Trip Reports - 2026

Idle Valley

Six members enjoyed the mild weather at Idle Valley Nature Reserve after the cold spell of the previous week. All of the snow had melted but there was still some ice around the edges of the pools. We started by walking around Belmoor Lake by the Visitor Centre. We were back there by 11 for a coffee where some of us had a bite to eat. Highlights there included a Great Egret, a pair of Bullfinches and around 20 Goosander. We recorded a total of 33 species on the walk which took around an hour and a half. We then drove north for around 10 minutes to park on Chainbridge Lane. We did another circular walk covering another 5 of the lakes. There was a huge number of gulls loafing about there which must have numbered almost 1000. These were mainly Black-headed but included Lesser Black-backed, Great Black-backed Herring and Common Gulls too. Wildfowl included a large flock of Greylag Geese, over 250 Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Gadwall, Mute Swan, Pochard, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, Goosander and Goldeneye. We failed to find any waders other than the large flock of Lapwing and also failed to find the Glossy Ibis which had been reported the day before. Highlights here included Green Woodpecker, a large flock of Redpoll, a couple of Sparrowhawks and a Raven flying through. Before we left we had recorded 46 species bringing the day's total to 56.

Attenborough Nature Reserve

Nine members convened at Attenborough Nature Reserve following the entertaining winter talk on that site from Nigel Slater. We were all there before 9:00 and had grand views of a singing Reed Warbler from the bridge into the visitor centre. We started the day at the Sand Martin hide which lies between two banks of nesting holes. That was very busy and gave everyone superb views of the birds. After getting the key codes to the 2 locked bird hides we set off in bright sunshine. We began the day at the newly constructed Tower Hide. The older hide had to be demolished after some vandalism and the new one has a lock. From there we could hear a Cuckoo and some of us managed to get good views as it flew around the hide area. There were lots of warblers in song and we recorded 9 during our visit - Chiffchaff, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. As ever, even in spring there were good numbers of wildfowl present - 6 duck species being Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Wigeon and Shelduck and 3 Geese Egyptian, Canada and Greylag together with well over 50 Mute Swans. There were several pairs of breeding Great Crested Grebes and Coot but very few Moorhens. There were also good numbers of Common Terns and Herring Gulls. We had our picnic lunch in the sun by one of the quieter pools and finished the day back at the Tower Hide. On the way back, one of the day's highlights was a high flying Hobby. The total for the day was a respectable 54 species.

Arne & Poole Harbour Weekend

Saturday 30th May
Eight of us met up at the car park at RSPB Arne almost 30 minutes before our scheduled meeting time of 9:00. The weather was hot and sunny with little wind. We were greeted by an obliging Song Thrush in full song as we started on our walk on the Shoreline Trail. That took us first to the Harbour Hide which unsurprisingly overlooks Poole Harbour and gives good views of Brownsea Island, tomorrow's destination. We had the hide to ourselves for quite a while but it was rather quiet on the marsh. The trail gives good views over the harbour throughout and passes through a fair but of woodland where there were good numbers of Chiffchaff and Blackcap in full song. With stops at the Island and Purbeck Viewpoints the walk took us most of the morning. After lunch near the entrance we headed off in the afternoon over Coombe Heath. Here we found a few Stonechats but were struggling to find any Dartford Warblers. After finding a Linnet and hearing one Dartford, we eventually came across a pair which gave everyone some good views. The trail took us to a couple of hides overlooking Middlebere Lake. By the time we'd finished that trail we were all rather overheated and some of us finished the day with ice creams. By then we had recorded 42 species.

Sunday 31st May
We caught the first ferry to Brownsea Island at 10:00 arriving after a 20 minute cruise across the harbour in the sun. It was only marginally cooler than yesterday. We started our visit at the hides overlooking the lagoon at the eastern end of the island. There was a large number of Black-headed Gulls breeding on the islands and rafts in the lagoon, many of which were feeding chicks. There was also a good number of Common Terns on nests and well over 50 pairs of Sandwich Terns, also at their nests. Other highlights at the lagoon included a few Avocets, lots of Oystercatchers and a lone Spoonbill which relentlessly kept its bill well hidden. After a coffee stop we then set off through the woodlands to the Villa where we had our picnic lunch. After lunch we were disappointed to find the hide overlooking the lakes was closed and we had to retrace our steps to resume out walk across the island. We were pleased that most of the walk was through the woodland which shaded the hot sunshine for most of the afternoon. On my last visit (some 12 years ago) we recorded 15 Peafowl wandering these woods but today there were none to be seen. The woods were surprisingly quiet with little bird song. We stopped for more ice cream at the famous camp site where Baden Powell held his first Scout camp. There we found the only Peacock of the day. As we returned along the track on the south side of the island we had good view of a Mistle Thrush. Other highlights this afternoon included a Siskin in song, at least 20 swifts screaming high over our heads and Treecreeper. Perhaps the high temperatures were keeping birds quiet and well-hidden as our total today was only 40 species. Some of us checked the lookout at the lagoon again before catching the 4:00 ferry where we we got good views of a Sitka Deer at the water's edge. As we waited for the ferry we were shown the nest of a pair of Oystercatchers in the cafe garden, This had been roped off and was located in a large flowerpot, in which, apart form the nest, was a large plant too! As we left on the ferry a Grey Seal put in an appearance to see us off.