Flock To Poole Harbour Brownsea Lagoon at Dawn © Paul Williams
DORSET WILDLIFE TRUST
before migrating to other winter
habitats. In the past we’ve recorded rare sightings of the semipalmated sandpiper, and in October we
were treated to a
sighting of the small sanderling visiting from its arctic
breeding grounds. A favourite and
frequent visitor to the lagoon is the
January is traditionally a dark and dismal month, but for over-wintering birds, this is a busy time of year, and Poole Harbour is one place we can guarantee will be bursting with (bird) life.
During late summer and autumn, birds start arriving back onto the Brownsea Island lagoon to over-winter. The unique location of the lagoon means it provides shelter and food sources in abundance, but its shallow waters mean it’s also still accessible for birds when the rest of the harbour is under deeper water. It’s also a thoroughfare for birds fl ying from far fl ung corners of the globe, who use the lagoon to rest and eat
spoonbill. For many years the spoonbill fl ock sizes have
been building, and in 2014 it peaked to the largest fl ock of spoonbills ever seen in Britain, with 49 birds recorded in one fl ock.
Other frequent and easily identifi able guests are large fl ocks of waders, particularly avocets, which are distinguishable by their long blue legs and curved bill, perfect for sifting through the mud for fi sh. They breed in east Anglia, France and Germany but the number seen on the Brownsea Lagoon is of international importance, where 1,200 or more can be seen in the winter. The black-tailed godwit breed in Iceland but can be seen through the year on Brownsea Island, with up to 2,500 visiting in the winter to feed on worms found in the lagoon.
A unique partnership between Dorset Wildlife Trust, RSPB, National Trust and Birds of Poole Harbour has been set up to run boat trips around Poole Harbour during the winter months, so visitors can get a fi rst-hand experience of the thousands of birds feeding and roosting on the Brownsea Island Lagoon, when the rest of the island is closed for winter. Tickets start from £25 and trips run on 6th, 10th, 20th January and 3rd February. To book, visit
nationaltrust.org.uk/ brownsea-islands/features/poole-harbour-bird- boats or call 0344 2491895.
Sally Welbourn Avocet on Brownsea Island Lagoon © Paul Williams 10
DWT Communications Offi cer
www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk
To advertise, please contact 01202 657317 or email
harriet@broadstonelink.co.uk
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