Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island........

Jan 11 - An excellent and memorable day at Poole Harbour, and landing on Brownsea Island, in superb weather.......first stop Holes Bay, with an impressive selection of waders in early morning sunlight. Highlights here were a winter-plumaged Spotted Redshank, and good numbers of Avocet and Godwits. The trip to Brownsea was in sunny but very windy conditions. A female Merlin flew in and perched on the sea wall as we arrived, and the lagoon held impressive numbers of waders - Avocet, Black- and Bar-tailed Godwits - also smart winter-plumaged Knot, together with Greenshank and Spotted Redshank. A Marsh Harrier cruised over. Another highlight was 2 Red Squirrels feeding in trees and scrub along the pathway. We then cruised around the harbour including the remoter western section. Shipstal Point produced the memorable sight of 30 Spoonbills in a flock, an amazing sight in the Uk. A Peregrine hunted the wildfowl along the shoreline. The harbour itself contained good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers and Great crested Grebes, together with a brief view of a Great Northern Diver and a Black-necked Grebe.

After the excellent boat trip, a look at Sandbanks gave great views of the reported Mediterranean Gulls, 2 adult winter birds - and finally, a look at North and South Haven did not reveal the hoped-for Purple Sandpipers, but a mobile flock of 15 or so Sanderling were on the beach, and both Red-necked and Black-necked Grebes in the harbour mouth, together with another adult Med. A very enjoyable day. Year list up to 119.