Despite continuous wind and a dark overcast sky, a certain Sunday feeling was upon me. I started my day off by quickly dashing off down to Poole Park to try and get some better pictures of the Dowitcher. It is amazingly allowing people within 2 feet of it to take photos. Obviously the birds welfare is top priority, so don't try and get too close, but its sheer lack of fear towards humans is very courageous and admirable. I was then kindly invited to run the commentary on the RSPB bird boat out in Poole Harbour. For anybody that knows me, I could talk about Poole Harbour's wildlife from dawn til dusk, so although the wind was howling, I still managed to keep myself warm by talking.....a lot!!! On the boat we were lucky enough to see the harbour's 8 Spoonbill, plus all the Avocet, Black and Bar Tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Grey Plover that were on the Brownsea Lagoon (plus a whole load of other bits and bobs), we also saw lots of Red Breasted Mergansers, 2 Scaup, Great Crested Grebe and a Seal. Then on the drive from the boat back to work I was extremely lucky to see a Red Kite hunting over a field in Wareham Forest (quite a rarity in Dorset, especially this time of year). Then at work I managed to get glimpse of Firecrest, Peregrine, a lot more Avocet, Marsh Harrier and Hen Harrier. Not a bad days work.
Red Kite over Wareham Forest.
A man came to Arne on Sunday and asked Mark if there was an Osprey in Holes Bay, I bet it was the Kite just a thought.
Les.