SPA means Special Protection Area and is a protection given to certain habitats and species that are particularly rare or vulnerable and for regularly occurring migratory species. Poole Harbour has internationally important numbers of some of these species and those are the what we call the Birds of BARI!
Over 20,000 of these SPA birds flock to Poole Harbour between October to March and many have made long and arduous migrations.
Our organisation focuses on protecting these species, but Poole Harbour has many more from the charismatic Osprey to the commonplace but cheeky Starlings. Here are some links to amazing organisations that can help you ID more species and delve into the incredible world of BIRDS!
WINTER BIRDS
You’ll see these birds between October to March.
SPOONBILL
Genus platalea
COMES FROM
The Netherlands.
JOURNEY LENGTH
300 miles.
FUN FACTS
Poole Harbour is home to nearly half the UK population. They sweep their beaks back an forth to filter fish and shrimp.
LOOK OUT FOR
Large spoon shaped bill and large white body.
DIET
Insects and small fish.
AVOCET
Recurvirostra avosetta
COMES FROM
The Netherlands and France.
JOURNEY LENGTH
500 miles.
FUN FACTS
We have a massive 40% of the UK population winters in the Harbour. Was once extinct in the UK.
LOOK OUT FOR
Dark upturned bill and long green-blue legs.
DIET
Insects, crustaceans and worms.
DARK BELLIED BRENT GOOSE
Branta bernicla
COMES FROM
Artic Siberia.
JOURNEY LENGTH
3,000 miles.
FUN FACTS
They pair for life and migrate in family groups from one season to the next. This small goose can fly 40 miles an hour.
LOOK OUT FOR
White neck stripe and dark belly.
DIET
Eelgrass, saltmash and algae.
BLACK TAILED GODWIT
Limosa limosa
COMES FROM
Iceland
JOURNEY LENGTH
1,000 miles.
FUN FACTS
Pairs can last for 25 years! Every year, they arrive at their breeding grounds within three days of each other. They probe their beaks into the sand up to 36 times a minute in search of insects, worms, and snails.
LOOK OUT FOR
Long bill with dark tip and long legs.
DIET
Insects and worms.
RED BREASTED MERGANSER
Mergus serrator
COMES FROM
Scotland, Northern Europe.
JOURNEY LENGTH
1,000 miles.
FUN FACTS
They can reach flying speeds of up to81 mph! You can see them fishing in deeper water 4-5 hours a day.
LOOK OUT FOR
A red breast and long, serrated bill.
DIET
Crustaceans, insects.
TURNSTONE
Arenaria
COMES FROM
Canada and Greenland.
JOURNEY LENGTH
2,500 miles.
FUN FACTS
They’re named after their distinctive behaviour of flipping small stones and seaweed for food. Can fly up to 621 miles in one day when migrating.
LOOK OUT FOR
White patches on the back, wings and tail. Mottled appearance with brown or chestnut and black upperparts.
DIET
Insects, crustaceans and molluscs.
SUMMER BIRDS
You’ll see these birds between April to September.
COMMON TERN
Sterna hirundo
COMES FROM
West Africa.
JOURNEY LENGTH
11,000 miles.
FUN FACTS
Nicknamed ‘sea-swallows’ because of their shape and amazing aerial acrobatics. One of the longest migrations with a round trip of up to 22000 miles!
LOOK OUT FOR
Orange red beak and grey wing tips.
DIET
Fish.
MEDITERRANEAN GUL
Ichthyaetus melanocephalus
COMES FROM
Mediterranean.
JOURNEY LENGTH
1,500 miles.
FUN FACTS
Extremely rare in the UK until the 1950’s, but their numbers are increasing! They have a cat-like ‘meeeow’ call.
LOOK OUT FOR
Dark black hood and white tip wings.
DIET
Insects and fish.
SANDWICH TERN
Thalasseus sandvicensis
COMES FROM
West Africa.
JOURNEY LENGTH
4,000 miles.
FUN FACTS
Oldest bird ringed was some 31 years old! There is an important breeding colony at Brownsea Island, Poole.
LOOK OUT FOR
Yellow tip on long black bill and a black cap.
DIET
Fish.
OSPREY
Pandion haliaetus
COMES FROM
West Africa.
JOURNEY LENGTH
3,000 miles.
FUN FACTS
Successfully bred in the harbour in 2022after being locally extinct for 180 years! They dive feet first into the water to catch fish then take off vertically from the surface.
LOOK OUT FOR
Body is brown above and white below. Wings are mostly white.
DIET
Fish.
YEAR-ROUND RESIDENTS
You’ll see these birds year-round.
SHELDUCK
Tadorna
COMES FROM
Resident.
JOURNEY LENGTH
Flies locally.
FUN FACTS
They nest underground in old rabbit burrows, in tree holes, or in haystacks. There are seven species of shelduck.
LOOK OUT FOR
Large duck with broad red bill and chestnut breast band.
DIET
shellfish, snails, insects and small fish.
OYSTERCATCHER
Haematopus
COMES FROM
Resident
JOURNEY LENGTH
700 miles.
FUN FACTS
Despite their name, they feed mostly on cockles! Many more join the summer residents from Norway to spend winters together year.
LOOK OUT FOR
orange-red bill and reddish-pink legs.
DIET
Mussels and cockles on the coast, mainly worms inland.
