18th September 2022: Post 1 of 2-Boat trip with Birds of Poole Harbour
We spent some more brilliant time in Poole Harbour during this week off as we went on an autumn cruise with Birds of Poole Harbour this morning/early afternoon. The main hope of the trip was for me to finally see a White-tailed Eagle in the south again after the Isle of Wight reintroduction with a fair few being seen in the harbour especially along the Wareham Channel where we went to Ham Common Viewpoint to overlook on Monday, and on the way back on the boat we did see one. It was an honour to see this gigantic figure gliding through the air as though a log in the sky. Unmissable, unmistakable and phenomenal to see we enjoyed a glorious few minutes seeing it in the air before it went down into land. It was a splendid sight, one to really behold and I was in my element watching it and so happy. They don’t spend much of their day in the air so there is a lot of luck involved in seeing them, and I was over the moon to see one in this year full of big bird of prey experiences for me.
It’s been a very strong year for birds of prey for me, having now seen sixteen bird of prey species this year of the eighteen seen in my life. It’s only the third time I’ve seen a White-tailed Eagle, after a Hampshire rarity that we caught up with at Old Basing in 2011 and one in the Highlands of Scotland in 2018. Seeing it mobbed by birds including an Osprey and Buzzard which was some sight was amazing with an Osprey with fish below the eagle at one point in the air too seeing that in the same binocular view was quite something. What a few minutes it was to see the eagle.
Before seeing the eagle it had been a raptor fest in the harbour with some astounding views of Ospreys on this sunny morning particularly one. Late on in the time the Ospreys are migrating through this harbour where this species did historically nest for the first time in the south for two hundred years this year in another inspiring reintroduction programme it was a treat and a really notable thing in itself. Seeing their distinctive body and beautiful colours and markings finely shining in the sunlight and seeing them do dives towards the water was fantastic. We saw juvenile and adult, in the best ever year I have had for seeing them I cherished enthralling moments with this one of my very and original favourite birds. I took the fourth picture in this photoset of an Osprey.
It was an autumn bird safari trip and it was a bird fest with so many species seen. Leading the other highlights were yet more Kingfishers seen this week off and this month as we went past the Wareham Channel into the River Frome, the red and blue of the bird as they zipped by enchanted in the sunlight with them seen perched too. Seeing Osprey and Kingfisher together two of my original favourite birds that I have loosely thought of together as they both eat fish that I have had top years for was extraordinary. Marsh Harriers were another top bird of prey to see on the trip. Little Stint, Wood Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper key birds of our year seen nicely again in 2022 were highlights in a pool near the river. Avocet and many Black-tailed Godwits were other wading bird highlights it was nice to see a fair few of the latter feeding in a field beside the river. There were decent amounts of hirundines moving through a constant this week with Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin seen. More Sandwich Terns this week, Great Black-backed Gull and a stunning Yellow-legged Gull were standout birds on the trip too and so good to see. I took the third and seventh pictures in this photoset of a Shag and Cormorant on the trip other great birds to see today. Away from birds seeing Sika Deers to add to the amazing mammals seen this week was great.
It really was a gorgeous morning and early afternoon with it so sunny, perfect to enjoy the vast landscape of the bright blue harbour and gorgeous green landscape around once more with the reedbed, riverine and lake habitat looking divine in the sunshine too. Seeing Ham Common, Arne, Brownsea Island and Corfe Castle was great as I was able to piece together the geography of places in and around the harbour I have long known or learnt more recently. I took the first two, fifth, sixth and final three pictures in this photoset of views on the boat trip.
It was all so well organised today, the team from Birds of Poole Harbour and the boat crew went out of their way to make it a very enjoyable and informative morning with such interesting and engaging commentary and expert guiding on seeing species. It was so welcoming and friendly, in keeping with the exciting projects underway to really make the harbour and this part of the coast an example to be aspired to on how to support wildlife and help the ecosystem thrive. The team were so enthusiastic and there was a great buzz among all of us in the big moments especially when the White-tailed Eagles and Ospreys were spotted. What an ending to our days off on leave that rather started and ended with a brilliant boat trip making the most of the wonders of the south coast.
Wildlife Sightings Summary: Five of my favourite birds the Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Osprey, Kingfisher and Little Egret, one of my favourite mammals the Sika Deer, White-tailed Eagle, Carrion Crow, Herring Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Cormorant and Grey Heron well again, Spoonbills well at Arne, Mallard, Gadwall, a fair few Mute Swans nicely, Canada Goose, Egyptian Goose, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Avocet, Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Little Stint, Stonechat, Blue Tit looking nice in the reedbed, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin, Pied Wagtail, Woodpigeon and wasps.
