Putting this in context: About 75% of Europe's Whimbrel breed in Iceland. Over 50% of Europe's Dunlin. About 50% of Europe's Golden Plover. About 20% of Europe's Redshank. SCARY! #ornithology

We were at Lytchett Fields RLV on New Year's Eve and this Fox walked straight past the Marsh Harrier, feet away! They didn't seem interested in each other at all. (Dodgy phone held up to scope photo) @narwhalsh.bsky.social @ianballam.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #LytchettBay

Golden Plover Near Fareham, Hampshire on Tuesday

The Golden Plovers stayed in the fields with a Lapwing flock for the remainder of the survey

Surveying near Fareham, Hampshire on Tuesday and the first hour was marked by snow showers , this was obviously the catalyst for the arrival an hour later of c15 Golden Plovers

Mandarin Duck In Poole Park on Sunday

The main reason for my visit to Poole Park was another year tick with the (slightly) plastic male Mandarin Duck

These fish were all gathered round an outflow in Poole Park Lake, some were a decent size

After failing to find any Purple Sandpipers at Sandbanks on NYD I successfully connected with these 2 on Sunday

Cattle Egret at Holmebridge on Monday

Another year tick on Monday with 3 Cattle Egret in a crop field at Holmebridge, there weren't any Cattle in the field but they were finding plenty to eat

A visit to the fields around Holmebridge after ticking the Geese and this Common Snipe decided it would hide from me rather than fly away so it just hunkered down

The Tundra Bean Geese at Binnegar were not as photogenic as the White-fronts, far more distant and into the sun. 3 of the 14 that were present

White-fronted Goose, Ridge on Monday

White-fronted Geese at Ridge on Monday

A few more photos of the White-fronted Geese at Ridge nr Wareham on Monday

Lovely views of the White-fronted Geese at Ridge this morning

Nice to catch up with the White-fronted Geese at Ridge this morning, I counted 44 with the Canada's before they flushed at about 1130

A cold morning at #LytchettFields had me retreating after an hour but compared to the local Lapwing I really shouldn't complain

43 WF Geese still at Ridge Farm on the Arne Rd this AM. No sign of the Barnie So did they fly over Hatch Pond & Longham late PM yday or were they different birds? Sea-eagle over c08:30 towards Rempstone Green Woody yaffling @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #dorsetbirds

2 purple sand with 20+ sanderling curved groyne just E of Sandbanks Hotel 11:15 @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

Great photos, Pete! 🙌 Lytchett Bay is an internationally important area of Poole Harbour, home to a variety of reptiles and birds, including rare and migrant species. Find out more here 👉 www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reser... ~ Jack

1w Drake Scaup in with the Pochard flock this morning @swannerysteve.bsky.social

2 Purple Sands & 24 Sanderling still showing on the first groyne (ignoring those in front of the haven hotel) & visible from Shell Bay, Studland 5 mins ago @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

Jack Snipe flushed from traditional area in Steffi's, also Egyptian Goose (2), Little Grebe(2) and Linnet added to year list @narwhalsh.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

And a final year tick of the day with this Nuthatch , also at FP12 #LytchettBay

Firecrest at FP12 #LytchettBay

Continuing the hunt for patch year ticks this afternoon was successful with this Firecrest at Footpath 12

Cormorant close-up #LytchettFields

Cormorant roosting in a tree in front of French's Viewpoint this morning

Mistle Thrush seems to be going the same way as Green Woodpeckers as they become scarcer at #LytchettFields . Last year I visited over 400 times and only recorded them 6 times! So it was doubly good to record 1 this morning in a mixed Thrush flock

FP12 #LytchettBay this afternoon, 2 Redpoll and patch year ticks of Firecrest and Nuthatch @narwhalsh.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Bearded Reedling in full splits position this morning at Lytchett Heath

Bearded Reedling in full splits position this morning at Lytchett Heath

Also at Lytchett Heath this morning a solitary but showy male Bearded Reedling

More Redpoll from Lytchett Heath this morning

Redpoll at Lytchett Heath this morning , virtually impossible to get a picture without getting a branch in the way!!

Nice surprise at Lytchett Heath this morning with a mixed finch flock of Goldfinch and 10+ Redpoll

Spoonbills in Lytchett Bay on New Years Day

A distant White-tailed Eagle in the Wareham Channel viewed from the Cordite Way yesterday

Brent Geese off of Jerry's Point yesterday

Great Northern Diver from Jerry's Point yesterday

3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Grey Plovers and a Curlew at Ferrybridge this morning

The White-fronted Goose flock of c40 and 1 Barnacle Goose flew down the Frome Valley towards the harbour at 07:40, over the flyover bridge, just south of Wareham. Also 12 Cattle Egret flew up river @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

N.Haven this morning quiet with 67 Shag, 1 Black Throated Diver and 1 Great Northern Diver all in. Circa 250 Brent over Pilots point. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

6+ Redpolls feeding in birches at bottom of Lytchett Heath @narwhalsh.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Bits and bobs for the 2026 non-motorised yearlist - Fieldfare, Crossbill, Greenshank, Slavonian Grebe - all seen on a bike ride to Studland @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

13 Spoonbill roosting opposite South Haven #LytchettBay @narwhalsh.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

A final crop of this mornings Marsh Harrier #LytchettBayView

Marsh Harrier #LytchettBayView