Numerous Osprey sightings were logged across the Harbour today. At least 2 individuals were seen on the Middlebere platform today and another individual was recorded at Wareham. Other sightings from Middlebere channel include 11 Spoonbill (highest count so far this autumn), 20 Ringed Plover and 6 Dunlin.

Brownsea Lagoon, Holton Pools and Sunnyside Scrape are all areas that are asking for a thorough grilling through August and September. Lytchett Fields, another fine wader hotspot, produced 4 Ringed Plover, 67 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Greenshank, 6 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 10 Dunlin, 80+ Redshank, 50+ Lapwing and singles of Spotted Redshank, Whimbrel and Curlew.

At Brands Bay Great Crested Grebe numbers are building already with 24 present, also 3 Whimbrel, 4 Common Sandpiper and 108 Curlew. 

A visitor to the BoPH HQ reported 5 Turnstone along the Quay. A wander along the Quayside can produce lovely views of these stocky, medium-sized waders from now onwards throughout the winter months.

A turbulent south-westerly wind persisted throughout the day. Despite the distinct lack of easterlies, a Curlew Sandpiper was recorded at Lytchett Bay along with a small Sand Martin passage and singles of Yellow-legged Gull, Ringed Plover, Spotted Redshank and Whimbrel among the usual wader assemblage frequenting the Pools.

All 10 of the Harbour Spoonbill were seen at Middlebere along with a migrant Osprey, ‘Beaky’. This is the fifth consecutive day the large female has been seen around the channel. Outside of our recording area a Black Guillemot was collected by a local wildlife rescue service from Bournemouth Promenade. Following this unsettled weather, a scan of Poole Bay may produce a disorientated petrel or auk.

A very blustery day with SSW windspeeds of 18mph and rain showers coming and going, leaving us all a bit windswept! Lytchett Bay 41 Dunlin, 6 Greenshank, 6 Common Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank and a Garden Warbler.

Brownsea lagoon has a full count done which saw 1 Spoonbill 30 Common Tern, 1 Knot, 5 Greenshank, 56 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Avocet, 103 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, 136 Oystercatcher, c22 Shelduck, 2 Moorhen juveniles, c40 Cormorant and the first of the autumn Ruff seen.

Over at Branksome Chine a keen birder was out sea watching and reported 3 Juvenile Kittiwake, 4 Common Scoter, c30 Gannet, 3 Dunlin and c50 Sandwich Tern.

10 Spoonbill landed at Middlebere this morning and a Peregrine was also seen.

Over on the Webcam at Holten Lee the Goldfinch were feeding in large numbers with 14 spotted in one sitting (some of which were juvenile). The resident Great Spotted Woodpecker also visited today.

An Osprey has been spotted at 11am on knarly trees with fish near to Coombe Heath, Arne. 

At Holton Pools there were Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Lapwing, Greenshank and Common Redshank on view. 

A more productive ringing session at Lytchett Heath this morning produced 61 newly ringed birds from a nice variety of passage passerines including Grasshopper Warbler, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff and Bullfinch. The highlight was a Belgian controlled Sedge Warbler to start the session.

‘Beaky’, the beastly migrant female Osprey, was once again observed feeding on the Middlebere platform, accompanied by 6 Spoonbill in the channel. With another 4 Spoonbill roosting on Brownsea Lagoon, that brings the latest total count to 10 individuals.

A Peregrine flushed the familiar wader assemblage at Lytchett Bay along with a single Wheatear on Sherford Pool.

Another smashing day at Lytchett Bay today with similar counts to yesterday; 22 Dunlin, 2 Spotted Redshank, 6 Common Sandpiper, 10 Greenshank, 14 Green Sandpiper, 57 Black-tailed Godwit and a Kingfisher.

Over at Brownsea Lagoon we have seen 5 Avocet, 2 Redshank and c50 Dunlin. The scrape at Sunnyside is getting more popular with a second Wheatear of the autumn seen and some Meadow Pipet movement.

A decent number of passage waders were recorded at Lytchett Fields this morning including 135 Redshank, 47 Teal, 36 Black-tailed Godwit, 24 Green Sandpiper, 17 Dunlin, 11 Greenshank, 6 Common Sandpiper and singles of Spotted Redshank and Oystercatcher. Over on Brownsea Lagoon 8 Spoonbill were observed feeding/roosting and yesterday saw Peregrine take a Common Tern chick from the Island.

An un-ringed Osprey, probably ‘Beaky’, was caught on camera on the Middlebere platform this afternoon. ‘Beaky’, a large female, was previously observed feeding at the same location for a week back in May this year.

Yesterday was a Spring tide and with high waters clocking in at just after midday today a visit to Upton Country Park this morning (on a rising tide) produced 70+ Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Redshank, 3 Curlew, 20 Little Egret and 1 juvenile Water Rail.

One ringed Osprey, likely CJ7, was spotted near Wareham Forest this morning and another Osprey sighting was logged at Arne. A quick scan of Brownsea Lagoon with the webcam recorded 8 Spoonbill, 2 Avocet, 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Curlew and larger flocks of Dunlin, Redshank and Cormorant.

A relatively quiet ringing session at Lytchett Heath this morning capitalised on the small Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Blackcap passage. Singles of Grasshopper Warbler and Garden Warbler were among the morning’s highlights. The appearance of 1 Great White Egret, 1 Ringed Plover and 2 Egyptian Goose provided additional excitement amongst the familiar waders frequenting Lytchett Bay. Nearby, a single Osprey was observed at Holten Lee before heading off towards the Wareham Channel.

Just South of our recording area a Pied Flycatcher was seen at Durlston Country Park – the Harbour’s first of the Autumn must be any day now. Returning to our recording area, a single Wheatear was recorded at Hartland Moor and 8 Spoonbill were seen on Brownsea Lagoon, equalling yesterday’s count.

Garden Warbler – Lytchett Heath

Sedge Warbler – Lytchett Heath 

A partly cloudy day in the Harbour with a High of 24°Cand Southerly 7mph winds. We have had reports from right across the harbour today starting with an Un-ringed Osprey catching a fish over at Middlebere. This will be the 3^rdOsprey currently in the harbour. Over at Holten Lee Pools a Little Egret and Lapwing have been spotted and at Upton Country Park Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit and Redshank have also been logged.

It been busy at Brownsea today with plenty of waders coming– c110 Dunlin, 8 Spoonbill, c10 Redshank and 12 Curlew. Last night 101 Redshank, 20 Common Sandpiper, 5 Avocet, 6 Ringed Plover and 157 Dunlin.

PC World Drain reported 10 Blackcap, 5 Willow Warbler and Lytchett Bay saw 2 Spotted Redshank, 28 Green Sandpiper (approaching the record), 6 Greenshank, 8 Common Sandpiper, 111 Redshank, 4 Dunlin, Whimbrel and Curlew.

Unlike the weather which quickly settled after the recent strong winds, it seems that yesterday’s Curlew Sandpiper on Brownsea Lagoon did not hang around. A scan around the Lagoon with the webcam today picked up 7 Spoonbill and a handful of Black-tailed Godwit and Common Sandpiper. Lytchett Bay remained bustling with waders including c40 Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpiper, numerous Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Stonechat. An additional 4 Green Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 7 Lapwing and 2 Little Egret were seen on Holton Pools. A highlight from this afternoon proves it’s always worth having an eye to the sky as an Osprey and Hobby were seen circling over Wareham town centre.