Birds of poole harbour - Ducks, Gulls etc

Poole Harbour is probably one of the best locations for bird watching in the south of England

DUCKS: Large flocks over-winter in the harbour making the most of the food rich mud flats of the brackish water.

Tufted Duck

Female and Male Widgeon. They visit during the winter in increasing numbers, Notably in the Holes Bay area.

Male Shoveler Duck

Female Shoveler Duck

Male Widgeon

Mail Teal

Female Teal

Shelduck: Quite a few pairs can be seen around Holes bay and Brownsea Island

Teal
These small colourful ducks overwinter in the harbour in their hundreds especially around the Holes Bay area

Gadwall

Pair of Gadwall

The challenge I set myself was to photograph as many species of wild birds around Poole Harbour as I could, incorporating both quality and interest within the images.
All I have to do is.... be in the right place ...at the right time ....in the right light .....and at the right state of the tide - Keith Rawling

The Sandwich Tern breeds in the lagoon on Brownsea Island. Thanks to The Dorset Wildlife Trust you can view them at close quarters from the excellent hides.

Common Tern

Herring Gull with nesting material.

Herring Gull

Black Headed Gull

Black Headed Gull - winter

Mediterranean Gull - A few seem to like this area in the winter months

Greater Black Backed Gull

Greater Black Backed Gull - a small contribution to the nest

Fulmer

Gannets - can be seen sometimes just outside the harbour. Just passing through, rarely stopping.

Cormorant - . Increasingly flocks come over from the continent in the winter.

Shag - not so common here. seen at the Harbour mouth sometimes

Shag

Smew - we seem to get a single visitor each winter in Holes Bay.

Razorbill - Haven Hotel - winter

Common Guillemots - "aukward" landing

Razorbills

Great Crested Grebe - Summer

Great Crested Grebe

Little Grebe or Dabchick

Black necked Grebe - seen around the harbour mouth, but rarely comes close to shore

Red-Breasted Merganser - having an early morning bath.

Goldeneye - Usually visit the harbour in January each year

Pochard - sometimes mingle with Tufted Duck flocks in the winter.

Lesser Scaup - first winter. This chap turned up with a flock of Tufted Duck winter 2013

Two Greylag Geese in flight. One with wings up the other wings down.

Brent Goose

Moorhen

Coot

Sandwich Tern with a Smelt

Sandwich Tern with a Sand eel

keith.rawling@btconnect.com

These photo have been reduced in size for the web.
Full size files/images available on request

I use Nikon cameras, patience, anticipation, experience....... and a bit of luck!

All these photos were taken around Poole Harbour, Dorset, UK exept the auks and some gull that were seen near Swanage.

Mute Swans

Pintail
They visit in quite large numbers around Holes Bay and can be seen pairing and displaying before flying off to breed. Rarely come close to the shore.