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

 

Birding walk in RSPB Titchwell Marsh nature reserve on 7th March 2024

 I went for a second visit to Titchwell Marsh in early March while I was staying on the Norfolk coast.

A Dunlin was looking for food in front of the Parinder hide

There was a large group of Golden Plover standing in shallow water during low tide

I came across a male Blackbird in the woodland

A female Chaffinch was perching on a tree branch

A naughty Grey Squirrel was acrobatically feeding on a bird feeder near the visitor centre

A miniature Marsh Frog walked slowly across the path that led down to the beach

Avocet walking across grass near a muddy channel

Goldfinch feeding near the visitor centre

Little Egret in the marshland

Shelduck wondering what I was up to!

Marsh Harrier flying above the reedbed

A pair of Mute Swans enjoying a peaceful setting on the east side of the reserve

Scarlet Elf Cup fungus in the woodland

I was lucky enough to see a male Brambling by the bird hides

Visit to Chesil Beach and the Isle of Portland in Dorset

One day during my week long visit to Poole in Dorset, I went on the train to Weymouth and then by bus to the Isle of Portland.  Photos below of the wildlife and other things that I saw during the afternoon.

Pebbly Chesil Beach viewed from the Wild Chesil visitor centre

Wild Chesil Visitor Centre with Little Egret on the left

Male Stonechat on a rock at the edge of the car park

Ringed Plover on the muddy bed of the river at low tide

Turnstone at the edge of the river near the Wild Chesil Visitor Centre

Two Dunlin in the same area

Huge cruise ship outside Portland harbour

I foolishly climbed up a steep path and here is the view of Portland from the top of the cliff