Brownsea Island Lagoon

Brownsea Island lagoon can be described as the jewel of Poole harbour. The water level is managed to allow waders to feed, and it becomes a focus for them at high tide when other feeding sites are inaccessible.

 

The large numbers of wintering Avocets at the lagoon are a real highlight.

A mixture of Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Shoveler and Shelduck.

Greenshank

Black-tailed Godwit

Redshank

 Spotted Redshank.

Shank-tastic! From the left: Greenshank, Redshank and Spotted Redshank.

 Black-headed Gull

Spoonbill. Another fantastic speciality of Poole Harbour.

 Kingfisher

Shoveler

 Teal

Pied Wagtail

Lyme Bay

Looking west from Charmouth across to Lyme Regis

 

Mallard on the river Char at Charmouth.

Rock Pipit

Poole Harbour

During half term I went on a Poole Harbour boat trip organised by the National Trust and Dorset Wildlife Trust. It was a fantastically still, clear and sunny morning, and the wildlife was excellent.

Red-breasted Mergansers. I estimate we saw about 20 individuals of this marvellous species.

In total there were 40 species of bird, including a Black Guillemot. Common Seal and Sika Deer were the mammal species seen.

Black-necked Grebes.

Two pairs of Goldeneye.

Brent Geese.

Great Northern Diver.

Oystercatcher.

Spoonbill.

Shag.

Cormorant, in breeding plumage.