Black Redstart – Dave Miller

Great Crested Grebe inside the harbour – Dave Miller

What was presumably last week’s Black Redstart – an adult male – was around the HHVC this morning; as was a Blackcap. Singles of Glossy Ibis and Great White Egret headed north, the former early on and the latter during the afternoon, and a Spoonbill passed east at sea. Also on or over the water: 5 Red-throated Diver, two settled, 50 Common Scoter lingering, 10 Pintail, a Shelduck, 5 Brent Goose, 2 Razorbill, 25 Gannet and 4 Great Crested Grebe; with a further grebe inside the harbour. To finish, the Marsh Harrier total was six birds and over 200 Dunlin were at Stanpit.

Blackbird – David Faulkner

On another wetter-than-forecast day, there is not much to write about. A Red-throated Diver was settled on the relatively calm waters off the sandspit, as were 25 Common Scoter, while two passing Red-throated Diver from the Beach Huts are presumed to be the two unidentified divers seen from Mudeford Quay; while a Mediterranean Gull headed west. The quay also came up with a nice record, for any time of year in the area, of 2 Grey Wagtail on the BCP slipway. At Stanpit, there were probably 3 Marsh Harrier seen and, of mammal interest, a Grey Seal was in the channel through the harbour. To finish, Kingfisher were returned from Wick and by the Bailey Bridge.

Adult Common Gull – Scott Usher

Long-tailed Tit – David Faulkner

Bar-tailed Godwit – Scott Usher

Starting at dawn and the commute from overnight feeding in the Avon Valley contained the expected Wigeon and Snipe, but also a flock of 15 Pintail. An hour or so later, 2 Cattle Egret spent a short while feeding on the Recreation Ground – immediately adjacent to the Sea Scout Hut. Also, during the morning, at Stanpit: 3 Grey Plover, a Bar-tailed Godwit, two settled Pintail, 10 Shoveler, 70 Brent Goose and a Common Gull; with a 1cy Mediterranean Gull coming to roost later on. Also from the morning, the best at sea, from the Beach Huts was: a Great Northern Diver, 8 Red-throated Diver, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 45 Common Scoter, a Razorbill, another auk, singles of Mediterranean Gull and Common Gull, a couple of Teal mixed in with the scoter and 2 Gannet.

Although the forecast suggested an hour or so of ‘mist’, to clear by 10:00, it was thick fog throughout. A skein of around 40 Barnacle Goose headed east, very low, along the Beach at Hengistbury – presumably, disorientated by the conditions. Meanwhile, a single Avocet was in Holloway’s Dock and 4 Chiffchaff, plus the Buzzard, were on Wick. Late on, a flock of fifty or so Lapwing arrived from the north; while the day-total for Marsh Harrier was nine.

Dartford Warbler – immediately adjacent to a public path – Dave Miller

Great White Egret – Peter Boardman

It was a bitterly cold day – the air temperature barely getting above 3C and a cruel, northerly breeze. Nonetheless, Firecrest and Chiffchaff were active – a single of the former in the Wood and three of the latter along Roebury Lane. The wildfowl highlight, and a definite sign of the conditions, was a flock of 5 Pochard – three of them drakes – seen to arrive. Meanwhile, a Great Northern Diver was settled off Mudeford Quay and an Eider was off the Beach Huts, with 27 Common Scoter and 7 Great Crested Grebe also offshore. Passing, however, were a Black-throated Diver, 8 Red-throated Diver, 3 Razorbill and 15 Brent Goose. To finish: a Great White Egret came in from the east and spent some time in Holloway’s Dock; a Peregrine was on the Priory and the Buzzard was again on Wick; and a Kingfisher was around Wick Hams.

Yesterday’s Barn Bight Otter – Colin Wright

Other than a fine-looking, male Black Redstart in the garden of the HHVC, the vast majority of the post comes from the sea – all passing birds unless described differently. A Great Northern Diver quite close inshore, 8 Red-throated Diver, 13 Pintail, 15 Shoveler, 22 Wigeon, 20 Common Scoter settled, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Guillemot, eight unidentified auks and 2 Mute Swan. The remainder of the news comes from: a Redwing at the end of the head; a Marsh Harrier and 4 Shoveler at Stanpit; and a dawn roost flight that rather strangely comprised just 2 Cattle Egret and no corvids!

Glossy Ibis – Adrian Simmons

It’s good the winter may be potentially enlivened by the presence of a Glossy Ibis – one seen on Grimmery Bank this morning, before heading off in the direction of South Marsh. Also good to mention, and with increasing frequency, was an Otter in Barn Bight – an area to keep an eye on. Offshore, a Great Northern Diver was settled, likewise 11 Great Crested Grebe and 40 Common Scoter, and 6 Red-throated Diver passed by; with 80 Starling coming in-off. News from Stanpit involves: 8 Grey Plover, 27 Black-tailed Godwit, 80 Ringed Plover and 160 Dunlin; as well as a drake Shoveler and 74 Brent Goose. Rounding up: a Firecrest was again near the Wooden Bridge; as many as 4 Kingfisher were about; and the Buzzard was again on Wick

Redwing – Peter Boardman

On a cold, damp day, the main interest again came from waterfowl. A Great Northern Diver arrived over Hengistbury and appeared to land in the harbour; while 4 Red-throated Diver were logged offshore, one of them settled, as well as 11 Pintail, 4 Shovler, 14 Teal, 4 Brent Goose and 2 Shelduck. Meanwhile, the in-harbour Brent Goose count rose threefold to sixty-one birds! Also about, a Sandwich Tern and 3 Common Gull. The day-total for Dunlin was a reasonably healthy 112, with 2 Grey Plover, 34 Black-tailed Godwit and 50 Ringed Plover also around the area. The best from Wick was a Firecrest, 2 Fieldfare and the photographed Redwing; a Dartford Warbler was on Crouch Hill; and a male Marsh Harrier and the Buzzard were logged.

There is very little to report today – just 15 Common Scoter offshore and 3 Marsh Harrier inside the harbour.

Female Marsh Harrier – Scott Usher

The sea was given some attention this morning, from the Beach Huts, and did not disappoint. The best being a flock of 5 Velvet Scoter west – in all likelihood, the same group that had early been seen from Selsey Bill heading towards the Solent. Meanwhile, a Black-throated Diver, 2 Great Northern Diver, 13 Red-throated Diver, 4 Goosander, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Great Crested Grebe and a lingering Egyptian Goose were also logged. Early on, 12 Cattle Egret and a female Marsh Harrier were about; and, later, a Swallow was feeding over the Barn and Long Fields.

The day’s only news comes from the late afternoon at Stanpit, when 5 Marsh Harrier were around – two adult males, a 1cy male and two females – as well as ten, roost-bound Cattle Egret. Teal were more conspicuous than of late, so the cold conditions may have brought more in; and of 21 Brent Goose eight were 1cy birds.

Common Buzzard – Dave Miller

An arboreal Moorhen – Tina Scott

Oystercatcher – Roger Tidball

…and Little Grebe – Dave Miller

A clear dawn saw some further, late-autumn movement, namely: 12,750 Woodpigeon; 2 Brambling, a Redpoll, 16 Siskin, 56 Chaffinch, 85 Goldfinch and 7 Linnet; and 13 Fieldfare, 31 Redwing and 9 Song Thrush. A few Chiffchaff are still about – four logged today – and a Firecrest was in the Wood. At sea, an adult Little Gull headed west, as did 3 Kittiwake and 4 Red-throated Diver. Also during the morning, 2 Marsh Harrier, 11 Cattle Egret and a Bullfinch. The cold northerly wind discouraged any later activity.

Great White Egret – Jackie Smith

It was a lot quieter today, in terms of reports received – the best was a settled Black-throated Diver off the sandspit, but also seen from Mudeford Quay. Meanwhile, a Sandwich Tern was also offshore and 2 Red-throated Diver, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, a Shelduck and a Teal passed. Otherwise, it’s just a Great White Egret at Stanpit to mention.

There was a late kick of migration this morning, when 11,750 Woodpigeon headed west over Hengistbury; where a Short-eared Owl, a Golden Plover, a Crossbill, 3 Brambling, 7 Fieldfare, 11 Redwing and 5 Reed Bunting – all typical November fayre – also passed. There was also some, perhaps, unexpected gull activity – 86 Mediterranean Gull and 72 Common Gull – offshore; while thirty-seven and twenty-two respectively were seen inside the harbour, from Mudeford Quay, along with an adult Little Gull and a Kittiwake. The waterfowl movement continues – mostly at sea and west: 3 Barnacle Goose, 49 Brent Goose, 3 Red-throated Diver, a Shoveler, 3 Gadwall and 66 Teal; with a redhead Goosander and 75 Common Scoter settled. In other news, a Firecrest was by the Wooden Bridge, the Buzzard was again in North Paddock, and 5 Grey Plover and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit were returned. Early on, 16 Cattle Egret came out of roost and 3 Marsh Harrier seemed to coast from the east – adding further speculation about commutes between the Avon Valley and the west Solent marshes.

Again, as the migration season peters out, there isn’t too much to write about. At sea, 3 Great Northern Diver, 2 Red-throated Diver and around 60 Gannet were logged. Inside the harbour, there were 9 Grey Plover, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Pintail – all drakes – and a 1cy Yellow-legged Gull, that on the inner side of Mudeford Quay. Wick saw a couple of Fieldfare pass over to the north, while 18 Cattle Egret left the roost and a minimum of two, but likely a couple more, Marsh Harrier used the area.

Marsh Harrier, Carrion Crow and Redshank – David Faulkner

It’s bits and pieces today really. At sea, a Red-throated Diver, a Kittiwake, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Common Gull and 2 Shelduck passed, while 60 Common Scoter and around 30 Gannet lingered. Over Hengistbury, went a Redpoll and 4 Siskin, with 2 Purple Sandpiper on the sandspit. At Stanpit, 4 Grey Plover and a pair of Pintail were logged, along with a male Marsh Harrier.

Before listing the monthly WeBS numbers, the news from the sea; where a Little Auk passed west, close to the Beach Huts, as did 6 Shoveler, while around 30 Common Scoter loitered and a Peregrine was over the water. Close by, there were ‘several’ Purple Sandpiper along the sandspit. Now the highlights of the counts – waders: 9 Grey Plover, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 479 Black-tailed Godwit, 27 Ringed Plover, an impressive 273 Dunlin and 153 Redshank – waterfowl: 2 Pintail, a Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 67 Teal, 856 Wigeon, 16 Brent Goose and 182 Coot. To finish, at least 4 Marsh Harrier used the area and a Kingfisher was by the Wooden Bridge. Of mammal interest, an Otter was seen at Stanpit.

Great Northern Diver over Stanpit – Scott Usher

A mix of adult and 1cy Kittiwake at sea – Leo Pyke

There was a good variety on the move over the sea this morning, including: 3 Great Northern Diver – the photographed bird taking a short cut over Stanpit – 2 Red-throated Diver, 68 Kittiwake, 6 Mediterranean Gull, 19 Common Gull, 5 Red-breasted Merganser, 18 Common Scoter, 7 Pintail, 3 Gadwall, and 4 Brent Goose; almost entirely west. In addition, a Red-throated Diver, 52 Common Scoter, 4 Sandwich Tern, a Great Crested Grebe and 12 Gannet were lingering. Meanwhile, Stanpit was likewise busy with birds – the Black-tailed Godwit estimated at something between 6-800, along with 13 Grey Plover, a Sanderling and a good count of 24 Snipe. Also about the marsh – a Great White Egret on Central Marsh, a slight increase of 23 Brent Goose and a Peregrine. Wrapping up, at least 2 Purple Sandpiper were on the sandspit.

Following on from yesterday’s wildfowl arrival comment: three drake Pochard – a modern-day rarity in the area – spent all day in Stanpit Bight, where a drake Tufted Duck and 2 Great Crested Grebe were also present. Meanwhile, 16 Pintail passed west at sea, 14 Brent Goose did largely the same and a Teal was settled just offshore. More expected there were 23 Common Scoter, a Red-throated Diver towards the Solent, four westbound Mediterranean Gull and a couple of lingering Common Gull. The only other news is of 8 Purple Sandpiper on the sandspit groynes.

There was the impression of more waterfowl arriving today – a couple of redhead Goosander were seen, one coming in-off over Mudeford Quay and one seeming to linger around Stanpit. In addition, there were three rafts of Coot on the sea – twenty-two in total, made up of twelve, six and four. Meanwhile, a couple of Sandwich Tern were also offshore. Otherwise, it’s just 3 Marsh Harrier – an adult male and two female-types – and 2 Grey Plover, all inside the harbour, to mention.

Otter – Dave Miller

Kestrel – Dave Miller

There was another Snow Bunting encounter today, when one flew towards the old Point House Café site, which is now a block of apartments – right at the south-west limit of the recording area. Meanwhile, a couple of Firecrest were by the Wooden Bridge and a similar number Chiffchaff were also on Wick. The sea held a Red-throated Diver and 12 Common Scoter, with a Great Crested Grebe inside the harbour. The early, clear skies saw 425 Woodpigeon pass west and, at the opposite end of the day, 7 Cattle Egret were seen going to roost. To finish, at least 2 Marsh Harrier were about – an adult male and one thought to be an adult female.

A record shot of Black-necked Grebe – a real rarity for the area – Leo Pyke

Bird of the day was easily a Black-necked Grebe that drifted west past the Beach Huts this morning – while 2 Mediterranean Gill and a Great Crested Grebe flew that way, and 21 Common Scoter were settled. The sandspit held 6 Ringed Plover and a Sanderling, with in-harbour waders including: a Greenshank, 8 Grey Plover, 250 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Ringed Plover and 70 Dunlin. The Buzzard mentioned yesterday was seen to leave it roost, likewise 14 Cattle Egret, and, to wrap up: an adult male Marsh Harrier was about; a drake Gadwall was on South Marsh; the Brent Goose number is still a concern, just eighteen again; and a Kingfisher was on East Marsh.

Sanderling – Clinton Whale

After a heavy, overnight blow, the sea held some interest this morning – all from the Beach Huts. A Grey Phalarope thought about landing just offshore, but actually headed towards Mudeford Quay, while a Little Gull passed in the same direction. Also: 2 Great Northern Diver, a Sandwich Tern, 48 Kittiwake, two adult Mediterranean Gull, 4 Common Gull, 45 Gannet and 23 Common Scoter, the latter all settled. Along the sandspit, 8 Purple Sandpiper were on groyne S8 and 2 Sanderling were towards the tip. Moving to Stanpit, and when the Avon Valley floods the Black-tailed Godwit come – an estimated 500 on East Marsh this afternoon – suggesting the Poole area has seen a drop in numbers? In addition, a Greenshank and a Grey Plover were present. Over the last week, a Pied Wagtail roost has formed around Parky Meade Rail – this evening at least 120 birds, but today choosing just over the river in the Wick reeds. While that was being checked, a Buzzard came from the north and appeared to go to roost on Hengistbury, likewise a single Cattle Egret; with the day’s Kingfisher returns coming from the Wooden and Bailey Bridges.

A rather miserable-looking Curlew, during one of today’s deluges – Clinton Whale

…and a view of the Bailey Bridge at high water – Clinton Whale

It’s probably no longer than a decade ago that Goldeneye was a winter resident in the harbour; but short-stopping, brought on by global warming, means they are now a premium bird for a year-list – a drake north through the harbour, early on this morning. From other sightings, it would seem it was a day of wildfowl movement – 88 Brent Goose west at sea, plus five arriving and three leaving, and 12 Pintail. Also over the water: a Great Skua, a Great Northern Diver and a Sandwich Tern, west; 2 Red-throated Diver and a Great Crested Grebe, east; and at least twenty, milling Common Scoter. At Stanpit, the Greenshank was again around, along with 4 Grey Plover and a Bar-tailed Godwit, with around 200 Black-tailed Godwit coming in at dusk. To finish, it would seem we are currently down to just a single Marsh Harrier, an adult male.

Grey Heron – Henk Nieuwenhuis

Starting with the waders and a getting-late Greenshank at Stanpit, where the Grey Plover again increased – eleven today, and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, plus 14 Black-tailed Godwit, were present. Early on, 2 Barnacle Goose left the area, while unquantified Mediterranean Gull and Woodpigeon were reported as moving. The near-force-zero conditions allowed up to 50 Common Scoter to be picked up at sea, with 8 Brent Goose heading west and 4 Purple Sandpiper on the Long Groyne. Passerine-wise, there was the impression of a Blackbird arrival, but Chiffchaff came to less than ten, with singles of Firecrest by the Lily Pond and Solent Meads. Wrapping up: the male Marsh Harrier was about; a Pintail was at Stanpit, where a pair of Great Crested Grebe displayed; Kingfisher were seen on the marsh and in Holloway’s Dock; and, at dusk, a Short-eared Owl hunted the area.

A Long-tailed Duck passed west off the Beach Huts this morning, while a watch from Mudeford Quay produced: 4 Kittiwake, a Red-throated Diver, a Razorbill, two unidentified auks and 24 Gannet, on the move, plus 12 Common Scoter settled. On Wick, the Yellow-browed Warbler is still present after a couple of blank days, but only now a single Chiffchaff there. Around Stanpit Bight, there were 6 Grey Plover, a bit of an influx, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 51 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Ringed Plover, 40 Dunlin and a Turnstone; as well as 13 Brent Goose – which is a significantly low number for the date. To finish, a male Marsh Harrier was about the place.

Purple Sandpiper – Peter Boardman

A fairly light day of news and in no particular order. A Wheatear was by the café on the sandspit; a Firecrest was in the Wood; and a Ring Ouzel was encountered at dawn. Also on the sandspit, 6 Purple Sandpiper, while a Red-throated Diver and 15 Common Scoter were at sea.

All the news comes from Mudeford Quay and mostly gulls – 3 Little Gull, two adults and a 1cy, a Kittiwake, 4 Mediterranean Gull and a Common Gull – all west. In addition, a Great Northern Diver headed towards the Solent and a Purple Sandpiper was about.

In modern-day terms, Twite on the south coast is a major rarity – so one briefly with Goldfinch around the Barn Field was noteworthy indeed. Perhaps not quite so rare is Hoopoe; the frustrating individual putting in its third cameo in as many weeks – this morning flying low over the No Dogs Field. Overhead, the early movement was relatively light in comparison to the last two posts – just the 4,500 Woodpigeon – but also a couple of Brambling and 150 Chaffinch. Meanwhile, the Wood held a minimum of 5 Firecrest. Seabird-wise, a Great Northern Diver headed down-channel, but over the harbour; while 2 Red-throated Diver passed the opposite way in more conventional fashion, at sea. The only wader news is of 2 Sanderling on the sandspit and the Marsh Harrier total is the same number, both males, an adult and a 2cy.

Dunlin (left) and Ringed Plover – Peter Boardman

It was another Woodpigeon day – 32,500 west, along with 150 Stock Dove – all seen from Hengistbury. Also over the head: a Bullfinch, 4 Brambling, 25 Siskin, 370 Goldfinch, 120 Linnet, 255 Chaffinch, 145 Meadow Pipit, 21 Skylark, 21 Redwing and 6 Song Thrush. Meanwhile, the first Water Pipit of the winter was briefly on Wick Hams; but, in contrast, two late Wheatear were logged – one on Crouch Hill and one by the Noddy Train terminus – and 7 Chiffchaff were on Wick. A Grey Plover was again at Stanpit, as well as 48 Black-tailed Godwit; with the biggest wader total being a 75-strong, mixed flock of Ringed Plover and Dunlin on the sandspit. At dusk, 15 Cattle Egret and 31 Little Egret went in to roost, while an all-dark Marsh Harrier was around. Of more general interest, a few have remarked on the recent abundance of Long-tailed Tit, particularly around Wick, so it was nice to get a return of twenty-three from there; and a Kingfisher was by the Wooden Bridge.

Wheatear – Scott Usher

Mediterranean Gull – Scott Usher

They are like clockwork – the first clear morning in November and Woodpigeon will be moving. A total of 16,500 west, counted from Hengistbury, which also totalled: 41 Stock Dove, a Woodlark, 27 Skylark, 12 Brambling, 19 Redpoll, 69 Siskin, 37 Chaffinch, 110 Meadow Pipit, 11 Redwing, a Swallow and 185 Lesser Black-backed Gull, almost entirely westbound. Incoming birds were headed by: a ringtail Hen Harrier, at least one Marsh Harrier and 5 Golden Plover north; 3 Spoonbill which took a look but carried on west; and a Curlew Sandpiper that seem to go down on to Stanpit. A female-type Merlin was also logged from the head, while the Yellow-browed Warbler remains on Wick and 2 Bearded Tit were by the Wooden Bridge. At Stanpit, a Wheatear was on Crouch Hill; with a Sandwich Tern, a Grey Plover and a drake Pintail were the pick of Stanpit Bight. To finish: a redhead Goosander was inside the harbour at dawn; including the already mentioned bird, the day-total for Marsh Harrier is four; Mediterranean Gull came to five; and a Kingfisher was about.