White-tailed (sea) Eagle, hunting just offshore at around 07:25, when it was reckoned to have been successful – Ann Parramore

In addition to the eagle encounter in the photos, at around midday, there were two birds over the harbour. Wick, meanwhile, held more hints of spring, which for some starts tomorrow – singles of Chiffchaff, Stonechat and Mediterranean Gull.

It was a pleasant sunny day, but the north-westerly breeze still carried a bit of a chill. There were still 70 Brent Goose and 30 Pintail at Stanpit, while a Chiffchaff was at Parky Meade. Another slow sea watch from the beach huts at Hengistbury returned 2 Red-throated Diver, 5 Brent Goose, 5 Mediterranean Gull and 1 Common Gull. Five Marsh Harrier and a White-tailed Eagle were also around the area.

Cetti’s Warbler – one of several birds singing recently – Alan Crockard

Some of the Black-tailed Godwit flock at Stanpit – Clinton Whale

A band of rain heading across the area meant that much of the morning was a wash-out. Despite the occasional shower, Stanpit received attention during the afternoon, when the waders included an estimated 500 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Grey Plover, 212 Dunlin, 11 Snipe, 9 Curlew and a Lapwing. The count of 79 Brent Goose is the highest this year, but still a disappointing total for a species that used to be recorded regularly in several hundred. Other wildfowl were 6 Canada Goose, 2 Gadwall, 36 Pintail and 3 Shoveler. Also present were singles of Mediterranean and Common Gull, as well as 6 Skylark along Grimmery Bank.

After overnight rain, the early cloud gradually broke up to give a pleasant sunny day, with a light north-westerly breeze. At Stanpit, a male Bearded Tit flew over the river to Wick, while 60 Wigeon and 14 Pintail flew over heading south out of the harbour, presumably to land on the sea. There haven’t been many over-wintering reports of Sandwich Tern so far this year, so one over Barn Bight at Hengistbury is noteworthy. Five Brent Goose flew south-west over Barn Field, but the sea produced slim pickings, with just a Red-breasted Merganser, three each of Mediterranean and Common Gull east, and a Shelduck moving west. The remaining news consists of a Great Crested Grebe inside the harbour, as well as a Kestrel and 8 Curlew at Wick.

Twelve of the 17 Cattle Egret on their roost flight over Stanpit – Jackie Smith

In addition to the photograph, three female-type Marsh Harrier headed inland around 08:00 and a male Bullfinch was along Roebury Lane.

Drakes of Wigeon (upper) and Pintail – Scott Usher & Clinton Whale

Both Reed Bunting (upper) and Song Thrush have been in song over the weekend – Alan Crockard & Scott Usher

Other than the photos, no reports have been received, so far.

Two Rock Pipit on the Stanpit saltmarshes – note the variation in bare part (bill and legs) colouration – Scott Usher

Marsh Harrier K6 – a 3cy female reared in Norfolk – Scott Usher

…and Grey Heron – Alan Crockard

There was another Otter sighting today – this time just after 09:00 in Barn Bight. A little later, there were three, vocal Chiffchaff around Two Riversmeet leisure centre, so potentially new-in birds, and 3 Avocet were in Stanpit Bight.

There was a notable, easterly movement of Mediterranean Gull and Common Gull off Hengistbury, this morning – totals of ninety-six and ninety-eight respectively being logged. Also, and all to the east: an adult Little Gull, a Kittiwake, 4 Red-throated Diver, 3 Velvet Scoter, 36 Pintail, 5 Wigeon, 66 Brent Goose, 2 Curlew, a Fulmar and five auks; while a Red-breasted Merganser passed west. Elsewhere, a Marsh Harrier was returned from Wick and twenty-two drake Pintail could be picked out at Stanpit, from Hengistbury, so one could postulate the same number of ducks.

The Priory Peregrine are showing signs of courtship, with the just-visible blue ring suggesting it’s the same male – Clinton Whale

Other than the photograph and associated text, no news was received for the day.

Curlew – Clinton Whale

At Stanpit, this morning, there were: 80 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Ringed Plover, 150 Dunlin, 16 Pintail and 2 Gadwall; as well as a single Marsh Harrier.

Raven – Alan Crockard

The only news for the day is of 3 Marsh Harrier, seen from the Wooden Bridge at around 08:00, and ‘several’ Raven at Stanpit.

This morning, the best at sea came from a lingering Velvet Scoter, a Black-throated Diver, 39 Red-throated Diver and a Red-breasted Merganser; but, also: 2 Kittiwake, 5 Mediterranean Gull, 14 Common Gull, 5 Common Scoter, 4 Razorbill, 2 Shelduck and 7 Great Crested Grebe; with a Peregrine flushing the roosting waders from the Long Groyne. Meanwhile, Stanpit hosted at least 30 Pintail, which is another excellent total, 8 Shoveler and 9 Brent Goose. This evening, calls of Mediterranean Gull, rarely uttered outside of the breeding season, were a welcome sound at Mudeford Quay – three birds being seen. To finish, a mammal round-up from recent days: an Otter was seen a couple of times about the northern shore of the harbour and a Common Seal has been in the Run.

Redshank at Stanpit – Ray Scott

The overcast conditions persisted and, although fairly light, the easterly wind again seemed to drag temperatures below freezing. It was the monthly WeBS today, so most reports came from Stanpit, with a few from Mudeford Quay and Wick. The impressive count of 1,536 Wigeon was the highest of the winter so far. Other totals included 21 Pintail, 57 Teal, 22 Oystercatcher, 52 Lapwing, 14 Curlew, 17 Snipe, 57 Redshank, 45 Cormorant and 4 Common Gull. The Black-tailed Godwit tally was down to 200 birds, and the paucity of Brent Goose continued with just two individuals noted. The only other news is of 2 Raven on South Marsh and a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in North Scrubs.

It was another grey day, with some rain for a while this morning; however, it was a few degrees milder, thanks to a lighter south-easterly wind. Again, the only reports come from Hengistbury, where birds moving at sea, mostly to the east, were 7 Red-throated Diver, 5 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Razorbill, a Guillemot and a Common Scoter. Seven Cattle Egret left the Nursery roost at first light.

There is little to write about on another cloudy day, although the occasional patch of blue sky allowed brief glimpses of the sun during the morning. However, it was still chilly, and the south-easterly wind took the ‘feels-like’ temperature to just below freezing. The only news comes from Hengistbury where a sea watch produced 3 Red-throated Diver and a Great Crested Grebe west, while a Black-throated Diver, 25 Gannet, 4 Common Gull and 4 Razorbill all headed east. Two Common Scoter were lingering and twenty-two distant auk spp. travelled in various directions.

A likely looking ‘continental’, sinensis, Cormorant – Alan Crockard

Just before 09:00, this morning, an estimated 2000 Black-tailed Godwit left the harbour for the Avon Valley. (For those interested, they favour the floods immediately north of the Causeway, on the Dorset side of the river.) Earlier, 3 Tufted Duck were seen to arrive, a couple of Redwing were in the Wood and 24 Cattle Egret, plus 9 Little Egret, left the roost. The seawatch again witnessed a mainly easterly movement and included: 20 Red-throated Diver, 5 Common Scoter, a Mediterranean Gull, 9 Common Gull – contrast that to yesterday, 15 Razorbill, 66 Guillemot and 78 auk spp. Also, from the end of the head, a Peregrine – these seem to have been scarce, of late – and 13 Purple Sandpiper. To finish, a total of 18 Pintail was returned from Stanpit Bight.

Rock Pipit – Clinton Whale

Around 30 Meadow Pipit on the short grass around the Hiker café, this morning, perhaps suggested a small arrival of birds from mainland Europe. Meanwhile, there was a notable easterly movement at sea, involving: a Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Diver, a Little Gull, 9 Kittiwake, 79 Common Gull, a Fulmar, 36 Razorbill and 130 unidentifiable auks, 138 Gannet, 9 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Common Scoter, 9 Pintail and 4 Shoveler. In addition, a couple of Velvet Scoter were settled and a White-tailed Eagle crossed Poole Bay towards the Isle of Wight.

Great Crested Grebe – Rod Jenkins

Great Northern Diver – Rod Jenkins

Wigeon and Pintail – Rod Jenkins

The calm sea produced, all from Hengistbury, a Black-throated Diver, at least one Great Northern Diver, 4 Red-throated Diver, a couple of Great Crested Grebe and a loafing flock of dabbling duck, mostly Wigeon but with a few Pintail.

It was cold all round today. At sea, 22 Red-throated Diver passed, mostly west, and included a flock of sixteen. Also, 3 Kittiwake, 5 Common Gull, 190 auks, around 20 Gannet, a pair of Pintail, 2 Shelduck and a Great Crested Grebe. Meanwhile, at Stanpit, there were: 4 Grey Plover, 95 Black-tailed Godwit, 51 Ringed Plover and 220 Dunlin; as well as a very notable 46 Pintail, plus 2 Shoveler, but only 4 Brent Goose. To finish, the White-tailed Eagle visited during the morning.

Great Spotted Woodpecker – Scott Usher

Goldfinch – Clinton Whale

Dawn at Stanpit produced: 5 Marsh Harrier – four males and a female – along with 3 Cattle Egret; plus, a drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker in the North Scrubs, a spot from which they were absent last season, as well as a Grey Plover around the bight. Moving back to the harriers, one was carrying wing-tags, which although couldn’t be read, are presumed to be K6 – a female bird that has been in the Avon Valley for most of winter and was tagged in the nest during the June of 2023 near Cantley, Norfolk.

On a damp, drizzly and cold day, there has been no news received.

Adult Oystercatcher – Alan Crockard

In a cruel, north-easterly wind, the sea produced a Red-necked Grebe to the east, 2 Red-throated Diver, a Great Northern Diver and 11 Great Crested Grebe, this morning; when a White-tailed Eagle successfully fished inside the harbour. Tawny Owl are currently making themselves known – a female calling around Holloway’s Dock, early on; with a couple having been duetting about the northern parts of Stanpit for a week or so now. It’s not often non-sightings are reported, but the lack of pipits on the saltmarshes at Stanpit is becoming notable – none of either of the expected two species today.

Dunlin – Clinton Whale

After nearly twenty-five years, it’s possibly a website first to start with reptiles, but a Slow Worm on the Long Field, this afternoon, is definitely worthy of mention. Meanwhile, at Stanpit, there were 11 Grey Plover, 8 Ringed Plover, 210 Dunlin and 187 Black-tailed Godwit.

Purple Sandpiper – Mike Kirby

Dartford Warbler – Clinton Whale

The Purple Sandpiper congregation on the sandspit, adjacent to the café, was today around twenty birds; while a Red-throated Diver was on the sea and 2 Firecrest were in the Wood. On the more open parts of Hengistbury, the reasonable weather encouraged Dartford Warbler to show off a little.

Foraging Goldcrest – Alan Crockard

The only news is of a Buzzard north over Wick, during the morning.

Avocet and Wigeon – Alan Crockard

Coal Tit from the bird hide – Clinton Whale

The pick of the day was a Barnacle Goose, briefly, on the water of the navigation channel through the harbour, in the company of Wigeon, early on. Almost as notable, however, was an easterly movement of 74 Red-throated Diver, along with a single Black-throated Diver. Also at sea, from the Beach Huts: the 2 Velvet Scoter, a Kittiwake, a Mediterranean Gull, 31 Common Gull, 17 Razorbill, 2 Guillemot, 46 auk sp., 9 Gannet and a Great Crested Grebe. Linnet are essentially absent from the area during winter, so two over Hengistbury is a sure sign of the coming season – also 3 Firecrest in the Wood. An Avocet and high hundreds, if not more, of Black-tailed Godwit at Stanpit, plus 30 Purple Sandpiper on groyne S9, close to the Beach House café, represent the only wader news; likewise, referring to wildfowl, 4 Pintail at Stanpit. The best Marsh Harrier count was five birds, at the end of the day, with 18 Cattle Egret and 7 Little Egret having left their roost at dawn.

The Black-tailed Godwit were reckoned to be around 1500 today – Clinton Whale

Purple Sandpiper seem to be a reliable feature on the sandspit, of late. Even on a fine winter’s day, such as this, when there is relatively heavy footfall, around twenty were on a groyne by the Beach House café; at around 11:00 this morning. Curlew rarely get mentioned in these posts, but Wick water meadows, just north of the Wooden Bridge, where a Water Rail showed, can afford good views – counts of thirteen were received at each end of the day. Another favourite is Bullfinch and Wick holds a small population – three being returned from there today – although there is no reliable spot for this mostly conspicuous species. Meanwhile, a Great Spotted Woodpecker drummed in the Nursery, where there was also a Goldcrest.

Another day of very light news means it’s just a ‘handful’ of Purple Sandpiper on the sandspit, 2 Marsh Harrier at Stanpit and a couple of Raven over the Coastguards, to report upon.