Studland Birds

N.Haven this morning with @dfozzie.bsky.social and Graham A, 95 Shag, 12 RBM, 1 GND, 1 BTD, 1 GCG. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social

2 Velvet Scoter did a loop of harbour mouth, leaving then returning circa 07.25 @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

N.Haven this morning highlights pre deluge, 2 Velvet Scoter flew out then back in a couple of minutes later, 5 RBM, 1 GND, 1 GCG and 83 Shag. Rain stopped play as visibility became very poor. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

Winter has landed with a range of new arrivals settling into the harbour. Our Winter Safari on Wed logged 2 Velvet Scoter, 8 BN Grebe, 1 Slav Grebe, 1 GN Diver, 2 WT Eagle, loads of waders & wildfowl, 18 Spoonbill even a Swallow!
Book Now: www.birdsofpooleharbourbookings.co.uk
📸 Elin Wylie Davies

2 Velvet Scoter and 1 Slavonian Grebe off Jerry’s Point, Studland this AM @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

South Haven, Studland snippets per Graham Armstrong:

GN Diver 3 - 2 in & 1 Shell Bay
BT Diver 1 in
RT Diver 1 in
GC Grebe 3
Shag 99
RB Merg 8
Sanderling 16 Shell Bay
Green Sandpiper 1 boardwalk unusual here
Firecrest 1
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

N.Haven this morning 2 RTD, 1 GND and a Diver sp. We're the highlights. 105 Shag, 7 RBM. Small fast low flying duck in early as well, around 07.15 ish, the light was not great, so no ID but worth noting. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

GND in 08.12. First of the season for me. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

2 RTD into harbour and a 3rd followed just behind. Couldn't ID the 3rd one as more distant. Small Diver though not GND. Circa 07.40. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

N.Haven this morning first Goldeneye of the season in with 9 RBM. 83 Shag and 3 GCG into the harbour, before the weather and visibility turned. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

First Slavonian Grebe and 5 Goldeneye of the winter were out in Brands Bay this afternoon @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @birdguides.bsky.social

Whilst walking across Godlingstone Heath, Studland we came across these odd egg like organisms. Thanks to @beardybirder.bsky.social for informing us they are Leocarpus slime moulds.
Whilst widespread in Britain, I've not seen it before.

The highlight of the visit to Brands Bay, Studland was a Firecrest by the hide
A fairly commonly seen species around Studland village, but only my second record for the hide, after 2 by the hide just over three years ago
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social
#DorsetBirds

WeBS count & Brands Bay, Studland was busy today:
Avocet 5
Oik 17
Lapwing 24
R Plover 2
Grey Plover 10
Curlew 87
Blackwit 349
Redshank 123
Turnstone 2
Knot 1
Dunlin 377
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social
#DorsetBirds

WeBS count & Brands Bay, Studland was busy today:
GC Grebe 9
BN Grebe 3
M Swan 16
Teal 565
Wigeon 582
Pintail 202
Shov 1
Shelduck 14
RB Merg 5
C Goose 29
Brent G 14
@dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

Black Throated Diver high into harbour 0800. Headed towards Brands Bay direction. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

N.Haven this morning 104 Shag into the harbour. Site tick of Little Gull one flying out towards Sandbanks, 7 Pintail in was a first of the season, Black Throated Diver in was the best of the rest. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

Very quiet morning at N.Haven with @dfozzie.bsky.social 105 Shag into the harbour and 65 Pied Wag from the roost. Single Turnstone. Not much else. 3rd consecutive count of 3 figures for Shag I think. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

3 Black-necked Grebe and 4 Little Gulls off Jerry’s Point this afternoon per @harbourbirds.bsky.social

Shell bay - PUN1 back on the beach for the tenth year in succession. Otherwise just a handful of Sanderlings and a small flock of Brents. @harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social

A Poole Harbour watch 07:00-08:00 by Graham Armstrong
BT Diver 1
RT Diver 1

Shag 127 in
Just short of the recent 133 which was prob a 21st century max
High numbers swollen by good numbers of juvs
Still 1000+ Cormorants around
@harbourbirds.bsky.social @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social #DorsetBirds

N.Haven harbour mouth this morning with @dfozzie.bsky.social 133 Shag into the harbour !!!, 5 RBM, 1 C.Scoter in, and first Diver of the season BTD in. 69 P. WAG. @dorsetbirds.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

Black Throated Diver into the harbour circa 07.00. First Diver of the season. @dorsetbirdclub.bsky.social @harbourbirds.bsky.social @studlandbirds.bsky.social

Thanks for your kind words Simon @winspit1881.bsky.social

But there were many with detailed objections & it was good to see the strength of feeling over the price increases & proposed road tolls by the Studland ferry co

The conclusions from Secretary of State & Public Enquiry around the Sandbanks Ferry company's plans:
The new charges are here
with cars increased from £5 to £6.26

The conclusions from Secretary of State & Public Enquiry around the Sandbanks Ferry company's plans:
Plans to charge to road access from near Knoll car park to the ferry haven't been approved. But they haven't been 100% ruled out either, so there is still a risk of the ferry company trying again

The conclusions from Secretary of State & Public Enquiry around the Sandbanks Ferry company's plans:
It will still be possible to purchase bulk discount tickets which will help regular passengers

The conclusions from Secretary of State & Public Enquiry around the Sandbanks Ferry company's plans in increase charges have been published today
As you would expect, it's a lengthy conclusion. But I've attached some bits
Cycle & foot passenger charges to rise from £1 to £1.18 (not £1.75)

The Yellow Meadow Ant is known for creating anthills in grassland habitats. They build their distinctive soil domes above their nests and there are some great examples in Clayton Meadow.
#ants #meadows #anthills #grasslands #habitat #conservation #nature

I just nominated a charity to win £1,000. You can nominate your favourite too. I just nominated a charity to win £1,000..

I just nominated BIRDS OF POOLE HARBOUR
movementforgood.com/index.php?cn...
@harbourbirds.bsky.social