All the chat today is about just how many Black-tailed Godwit were huddled together at Stanpit – one reckoning being around 2300 birds. To put some context on this, although estimates vary, the Icelanic-breeding race, islandica, of Black-tailed Godwit, which all these birds are, is thought to be in the region of 50000 individuals – meaning something in the order of 5% of them can be found on a small patch of saltmarsh in Christchurch Harbour!

Stanpit was again spectacularly carpeted in Black-tailed Godwit – today’s estimate being 1500-2000. It really is worth making a trip to see them. Also there, a near-identical Brent Goose presence to yesterday; while a male Marsh Harrier was seen by the HHC.

The demise of Coot as a winter resident remains something of a mystery – Ray Scott

Black-tailed Godwit were again estimated to number around a thousand – Ray Scott

…and some of twelve or so young Brent Goose which were around today – Jackie Smith

As mentioned in the photos, there were plenty of Black-tailed Godwit around – as well as a relative influx of Brent Goose, at least 90 birds reckoned.

There have been no reports received for the day.

Kestrel and Jay – Alan Crockard

During the morning, there were 18 Purple Sandpiper on a groyne close to the Beach House Café and a couple of Bullfinch were along Roebury Lane.

One of two male Bullfinch which were settled, this morning, around 100m west of the Viewing Platform – Alan Crockard

After mention yesterday of thousands of Black-tailed Godwit in the Avon Valley, at least one thousand of those spent the morning at Stanpit, along with: 2 Grey Plover, 50 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, 6 Pintail, 61 Brent Goose, 2 Mediterranean Gull and 4 Common Gull. Meanwhile, up to 11 Purple Sandpiper had again been using Mudeford Quay and, earlier, 20 Cattle Egret left the roost and 4 Firecrest were in the Wood. At sea, the stand-out bird was a lingering Velvet Scoter, with around 35 Common Scoter also out there.

Due to it being the monthly WeBS count, there was a lot more coverage of the area than of late. Before the survey numbers, however, the pick of the day – a Bearded Tit by the Wooden Bridge on Wick – the exact status of this typically cameo species remains a frustrating unknown for the area; also a couple of Bullfinch over that spot. The highlights for the counters were: a female Eider close to Long Groyne; fine total of 35 Purple Sandpiper about the sandspit; 120 Ringed Plover on the Long Groyne; and 15 Grey Plover and 400 Black-tailed Godwit inside the harbour. (Of note from just a few miles outside of the recording area, a gathering of 3450 ‘blackwits’ was estimated, just north of the Avon Causeway.) The rest of the wader interest came from 5 Bar-tailed Godwit and 13 Ringed Plover; with waterfowl featuring: 6 Pintail, 22 Brent Goose, a Shelduck, 37 Teal, 1168 Wigeon, 3 Great Crested Grebe and 6 Coot. The two Raven pair was at Stanpit, a couple of Marsh Harrier were logged and the White-tailed Eagle briefly visited around 08:30.

Early morning cloud cleared to give the first sunny day for what seems like several weeks. The light westerly wind also meant that it was several degrees warmer than of late. However, it was another quiet day for news. At Hengistbury, the sea produced 9 Red-throated Diver, including a flock of seven, flying west, with 7 Shoveler heading in the opposite direction. A Firecrest and 4 Goldcrest were in the Wood. Otherwise, it’s just 2 Sparrowhawk and a Buzzard reported from Wick.

As this cold, bleak weather continues, there is again little to report. That said, the sea did muster 9 Red-throated Diver – seven east and a couple west – as well as: 35 Common Scoter settled, a Mediterranean Gull, 3 Common Gull, 4 Gannet, 6 Shelduck and 3 Little Egret. Meanwhile, a Redwing was in the Wood, a female Marsh Harrier was about and the two Raven were at the west end of Hengistbury; with the adjacent Barn Bight holding 2 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Little Grebe.

A couple of Purple Sandpiper were on the end of the sandspit – Clinton Whale

Other than 2 Raven over the Double Dykes, all the news is from the sea, which produced just: a Common Scoter, a Brent Goose and 60 Dunlin.

The only news from a cold and damp day is of a Buzzard over Wick.

It was another overcast day, with a chilly north-easterly wind. There’s a little more news to write about today, with the sea receiving most of the attention. The pick of the birds was a Red-necked Grebe on the sea off Mudeford Quay, before it drifted out of view. Also from there, 3 Mediterranean Gull and a good count of 48 Common Gull were on the sandbar as the tide dropped. Flying east past Hengistbury were 6 Red-throated Diver and one each of Black-throated and Great Northern Divers. Heading in the same direction were 3 Egyptian Goose, and seven unidentified Auk, while 2 Shelduck moved west. The flock of 40 Common Scoter was on the sea, with a further eight lingering in the Bay, as were 250 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, a Teal and a Great Crested Grebe.The mixed flock of around 600 gulls feeding offshore included a Sandwich Tern briefly, 4 Mediterranean Gull and at least 6 Common Gull while 12 Gannet were coming and going. At Wick, a Buzzard flew north from the wooden bridge, and a Greenshank was also logged. On the other side of the Harbour, 3 Black-tailed Godwit were at Stanpit, where 2 Shoveler and 4 Pintail were among the numerous Wigeon. Finally, a female Marsh Harrier was about the area and 2 Raven were at Hengistbury.

Curlew at Stanpit this morning – Clinton Whale

Apart from several Curlew at Stanpit, two of which are mentioned above, there is unfortunately no news to report.

Marsh Harrier, 2cy male – Scott Usher

Uncomfortable conditions, to say the least, as Darragh went directly north for the day – the arriving air having originated over Greenland! Most of the news is of Marsh Harrier – a single bird struggled with its apparent commute from Keyhaven, early on; with three birds, later, about Stanpit. Otherwise, it’s just singles of Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe, off Grimmery Bank, to mention.

From Mudeford Quay, the out-flowing freshwater meeting the salt water and producing waves – Alan Crockard

The unenticing west-to-north vector of Storm Darragh meant very limited field activity and even fewer – none, in fact – reports.

Despite the weather remaining dry for most of the day, the only news received is of 2 Raven over the Barn Field at Hengistbury.

Marsh Harrier at Stanpit – David Faulkner

After overnight rain, it was a mild, but gloomy and overcast day that remained dry until more showers arrived by mid-afternoon. The morning’s moderate south-westerly wind encouraged a look at the sea from Hengistbury, but all it produced was 60 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin east, 6 Brent Goose past and 8 Common Scoter on the sea. A further 33 Brent Goose were at Stanpit, where the Black-tailed Godwit flock increased to 350; also present were 10 Grey Plover and a Little Grebe. Two Marsh Harrier were about the Marsh and 8 Purple Sandpiper were on the Sandspit groynes.

Rock Pipit on the sandspit – Clinton Whale

As yesterday, Barn Bight held three each of Great Crested Grebe and Little Grebe – with a further dabchick on the Ironstone Quarry. Meanwhile, there were three each of Grey Plover and Pintail at Stanpit. The area’s Marsh Harrier totalled nine, however – the two adult males, four sub-adult males, two females and an indeterminate bird.

A Short-eared Owl toured Hengistbury, this morning, before appearing to come down on to Stanpit. Also from the head, during that period: 15 Brambling, 9 Redpoll and 4 Siskin, all east; singles of Red-throated Diver and Great Northern Diver, both west at sea; a Great White Egret, in-off; and 25 Cattle Egret out of the roost. Later in the day, there were 11 Grey Plover and 3 Marsh Harrier, two of them adult males, at Stanpit.

Great Crested Grebe off Fisherman’s Bank – Alan Crockard

Rainbow from Stanpit – Clinton Whale

Nearly all the news concerns raptors. This morning, a couple of Red Kite were above the north of the area; a total of 6 Marsh Harrier were about, late on; and the White-tailed Eagle was around, until just after 8:00, when she left to the east over Mudeford Quay. Otherwise, it’s just the photographed Great Crested Grebe to mention.

It was a much wetter-than-forecast day and, as a consequence, reports are once again light. A skein of 9 Barnacle Goose that appeared out of the mirk, heading in from the east over Mudeford Quay, were a surprise, however; while a Grey Wagtail on the end of the sandspit was almost as out of place, but an adult Mediterranean Gull at sea was more in keeping. To finish, some news of a petition that is calling for the creation and implementation of a plan to improve the water quality in our harbour. Further details here…