26.11.07

Today I visited Arne, There were some Sika Deer in the fields, and some small groups of Long-tailed Tits.
Poole Harbour was completely still and quiet, and visible was pretty good. There were a few Mergansers standing on Long Island, but they started fishing as I arrived, there were also quite a few Great-crested Grebes, and small groups of Oystercatchers kept flying past. A few Little Egrets were fishing along the shore, and a family of Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew in soon after we arrived.
The heathland above Shipstal Point gave a better vantage point for scanning the harbour. All of the ducks were frustratingly distant, but I could pick out a few nice groups of Goldeneye close to Brownsea Island. By one of these groups, there were two strange dark ducks, I wasn't sure what they were until one stood up in the water and flapped it's wings showing large white wing patches, they were the two Velvet Scoter that have been reported in the harbour recently, and they were new birds for me. There were more Mergansers and Great-crested Grebes on the sea, and then I was delighted to pick out a beautiful drake Long-tailed Duck. Each winter there is a small group of Long-tailed Ducks in Poole Harbour, there are normally 4 birds, but sometimes fewer, and over the last couple of winters I've tried many times to see them, so today I was so pleased to finally find one. Although he was very distant, you could make out the distinctive markings, and at times you could see his long tail. Hopefully I'll be able to get some closer looks later on this winter.
In the salt marshes behind Shipstal Point, there were hundreds of Teal, and a few Wigeon, Curlew, Redshank and Oystercatcher.

Here are a few (rubbish!) shots, the weather wasn't great for photography today.
Great-crested Grebe

Merganser (GC Grebe in the background)

Dark Bellied Brent Geese