Brownsea Island

Brownsea Island

28^th June 2009

This is the largest of the nine islands in Poole Harbour and was the famous site of the first Scout Camp organised by Lord Baden-Powell in 1907. The island passed into private ownership in 1927 and was allowed to return to nature until it was purchased by the National Trust who re-established the various habitats. The lagoon was formed and this is now a Dorset Wildlife Trust reserve.

The Group was met by one of the DWT volunteers who kindly guided us through the day. The highlight on the lagoon was the very close views of nesting Sandwich and Common Terns, some 200 pairs of the former and 100 pairs of common terns. Other waders were in good numbers and there was a nesting pair of Yellow-legged Gulls. The lunch break at the Villa provided good sightings of White Admiral butterflies. After lunch we walked around the island but it wasn’t until the very end that we saw our only view of a Red Squirrel. The visit ended with a boat trip around the harbour learning more of the history of the area and its flora and fauna. Our thanks go to the DWT for making this a special day.

Number if species seen: 37

Roger Tucker

Birds seen, in BOU order or alphabetic order

BOU order

Canada Goose

Shelduck

Mallard

Tufted Duck

Little Grebe

Cormorant

Little Egret

Grey Heron

Moorhen

Coot

Oystercatcher

Lapwing

Black-tailed Godwit

Bar-tailed Godwit

Common Sandpiper

Mediterranean Gull

Black-headed Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Herring Gull

Great Black-backed Gull

Sandwich Tern

Common Tern

Feral Pigeon

Collared Dove

Wren

Robin

Blackbird

Mistle Thrush

Reed Warbler

Chiffchaff (heard only)

Willow Warbler (heard only)

Great Tit

Jackdaw

Carrion Crow

Starling

Chaffinch

Greenfinch

Alphabetic order