Best birding outings of 2022 3/3: Poole Harbour

Poole Harbour is a fantastic body of water carefully managed for industry, recreation, and nature. Brownsea island is partly managed by the Dorset WT and Brownsea lagoon is a haven for waterbirds including Spoonbills. RSPB Arne is a large reserve with a variety of habitats and offers good views of the water.

Birds of Poole Harbour is a charity that has teamed up with the Roy Dennis foundation to introduce Osprey to the Harbour. The pairing of CJ7 and 022 produced the first successful hatching in 2022, with two chicks. One of the chicks, 5H1 migrated but the other was sadly lost to Goshawk predation. As a bonus, a pair of White tailed eagles seem to have made the Harbour their home base this year.

BOPH works to enhance the bird life of the harbour and provides courses and educational cruises on the water.  These include winter safari, bird identification courses, osprey and puffin cruises, depending on the time of the year.

The team are hugely enthusiastic and knowledgeable. It is a great way to see some of the rarer waterbirds, and have someone else spot them for you! I highly recommend these cruises.





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