Brownsea Island

Brownsea Island

Owned by the National Trust, Brownsea is the largest of the islands in Poole Harbour and ornithologically the most important. About 100ha of the northern part of the island is managed as a nature reserve and includes a large brackish lagoon and freshwater ponds, reedswamp and saltmarsh. Elsewhere on the island there are coniferous and mixed woodlands interspersed with open grassed areas, heather and rhododendron scrub. More than 200 species have been recorded on the island with over 60 breeding.

The lagoon in the north-east is the most interesting part of the island from a birding point of view. Sandwich and Common Terns nest on the lagoon as well as gulls, Common Shelduck, Oystercatcher and Water Rail. Breeding passerines include Reed and Sedge Warblers and Reed Bunting and Little Grebe breed on the freshwater ponds. Elsewhere on the island there are other interesting breeding species including Woodcock, European Nightjar and Wood Warbler and there is a small, and often elusive, population of Golden Pheasant.

Passage periods bring a wide range of waders to Brownsea including Spotted Redshank and Greenshank, Little Stint and Ruff. One or two Ospreys pass over each year, Black Tern and Little Gull are often present in autumn, Little Egret is now regular and Eurasian Spoonbill is a fairly frequent visitor. Passerine migrants include the usual chats, flycatchers and warblers. Rarities such as American Wigeon, Black-winged Stilt and Terek Sandpiper have been recorded on Brownsea. In winter the island is famous for its regular flock of Pied Avocet but other waders occur in good numbers notably Knot and godwits and Spotted Redshank often winters here. Common Kingfisher and Rock Pipit are regular on the lagoon. Duck occur on the ponds and lagoon and offshore in Poole Harbour and include Northern Pintail, Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser.

In addition to birds the island is well-known as one of the few areas of southern Britain to support Red Squirrel. Sika Deer are also present. Butterflies are well-represented and twenty-three species of dragonfly have been recorded.

The island is open to the general public from late March to early October and the reserve is open for self-guided nature trails from 10.30 until 16.30. Enter the reserve entrance near the church and collect a leaflet. The Dorset Wildlife Trust arranges guided tours in July and August daily from 14.00 until 15.45 starting from the public hide. Groups of more than ten should book in advance and it is possible for Dorset Wildlife Trust members to visit the island out of season. For full details of these trips and also ferries, fees etc visit www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/dorset/ and www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brownsea/

There are hides overlooking the best areas of the reserve but there is also much to see on the remainder of the island. Boats to the island operate every half-hour between 10.00 and 16.30 (17.30 in high season) from Sandbanks Ferry and Poole Quay. Poole and the surrounding area have plentiful hotel, guest-house and campsite accommodation.

Birds

Birds you can see here include:

Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron, Eurasian Spoonbill, Canada Goose, Dark-bellied Brent Goose, Common Shelduck, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, rare Su), Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Northern Hobby, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Golden Pheasant, Water Rail, Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Oystercatcher, Pied Avocet, Ringed Plover, Grey Plover, Red Knot, Sanderling, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin, Ruff, Common Snipe, Woodcock, Black-tailed Godwit, Bar-tailed Godwit, Whimbrel, Eurasian Curlew, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Greenshank, Green Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Little Gull, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Sandwich Tern, Common Tern, Little Tern, Black Tern, European Nightjar, Common Kingfisher, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Rock Pipit, Common Wren, Dunnock, Eurasian Robin, Whinchat, Stonechat, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Wood Warbler, Common Chiffchaff, rare W), Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Pied Flycatcher, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, Common Treecreeper, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Reed Bunting

Content and images originally posted by Steve

Reviews

teamsaint's review

A stunning island with lots of birds. Lots of different habitats mean that you can see lots of different birds. Having a telescope is useful when looking over the lagoon as it is a large area and the 3 hides are all on one side.

Pros

• Nice place. Lots of birds. Helpful staff.

Cons

• Only open April-October. Lots of extra charges eg. boat
• landing fee
• entry to Dorset wildlife part of reserve
• entry to the Lodge.