Brownsea has the advantage of being an island and so being cut off from 'civilisation'. For this reason the Red Squirrel has survived here and is one of the best known of the islands species.
The island itself is mainly owned by the National Trust and part of it by the John Lewis Partnership. You can get boats from the quay in Poole or from Sandbanks by the car ferry. If you are not a member then be prepared to either pay an extra admission fee to get on to the island or run the gauntlet of National Trust recruiters! The best part of the island is the saline lagoon and alder/sallow carr and this forms the bulk of the DWT reserve. Brownsea is a special place and no one should miss the opportunity to go there. It is only open during the summer (March to October) but DWT do run trips once a month in the winter.
There are bird hides from which you can get amazing views of nesting Sandwich and Common Terns as well as Black-headed Gulls and, sometimes, Mediterranean Gulls. In winter there are stunning numbers of waders and ducks. Brownsea? Top ten spot!
| Session Date | Session ID | Method | Recorder | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/01/2012 | -99852 | Field record | PeterOrchard |
A truly lovely spring like morning for the trip to Brownsea but unformtunately it did not last and by 2.00pm it was cloudy and cold! Nevertheless, Brownsea is a great place to be. |
| 16/01/2011 | po.89.999 | PeterOrchard | ||
| 09/04/2008 | -99960 | Field record | PeterOrchard | |
| 11/10/2007 | -99961 | Field record | PeterOrchard |
