Otter brunching at Stanpit, around 11:00 – Martin Lewis

Around 1000 Black-tailed Godwit were at Stanpit, but the Otter stole the show.

Little Egret – Jackie Smith

Pied Wagtail – Clinton Whale

The sea was nowhere near as fruitful, this morning – just a Great Northern Diver, 5 Red-throated Diver and 4 Pintail to make mention of. At Stanpit, the Brent Goose numbered sixty-six and plenty of Black-tailed Godwit were present; from Wick, a male and two female Bullfinch were along Roebury Lane; while, singles of Buzzard and Marsh Harrier were within the airspace.

Brent Goose – Clinton Whale

It was another good morning for Red-throated Diver – sixty-four to the west, including a flock of twenty. Also seen from the end of the head, 2 Velvet Scoter, a female-type Eider and 3 Common Scoter, all settled; while 15 Common Gull and 9 Great Crested Grebe passed by. A couple of Firecrest were in the Wood and Stanpit hosted in excess of 1000 Black-tailed Godwit, plus 58 Brent Goose.

Little Gull – Adrian Simmons

Ringed Plover with Dunlin – Mark Taylor

It’s thought there were 2 Little Gull around today – both adults – with birds being seen from Hengistbury and Mudeford Quay. Also at sea, mostly from the head: a Black-throated Diver, 24 Red-throated Diver, four unnamed divers, a Fulmar, 9 Kittiwake, 3 Mediterranean Gull, 8 Common Gull, 27 Gannet, one each of Razorbill and Guillemot, plus seventeen distant auks, and 3 Great Crested Grebe; the dominant direction of travel being west.

Mudeford Quay – Clinton Whale

Purple Sandpiper – Clinton Whale

In conditions which presented a wind speed always in excess of 40mph, with varying bouts of hail, rain, thunder and lightning, the sea provides most of the news. Namely, the following, all from the Beach Huts: the 2 Velvet Scoter, a Little Gull, a January Fulmar – always notable here, 65 Kittiwake, 2 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Common Gull, 4 Red-throated Diver, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 160 Gannet and 25 auks. Meanwhile, 18 Purple Sandpiper found favourable conditions about Mudeford Quay, singles of storm-driven ‘med gulls’ were on the lawn there and the flooded North Marsh, and at least 3 Marsh Harrier were seen.

Some of the Black-headed Gull are starting to show their breeding attire – Clinton Whale

As the wind increased, around midday, a Little Gull, 5 Mediterranean Gull and 2 Common Gull were seen from Mudeford Quay. Earlier, an hour at Hengistbury produced just a single Red-throated Diver and 4 Brent Goose to the west. Meanwhile, twenty or so ‘brents’ were at Stanpit. Otherwise, the day was pretty much a wash-out.

Sunset over the harbour – within minutes, however, cloud ‘rained’ on the planets’ parade – Clinton Whale

Nearly all the post is from Stanpit, where a single Bar-tailed Godwit was with the estimated 1500 Black-tailed Godwit, as well as 15 Grey Plover, 70 Ringed Plover and 190 Dunlin. Also about the marsh, 4 Pintail and 3 Shoveler, while 22 Cattle Egret passed over to roost. No Marsh Harrier count was made, but individuals were around throughout the day. Finishing with Wick and a Chiffchaff, plus a Kingfisher, were by the Wooden Bridge.

The only news received for the day is of the 2 Velvet Scoter again off the end of Hengistbury, from where a Black-throated Diver and a few Red-throated Diver were also logged.

Yesterday’s diver bonanza wasn’t repeated, this morning – ‘just’ 12 Red-throated Diver, a Black-throated Diver and a Great Northern Diver. There was a bit of variety, however, from the Beach Huts, including: 2 Velvet Scoter and 9 Common Scoter on the sea; 2 Kittiwake, a Mediterranean Gull, 3 Common Gull, 4 Razorbill, 3 Guillemot, seven unidentified auks, 5 Great Crested Grebe and a drake Pintail. Also, 6 Purple Sandpiper rounded the end of the head, in the direction of the Long Groyne.

Male Reed Bunting – Alan Crockard

Great Spotted Woodpecker – a pair are now coming to the bird hide feeders – Clinton Whale

Red-throated Diver certainly put on a show, this morning, when ninety-one passed east off Hengistbury, in the two hours prior to 10:00. Also moving in that direction: 2 Black-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver, 16 Great Crested Grebe, 110 auks and 31 Gannet; while a Velvet Scoter and 7 Common Scoter were settled. At dawn, a Woodcock was in the Wood and 21 Cattle Egret, now outnumbering Little Egret, left the roost, with a Firecrest being in the same area. Moving to a reasonably busy Stanpit, where an Avocet, 8 Grey Plover, around 450 Black-tailed Godwit, 230 Ringed Plover and 150 Dunlin were accompanied by 4 Pintail, and one each of Mediterranean Gull and Common Gull.

Rock Pipit – Rod

Cormorant – Rod

As it’s quiet in terms of bird news, we’ll start with mammals. An Otter was around the mouth of the Bure Brook, before heading off into the centre of the harbour; while a Grey Seal was in the Run. It’s always nice to mention Holloway’s Dock since its fencing made it a safe haven – 4 Dunlin, 42 Redshank and 3 Teal enjoying sanctuary there, this morning. At dawn, the Marsh Harrier were counted at eleven and, at dusk, ten; with a single Chiffchaff by Parky Meade Rail rounding things off.

The sea again provides the most news. A Black-necked Grebe flew south past Mudeford Quay and appeared to land on the sea off the sandspit. Also from the water, mostly from Hengistbury, the Velvet Scoter, a Black-throated Diver, 13 Red-throated Diver and 8 Great Crested Grebe. At dawn, a total of 27 Cattle Egret left the roost and, this evening, eight, but possibly up to twelve, Marsh Harrier were in the area.

Again, all the news comes from the sea, where: a Velvet Scoter was settled, 2 Red-throated Diver passed east and 4 Great Crested Grebe were logged.

All the news comes from a walk along the Hengistbury beach, which produced: a Velvet Scoter on the sea, a Black-throated Diver east and 18 Red-throated Diver.

After a few days of not being looked at, the sea was given a go this morning and came up with some nice variety. A single Velvet Scoter was settled offshore, but, surprisingly, there was only one Common Scoter. Red-breasted Merganser are, season by season, becoming a premium bird – so a couple east is notable. Meanwhile, a Black-throated Diver was on the water, along with 3 Red-throated Diver, plus the same number of the latter heading towards the Solent; with 2 Razorbill and a 4 Great Crested Grebe also being logged. Inside the harbour, there was a good count of 15 Shoveler, along with an estimated 1000 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Chiffchaff, those on Grimmery Bank. Moving back to Hengistbury and there were 2 Firecrest and a Coal Tit in the Wood, as well as a pair of Raven lingering. This evening, 24 Cattle Egret came into roost – in two flocks, but from quite different directions.

There was a fine total of 31 Purple Sandpiper on the sandspit, this afternoon, clustered on groynes near the Beach House café. Meanwhile, Stanpit hosted an almost equally notable 20 Grey Plover, as well as an Avocet, 34 Brent Goose and a single Great Crested Grebe.

The only snippet from a good day of weather is 7 Marsh Harrier in the area, this evening.

A quick look at the sea this morning produced 8 Razorbill, either settled or west, and a couple of Red-throated Diver east. Meanwhile, 6 Purple Sandpiper were on an unspecified groyne on Hengistbury. Later in the day, 8 Marsh Harrier were in the area.

Grey Plover – Clinton Whale

It’s just an Avocet with the Black-tailed Godwit flock, on South Marsh, to mention for this post.

Tufted Duck – Clinton Whale

Water Rail – Clinton Whale

The WeBS count produced a couple of four-figure results: the Black-tailed Godwit coming in at 2500 – it’s been said already, but saying it again, that represents five percent of the world population of the islandica race; and the Wigeon totalling 1462 – these are rising steadily season on season, it would seem. A selection of other counts being: 16 Purple Sandpiper, 15 Grey Plover, 85 Ringed Plover, 221 Dunlin, a drake Tufted Duck, 7 Pintail, 104 Teal, 15 Brent and 4 Coot. Finishing the post with raptors: a White-tailed Eagle landed, with fish, in the reeds on North Marsh; 7 Marsh Harrier used the area, all but one male; and, at dusk, a Tawny Owl was seen flying around Riversmeet Meadow, before starting to hoot.

Firecrest – Scott Usher

Teal – Clinton Whale

Carrion Crow – Henk Nieuwenhuis

A Bearded Tit calling at the Wooden Bridge and a Firecrest at the end of the North Scrubs, Stanpit, where they are not regular, are the best for the day. Also, 6 Purple Sandpiper around groyne S9, 10 Common Scoter offshore and around 1000 Black-tailed Godwit inside the harbour.

This morning, a Redwing overflew the Barn Field, while around 1500 Black-tailed Godwit were about Stanpit. Much later in the day, 6 Marsh Harrier were around – with a further bird passing straight through, seemingly off to Keyhaven.

Purple Sandpiper – Clinton Whale

Starting on the sandspit, for a post from a sunshine-filled day with only a light wind, there were 10 Purple Sandpiper on groyne S9. Meanwhile, a couple of Avocet enjoyed Holloway’s Dock for some time. Over on Stanpit, where there were 14 Grey Plover, the Black-tailed Godwit were reckoned to be around 1200. Also about the marsh, 40 Brent Goose and a Marsh Harrier.

The day’s only news is from Mudeford Quay and involves: 7 Red-throated Diver, 15 Common Scoter, 8 auks, and 3 Grey Plover.

Stonechat at Hengistbury this morning – Mark Taylor

Great Crested Grebe near The Run – Rod Jenkins

Redshank – Rod Jenkins

Early cloud soon cleared to give a pleasant sunny, but quite cool, day with a light westerly wind. A Great Crested Grebe was near The Run and a Little Grebe was on the Ironstone Quarry Pond. Later in the day, 500 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Pintail were at Stanpit, while 8 Marsh Harriers were around the area.

A few snippets from today include: 11 Purple Sandpiper, with 25 Ringed Plover, on the sandspit close to the Beach House café; a Marsh Harrier at Stanpit; and at least 2 Velvet Scoter, 27 Cattle Egret and a Tawny Owl from Hengistbury.

The only news news from a quite awful day of weather is: 15 Purple Sandpiper and 4 Common Scoter from Mudeford Quay; a Red-throated Diver past Hengistbury; and a Bullfinch over Roebury Lane.

Perhaps initiated by a shift in the wind to the uncomfortable east, there was a clear influx of Red-throated Diver – a total of twenty-nine, moving in both directions, was logged from the Long Groyne; as well as 2 Great Northern Diver. Meanwhile, the 4 Velvet Scoter remain off the tip of Hengistbury, where they keep themselves quite separate from the thirty or so Common Scoter. Mid-winter Shelduck are always worth a mention here – so two east and one west, at sea, is of interest; likewise, a minimum of 7 Shoveler over the harbour. At least 5 Purple Sandpiper were around the end of the head and a Goosander came up from the river, early on, when 7 Marsh Harrier were around.

It was another reasonable day – the high points being: the continued presence of 4 Velvet Scoter, with 35 Common Scoter, on the sea off the end of Hengistbury; at least one Bearded Tit on Priory Marsh; and a Black-throated Diver over Mudeford Quay. As support, there were: singles of Avocet and Bar-tailed Godwit around Stanpit Bight; a lone Purple Sandpiper on the end of the sandspit; a drake Goosander over and north; a Firecrest in the Wood; and a Red-throated Diver west at sea. Rounding up, 4 Shoveler and a Pintail were about, a couple of Great Crested Grebe were in Barn Bight, and 9 Marsh Harrier and 20 Cattle Egret were logged first thing.

Sparrowhawk – David Faulkner

Avocet – David Faulkner

There is a nice selection of records from most parts of the area, during a lovely day of mid-winter sunshine. At Stanpit, the best was singles of Golden Plover and Avocet, but also: 18 Grey Plover, 52 Black-tailed Godwit, 35 Ringed Plover and 130 Dunlin; plus, a drake Pintail and 79 Brent Goose. The stand-out bird from Hengistbury was a drake Pochard that circuited, while a single Velvet Scoter was offshore, where 7 Pintail, 2 Shelduck, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Mediterranean Gull passed by. In addition to a Little Grebe on the Ironstone Quarry, three were inside the harbour; with 2 Firecrest and a Treecreeper in the Wood, and a total of 4 Bullfinch logged. Early on, 27 Cattle Egret left the roost; and, to finish, raptor interest came from: a Red Kite over Stanpit village; at least one Marsh Harrier about; and the Buzzard that seems to have taken winter residence on Wick water meadows.

Drake Gadwall with Brent Goose – Scott Usher

Red-throated Diver – Scott Usher

…and Common Gull – Scott Usher

A Happy New Year!

Nearly all the news comes from the sea, which was watched from Hengistbury and Mudeford Quay. After suspected of being four, it was proven that is the number of Velvet Scoter currently lingering off the end of the head, along with 36 Common Scoter. The photographed flock of Brent Goose – around 40-strong – strangely took to sitting on the very choppy waters, after arriving from the east with the accompanying Gadwall. The rest of the offshore fare included: a westbound Golden Plover, singles of Great Northern Diver and Red-throated Diver, 3 Kittiwake, a Razorbill and two unidentified auks. Meanwhile, 15 Purple Sandpiper could be seen from the quay, on the end of the sandspit. Later in the day, 300 Black-tailed Godwit, 40 Dunlin and 20 Brent Goose were on North Marsh.