Arne 25/02.06

For some inexplicable reason, this was our group’s first visit to Arne and for many of the 19 attendees, it was a first visit too. Because of this we had asked Emma Foulger, one of the wardens at Arne, to lead us on a guided tour. She led us on the newly opened Coombe Birdwatchers Trail, which was very picturesque with snow on the tops of the distant Purbeck Hills & views of Corfe Castle.

She told us of the history of the reserve & of the work being carried out at present. The reserve was originally acquired by the RSPB in 1965 to save the Dartford Warbler of which there were only eleven pairs breeding in the country with three of these at Arne. The last survey in 2004 recorded sixty pairs on the reserve.

We saw a herd of Sika deer of which there are about 700 on the reserve.

The walk took us to the hide overlooking the part of Poole Harbour from where we saw Curlew, Black-tailed Godwits, Dunlin, Knot & Oystercatchers. Male & female Red Breasted Mergansers were fishing despite a very strong current from the incoming tide.

We continued on our walk & a lucky few of the party saw a Dartford Warbler. As it was very windy these were not showing well.

We returned to the car park to bid our farewell to Emma & her colleague and thank her for a most enjoyable & interesting walk.

We had our lunch at the picnic tables in the car park where two feeding stations are set up. We saw five species of tits including Marsh & Coal. The finches present were Chaffinch, Greenfinch & female Bullfinch. Nuthatch & Great Spotted Woodpecker were also present.

After lunch we followed `The Shipstal Point Trail’ hoping to see the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker that had been seen the previous day, and more Dartford Warblers. Unfortunately, we did not see either species.

Overlooking the water we did see a solitary Avocet & a pair of Grey Plover.

The bay was very choppy, and with the wind blowing onshore into our faces, birdwatching was not very comfortable.

The total species count was over fifty five. We all agreed that it was a wonderful picturesque reserve which, although the wind was bitterly cold, we had enjoyed in bright sunshine and which we would have to visit again in the not too distant future.

The majority left the reserve at five o’clock.

Dave Jones (photographs by Phil Farrer)