A Dorset foray

12 Jan - A look around Poole harbour on a group trip, journeying via Lodmoor where the long-staying Lesser Yellowlegs gave some good views on west scrape, always a smart wader to see - also here 2 hunting Marsh Harriers and a few other waders including Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit and Ruff. A few Mediterranean Gulls were out over the bay, including several smart adults. The Studland peninsula rather quiet as the Sandbanks ferry is currently out of action, so no short cut across from the Bournemouth / Poole conurbation. A dozen or more Black-necked Grebes off Shell Bay and Middle Beach, a Yellow-legged Gull with its commoner cousins, a Great Northern Diver in the harbour, and 16 smart Sanderlings scuttling about at close range on the beach. Brands Bay held a good selection of commoner waders roosting at high tide - Bar- and Black-tailed Godwits, Grey Plover, Curlew, Turnstone along with Dunlin and Redshank - also a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers and a large number of Pintail. Finally, Middlebere hide gave views of the western end of the harbour - an immature Spoonbill and 2 Avocet were seen here together with another hunting Marsh Harrier. Finally, a Dartford Warbler called on the nearby heath. Numbers of wintering birds are apparently low this year, maybe to do with the mild winter we have had so far, but still a good range of typical coastal species logged. 2019 yearlist = 122.