I've just returned from a short trip to Dorset which I decided to take during half term week. I had been recommended to go on one of the Birds of Poole Harbour boat trips and initially wanted to book the midweek evening cruise to see puffins and other sea birds. However, by the time I got round to booking, it was full so I found another cruise around Poole harbour at 9 oclock on Monday morning.
This meant an early start - I was on the road by 5.30 a.m. It was a beautiful sunny morning and I had a straightforward drive down to Poole Quay where I parked in the Quay visitors car park which was recommended. It was only a few minutes walk from the quay where the boat would be leaving at 9 a.m. I actually arrived with plenty of time to spare so after sitting in the car for a while, walked down the quay where I was happy to spend an hour watching what was going on. A few other people had also arrived early and after chatting to someone who knew the area, on his advice I returned to get my coat to wear on top of my gilet and sweatshirt as it was likely to be quite breezy on the boat - which it was!
The boat trip lasted 3 hours, and was very informative and enjoyable. Sadly we didn't see any white tailed eagles from the IOW release programme , two of which seem to have made Poole harbour their home, (which were for many, the star attraction,) but we did see an osprey dive and catch a fish to take to its nest, albeit at a distance. It is only the second year that ospreys have been nesting in the harbour folliwing a relocation programme and the crew were getting quite excited thst thd first of this year's eggs was finally hatching!
We saw a number of birds of prey, including hobby, buzzard, kestrel, peregrine, and marsh harrier as well as birds of the harbour, including oyster catchers, shags and cormorants. We passed close to the lagoons at Brownsea island where I added sandwich and common terns to my year list.
In the afternoon I visited RSPB Arne, an important area of heathland bordering the harbour. This year the BBC Springwatch programme is being presented from that location which meant a few routes were closed but it didn't matter much. I took the trail down the the shore and spent a little while enjoying the sunshine while sitting on the beach watching the oyster catchers and some godwits. On the way down I passed some photographers looking at hole in a tree right next to the path where a family of blue tits looked ready to fledge - the chicks were almost out of their nest. The parents were bringing in food every few minutes, despite the presence of various interested onlookers
Apart from this, bird wise, there was not a lot of particular interest; I walked a short part of one of the heathland trails but didn't see any dartford warblers, though I think I heard one but I hadn't a lot of time to do the complete trails - that'll have to wait till next time!
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