Sunday 17th November 2013

Out this morning with the Sunday monthly group on Studland starting at South Haven then at Redhorn Quay finishing with a walk down to Greenlands Farm.

There was little out in Poole Bay mainly Cormorants and Shags though we did have eleven Sanderling fly out of the harbour and land on the beach. Viewing into the harbour we were put onto a diver by Steve Smith which turned out to be a Black-throated Diver.  A migrating flock of Goldfinch went over as did a single Grey Wagtail though the latter returned a little later and landed on the beach. Off Goathorn there was another diver this time a Great Northern also just to its left were four Black-necked Grebe.  Scanning the area with scopes we soon added Red-breasted Mergansers, Goldeneye, Little Egret, Dark-bellied Brents, Oystercatchers and Curlew. 

Moving on to Redhorn Quay and viewing over Brand's Bay towards Goathorn we quickly found the immature Surf Scoter.  Unfortunately just as I was getting my digiscoping kit out it decided to fly off  across to the South Deep just off Brownsea, which was a bit too far away for a few to see it in detail.  Shortly after Jackie called "Great Northern Diver, just there, just off the point" (photo below), it dived so I quickly moved with the camera in hand to the end of the point, took a low profile and waited for it to surface and managed a few reasonable shots. It was still present when we left so nobody in our group should miss id this species again.  Scanning the bay there were good numbers of waterfowl with Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Brent, Shelduck, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal. there was a scattering of waders too with Redshank, Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit and a few Turnstone.  Liz found some Grey Plover and in with them, on a small spartina islet, were a few Dunlin and half dozen Knot.  We were just thinking of moving on when a chuckle from a Fieldfare was heard, looking up there was fifty-one flying over towards Greenlands where we headed off next.

Walking along the towards Greenland Farm we came across many of the usual common species Dunnock, Robin a mixed flock of feeding corvids, a small tit flock, Goldcrest or two calling and a couple of distant Buzzard.  A little ways further on Liz picked up a handfull of Fieldfare in the top of an Oak which promptly  flew off.  Though a little further on we had a Song Thrush then more Fieldfare, then a single Redwing put in an appearance.  On the fields there were good numbers of Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtails and a single Mistle Thrush.

Great Northern Diver - Brand's Bay Poole Harbour