Brownsea 21st November

The weather was mild, but cloudy with some rain. Highlights were Red Squirrels, Avocets, Spoonbills, Greenshank very close up, Peregrine, Bar-tailed Godwit, Treecreeper, Shag and Red-breasted Merganser.

We had cancelled the previous week’s trip to Brownsea and were pleased that the weather was Ok for us. WE got off the ferry and were given a short introductory talk from Chris of Dorset Wildlife trust. A Red Squirrel ran by as he talked, the first of several we saw. Then a Peregrine flew over. From the first hide we could see Avocets and Spoonbills, but the views were distant so we walked on towards the next hide, seeing another Red Squirrel, Nuthatch, Chaffinch, Great tit, a Sparrowhawk and hearing Siskin and Chiffchaff in the woodlands. The views from the next hide were wonderful and we spent nearly two hours watching hundreds of Avocet, 16 Spoonbill, a Peregrine that darted by, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Wigeon, Grey Plover and very close views of Greenshanks. The next hide had more of the same and we got great views of the Peregrine settled on the ground for a while and better views of a Bar-tailed Godwit feeding.
After lunch in the Villa we had a short walk around the woodlands of the island. There was a Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Coal Tits by the Villa and a few Red Squirrel nearby. In the woods we saw very little except a few more Red Squirrels and rain. By the time we got to look out over Poole Harbour the wind was up. However we did see a few Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Shag.
Simon Curson