Country diary: Inside the hide, waiting for godwits | Mya Bambrick

Poole, Dorset: The harbour here is globally significant for black-tailed godwits, which have flown south to feast on these mudflatsAs soon as the summer days begin to shorten, I start anticipating the return of our winter visitors. I've always had a love for waders and wildfowl; some of my earliest birding memories are learning to identify species like wigeon and teal.More than a decade later, after studying wildlife conservation and ecology on the south coast, I live in Poole on the Dorset coast. The wide expanse of Poole Harbour is the main draw for birders and wildlife lovers, but one of the harbour's best sites is Holes Bay, slightly inland, in sight of the centre of Poole, and beside a busy retail park. Continue reading...