Birds of Poole Harbour boat trip (with White-tailed Eagles) followed by short walk in Baiter and Poole Parks in mid-October 2024

The boat had just set off from Poole Quay when the bird expert on board spotted this Kingfisher on steps at the entrance to the harbour

The boat stopped near the wall outside the edge of Brownsea Lagoon and we could see Curlew, Godwits and Dunlin standing and feeding in the shallow water

There were lots of Oystercatchers and Spoonbills in the lagoon

View of Brownsea Lagoon from the boat with the houses and castle at the island's entrance in the distance

Houses near the quay on Brownsea Island

The castle near the entrance to Brownsea Island.  This is owned by John Lewis Partnership.

The bird expert on board the boat pointed out a female White-tailed Eagle perching on a tree in the distance!  All the Eagles are fitted with satellite tags so that they can be tracked.

She flew towards the boat and round part of the harbour

We were told that she is larger than the male and has an eight foot wingspan!

A Shag was perching on a post in the harbour

Rockley Holiday Park, where I was staying, filled a large space on the cliff

A Mute Swan flew above a reed bed

The RSPB  has bought this land near Wareham and is turning it into a new wetland area

The smaller male White-tailed Eagle was sitting on a small island in the harbour and some distance away from his female partner!

Hundreds of Sinensis Cormorants were covering the rocky escarpment at the edge of Poole

After the boat trip I walked to Baiter Park, where I found two Oystercatchers on the grass

Pied Wagtails were also hopping around on the grass in Baiter Park

Flamingo, Swan, Unicorn, Toucan and three white Geese waiting for better weather (and probably for the weekend) in Poole Park

Oystercatcher at the edge of the harbour - seen during my return journey to Poole

 

Wildlife, birds and nature on Brownsea Island - mid-October 2024

Little Egret on seaweed-covered rocks at the entrance to Brownsea Island

Inquisitive Red Squirrel blending in with the fallen leaves

Peacock perching on a fallen log

Shy Peacock!

Red Squirrels carrying chestnuts in their mouths

There was a selection of fungi on the island

Avocets in flight above the lagoon

Wading Greenshank

Greenshank and sleeping Avocet

Group of Spoonbills at the back of the lagoon

Passing Wigeon

A yacht sailed past the Spoonbills behind the wall at the edge of the lagoon

Female Pheasant hiding in shrubbery

Autumn foliage in the woodland

Looking down at the Spoonbills in the lagoon with Poole Harbour on the other side of the wall

I received a close-up inspection from one of the two Peacocks that live on the island

A lovely Sika deer was lurking in the woodland - first time I have managed to see one of these

More fungi on a tree trunk

The island's two Peacocks were together in the woodland

Female pheasant with a juvenile trying to hide amongst the logs

 

Little Egret and other wildlife at Rockley Holiday Park, near Poole, Dorset - seen during a short walk in mid-October 2024

I arrived at Rockley Park before check-in time for my mobile home so, while waiting, I wandered down to the beach where a Little Egret was spending some time wading around in the shallow water

Sailing lessons are given at Rockley Beach and instruction was taking place behind the Little Egret and a couple of Oystercatchers

View through the front window of my mobile home across Mobile Home Valley to a tree with lovely Autumn-coloured leaves and the inevitable electricity pylon!

Later in the day I visited Ham Common where I saw a Long-tailed Tit in a tree

A Garden Spider with prey was on a web in the undergrowth

The closest I am likely to be to a White-tailed Eagle at the Ham Common Lookout!  RSPB Arne is in the background on the other side of the Middlebere Channel, Poole Harbour