Poole Harbour

11 Feb - Rather bracing weather, cloudy with a NE wind, but well worthwhile, and a look at the Holes Bay redhead Smew en route. The harbour waters held 2 Great Northern Divers and 10 Black-necked Grebes, as well as a Common Scoter and good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers. we cruised past the Brownsea lagoon which held impressive numbers of Avocets, Grey Plovers and Bar-tailed Godwits. The southern and western shores of the harbour are quieter and less developed, and highlights here included parties of Brent Geese, 14 Spoonbills and a flyby Med Gull. After the trip, and having thawed out, I crossed to Studland beach on the Sandbanks ferry and the reward was a large party of Sanderlings feeding on the tideline. Finally, as a highlight, I followed directions I'd been given for Lytchett Bay at low tide, and had superb close views of the wintering Lesser Yellowlegs at very close range. A stunning and elegant bird. A very successful day.