Last night seemed like optimum conditions for some of our winter migrants to start heading home. About an hour after set there was quite an intense Redwing passage for a couple of hours until about 21:30 when the low cloud cover cleared and birds started gaining height @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Yep….in autumn tens of thousands arrive with Redwings and Fieldfares, as do Blackbirds. Then in the early spring (i.e now) they all head back to mainland Northern Europe.
Big Redwing and Song Thrush departure going on right now over northern areas of the harbour. Low cloud and light SW airflow sending birds back home @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
Mandarin Duck Poole Park Poole Dorset @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social #birds
Sandwich Terns and Forster's Tern Poole Park Dorset @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social #birds
A Snow Bunting sits in a bush, it's head turned to one side
I always check the birds in the trees by Lytchett Bay Rock Lea View feeding station from distance in case they all fly off, hoping for a Brambling. Was not expecting this Snow Bunting sat high in the trees!
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@harbourbirds.bsky.social
#Dorsetbirds
#ukbirding
#lytchettbay
Snow Bunting at the Lytchett Bay feeding station this afternoon was pretty random! Aldo at Swineham this evening 1 (possibly 2) Bittern left at dusk, plus c60 Sand Martin bombing around and 1 Little Ringed Plover flying around calling @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social
Brilliant and random find 👍😫
Hey @harbourbirds.bsky.social is this what I think it is?
Snow Bunting! Nice. Where abouts??
A murky start but busy in the reedbed with bh gulls, Cettis and my first reed bunting of the year. Couldn't see much on the lagoon. Back at the Villa coal tit and blue tit having territorial battles... #WildBrownsea @dorsetwildlife.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social
Little Gull still showing from RLV #LytchettBay @narwhalsh.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social
Hoping the Forster's Tern stays long enough to photograph it in sunshine - but still a treat to see at such close quarters today after adding it to the bike list earlier in the week for the 3rd year in 4 @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social
Holes Bay this afternoon, 1 Spot Red, 2 Knot, 2500 Blackwit and 12 singing/displaying Firecrest on a circuit round the woods @harbourbirds.bsky.social
Forster's Tern at Poole Park after a short wait this morning. Nice to catch up with it again after seeing it three years ago.
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@rarebirder.bsky.social
@harbourbirds.bsky.social
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
White-tailed Eagle pair G463 and G466 have been showing well from our recent Winter Safari Cruises:
www.birdsofpooleharbourbookings.co.uk/event/winter...
📸 - Chris Snook
Black-tailed Godwit & Avocet in flight over Brownsea lagoon this am, seen from the @harbourbirds.bsky.social Winter Safari boat trip. Also 2 Spoonbill & Greylag ringed U611 on the lagoon. @wildontheroad.bsky.social @thomasweston.bsky.social
Murky but excellent Winter Safari boat trip this am with @harbourbirds.bsky.social. White-tailed Eagle, Sandwich Tern, Black-necked Grebes & Great Northern Divers.
Little Gull again this morning from RLV, also 2 Pintail, Marsh Harrier and another increase of Black-tailed Godwit to 97 #LytchettBay @narwhalsh.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social
Adult Yellow-legged Gull briefly off of Otter Point, Lytchett Bay now headed into Wareham Channel. Little Gull still off of RLV @harbourbirds.bsky.social
Bar-tailed and Black-tailed Godwits
Brownsea Lagoon, Poole, Dorset
Seen Thursday on the Birds of Poole Harbour Winter Safari
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Red-breasted Mergansers
Poole Harbour, Dorset
Seen Thursday on the Birds of Poole Harbour Winter Safari
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Marsh Harrier with nesting material
Poole Harbour, Dorset
Seen Thursday on the Birds of Poole Harbour Winter Safari
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Common Gull and Great Northern Diver
Poole Harbour, Dorset
Seen Thursday on the Birds of Poole Harbour Winter Safari
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
Forster's Tern
A few more photos from Thursday
Poole Park, Dorset
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social
A selection of birds seen from the @harbourbirds.bsky.social cruise around much of Poole Harbour, including all the way around Brownsea Island. 😀
Nest building Marsh Harrier,
Sleeping Turnstones
Grey Plovers in the Lagoon
Sandwich Tern.
Cormorant on look out duty.
Monochrome Image, as viewed from an excellent @harbourbirds.bsky.social Winter Cruise around Poole Harbour this week.
No tern confusion today at Poole Park! @harbourbirds.bsky.social
UK Government confirms ban on sale and use of toxic lead ammunition for live quarry shooting from 1st April 2029.
Good news for the environment & wildlife (especially raptors!)
New blog ⬇️
#RaptorResearch
raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/03/05/u...
Like some other well-known Americans(mention no names) , the Forster's Tern seems to have plenty to say for itself😀
Poole Park, 06/03/26
