New Forest, Poole Harbour and RSPB Arne

 After our visit to Salisbury, Jayne and I spent the next four days in The New Forest and Poole Harbour/Swanage area. Whilst there we added 9 more species to the Year List.

Our first new bird was House Martin (139), which was seen around our accommodation in Fordingbridge. Firecrest (140) was added during a walk in Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary in The New Forest, as was Willow Warbler (141).

Firecrest

On 9th, we had a 3 hour cruise with Birds of Poole Harbour, where we managed to see 3 Spoonbills (142), 2 distant Ospreys (143), and, best of all, amazing views of a female White-tailed Eagle (144).

WT Eagle G466

The White-tailed Eagle that we saw was a female, G466, that was translocated from The Isle of Skye into the Isle of Wight in 2020 by the Roy Dennis Foundation. She has been settled in this area, with a male bird, G463. See details here. Whilst on the trip, we also saw Black-headed, Great Black-backed, Herring and Mediterranean Gulls, Black-tailed Godwits, a Spotted Redshank, Redshank, Great-crested Grebes, Curlew, Lapwing, Canada, Greylag and an Egyptian Goose, 3 Little Ringed Plovers (145) and Sandwich Terns (146). 

Our last addition to the Year List was Dartford Warbler (147) that was seen on Hyde's Heath at RSPB Arne. Unfortunately, no photos, as the two birds we saw, decided to keep low down in the gorse, to avoid the attention of a pair of Stonechats!

Loch Craignish and Oban

Whilst in Scotland, Jayne and I decided to drive over to the west coast. We first went to Loch Craignish, where we had a 2 hour boat trip with Craignish Cruises, seeing Hooded Crow, Black Guillemot (20+), and White-tailed Eagle. Here's a very heavily cropped photo of said Eagle.

White-tailed Eagle

Whilst out on the water we also visited a small colony of Harbour Seals.

Harbour Seal

Back in the marina we had good views of Hooded Crow, a pair of Red-breasted Merganser, Common, Herring and Black-headed Gulls, and what looked like a pair of Rock Dove. I haven't added them to the year list, as I can't be 100% sure they're pure Rock Dove, but they did look pretty good.

Rock Dove?

Later in the day we drove up to Oban, where we had lunch in The Little Potting Shed, vegetarian/vegan café, and also got great views of a rather scruffy looking Hooded Crow, and a much smarter looking Black Guillemot.

Hooded Crow

Black Guillemot

Year List update:
154 – Hooded Crow
155 – Black Guillemot
156 – White-tailed Eagle