Another overcast day today with 30mph gusts providing some unpleasant sea conditions. Some nice sightings today with Lytchett Fields recording pairs of Marsh Harrier and Spotted Redshank along with c75 Redshank, 3 Common Snipe, 7 Pintail, 4 Green Sandpiper and a single Ruff. Middlebere had 2 lovely flocks of Avocet feeding again, several Black–tailed Godwit and a Peregrine chasing down a Lapwing at speed.

On the Western side of the harbour 4 Marsh Harrier, 3 Hobby and a Merlin were seen in addition to an Osprey over Arne. Baiter Fields saw 2 Black–tailed Godwit amongst c300 Oystercatcher. Holes Bay recorded 2 Black Swan, likely to be the pair often seen in Wareham river. Upton Heath logged it’s 3^rdWheatear of the season.

Another overcast day today with 30mph gusts providing some unpleasant sea conditions. Some nice sightings today with Lytchett Fields recording pairs of Marsh Harrier and Spotted Redshank along with c75 Redshank, 3 Common Snipe, 7 Pintail, 4 Green Sandpiper and a single Ruff. Middlebere had 2 lovely flocks of Avocetfeeding again, several Black–tailed Godwit and a Peregrine chasing down a Lapwing at speed.

On the Western side of the harbour 4 Marsh Harrier, 3 Hobby and a Merlin were seen in addition to an Osprey over Arne. Baiter Fields saw 2 Black–tailed Godwit amongst c300 Oystercatcher. Holes Bay recorded 2 BlackSwan, likely to be the pair often seen in Wareham river. Upton Heath logged it’s 3^rdWheatear of the season.

A wet and windy day with just a few breaks in the cloud to allow for some sightings. Lytchett Fields recorded 2 Ruff, 6 Spoonbill, 2 Spotted Redshank, 6 Dunlin, 8 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, c10 Black–tailed Godwit, c10 Wigeon, c300 Teal and a Peregrine.

Over at Holes Bay a c40 Teal, c40 Wigeon, several Shoveler, 3 Curlew, c30 Redshank, 1 Black–tailed Godwit and a good record of a Curlew Sandpiper was logged from the stone Bench.

Brownsea Lagoon has been quiet recently with only 5 Avocet, c20 Black–tailed Godwit and numerous Shelduck being the highlights today but the high water levels on the lagoon haven’t helped. A likely Hen Harrier was also seen on the edge of Slepe Heath and up to 3 Hobby were again active over the heath. In Middlebere a winter scene was beginning to develop as a flock of c300 Avocet fed out in the channel and Teal and Wigeon numbers increased as a juv Marsh Harrier quartered above.

Avocet Flock – Middlebere 

A wet and windy day with just a few breaks in the cloud to allow for some sightings. Lytchett Fields recorded 2 Ruff, 6 Spoonbill, 2 Spotted Redshank, 6 Dunlin, 8 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, c10 Black–tailed Godwit, c10 Wigeon, c300 Teal and a Peregrine.

Over at Holes Bay a c40 Teal, c40 Wigeon, several Shoveler, 3 Curlew, c30 Redshank, 1 Black–tailed Godwit and a good record of a Curlew Sandpiper was logged from the stone Bench.

Brownsea Lagoon has been quiet recently with only 5 Avocet, c20 Black–tailed Godwit and numerous Shelduck being the highlights today but the high water levels on the lagoon haven’t helped. A likely Hen Harrier was also seen on the edge of Slepe Heath and up to 3 Hobby were again active over the heath. In Middlebere a winter scene was beginning to develop as a flock of c300 Avocet fed out in the channel and Teal and Wigeon numbers increased as a juv Marsh Harrier quartered above.

Avocet Flock – Middlebere 

It’s always worth doing a sea watch if possible during September and especially with a strong southerly wind. A quick check off Branksome Chine this afternoon produced Poole Harbour’s 4^th only record of Sooty Shearwater late afternoon. It arrived in from the east and did a couple of lengths of the waterline before being lost to the mist. There wasn’t much else moving other than a few Sandwich Tern and Gannet. In Whitley Lake, 28 Sandwich Tern were roosting on the jetty pylons of East Dorset Sailing Club. Off Knoll Beach another Brent Goose had arrived and an Osprey was again seen hunting in Lytchett Bay before the wind and rain kicked in. On Lytchett Fields there was a single Curlew Sandpiper also 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Ruff, 3 Ringed Plover, 12 Greenshank, 446 Teal and 24 Dunlin. On Holton Pools Greenshank and Kingfisher were seen from the hide along with 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine. At Baiter 31 Turnstone and 8 Ringed Plover were on the beach and a light passage of House Martin flew along the quay front at dawn.

Over the weekend the first wave of Yellow-browed Warbler hit the east coast, so it won’t be too long before the first Dorset/Poole Harbour record appears…we just need the forecast SW winds to ease off now and swing the other way.

Sooty Shearwater – Branksome Chine – Paul Morton

It’s always worth doing a sea watch if possible during September and especially with a strong southerly wind. A quick check off Branksome Chine this afternoon produced Poole Harbour’s 4^th only record of Sooty Shearwater late afternoon. It arrived in from the east and did a couple of lengths of the waterline before being lost to the mist. There wasn’t much else moving other than a few Sandwich Tern and Gannet. In Whitley Lake, 28 Sandwich Tern were roosting on the jetty pylons of East Dorset Sailing Club. Off Knoll Beach another Brent Goose had arrived and an Osprey was again seen hunting in Lytchett Bay before the wind and rain kicked in. On Lytchett Fields there was a single Curlew Sandpiper also 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Ruff, 3 Ringed Plover, 12 Greenshank, 446 Teal and 24 Dunlin. On Holton Pools Greenshank and Kingfisher were seen from the hide along with 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine. At Baiter 31 Turnstone and 8 Ringed Plover were on the beach and a light passage of House Martin flew along the quay front at dawn.

Over the weekend the first wave of Yellow-browed Warbler hit the east coast, so it won’t be too long before the first Dorset/Poole Harbour record appears….we just need the forecast SW winds to ease off now and swing the other way.

Sooty Shearwater – Branksome Chine – Paul Morton

A juvenile/1st winter Cattle Egret was skulking about Swineham GP floods. Brand’s Bay featured a juvenile Osprey perched up in the trees at the back. Another Osprey was seen over Lytchett Bay again and a Curlew Sandpiper was at New Pools, Lytchett Fields. A single Spoonbill was feeding off Gigger’s Island on the low tide in the Wareham channel.

Cattle Egret – Swineham GP floods

Today saw the last of the fine weather before a shift towards heavy rain and strong westerly winds. Osprey are still being logged about the harbour, particularly around the northern bays of the Harbour. However, Osprey sightings are likely to thin out come the changes to weather conditions. As well as featuring the migrant Osprey, Holes Bay harboured c200 Black-tailed Godwit, c180 Wigeon, 3 Knot, single Yellow Legged Gull and large flocks of Redshank and Curlew. A high tide at Lytchett Fields this morning produced 3 Spoonbill, 2 Spotted Redshank, 5 Green Sandpiper, 5 Greenshank, 4 Wigeon, 6 Yellow Wagtail with cattle. A Total of 37 Dunlin were flushed by a Peregrine hunting in the Bay, with 80+ Cormorants and a Little Grebe also observed.

 A fine spread of waders was also recorded at Middlebere Channel including singles of Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover, as well as c550 Black-tailed Godwit, c60 Avocet, 1 Whimbrel, 20 Knot, 15 Dunlin, 3 Pintail and Spoonbill. Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and 2 Marsh Harriers also made appearances. Hobby were recorded from Ridgewarf and Slepe Heathamongst a flock of c100 Swallow.

Today saw the last of the fine weather before a shift towards heavy rain and strong westerly winds. Osprey are still being logged about the harbour, particularly around the northern bays of the Harbour. However, Osprey sightings are likely to thin out come the changes to weather conditions. As well as featuring the migrant Osprey, Holes Bay harboured c200 Black-tailed Godwit, c180 Wigeon, 3 Knot, single Yellow Legged Gull and large flocks of Redshank and Curlew. A high tide at Lytchett Fields this morning produced 3 Spoonbill, 2 Spotted Redshank, 5 Green Sandpiper, 5 Greenshank, 4 Wigeon, 6 Yellow Wagtail with cattle. A Total of 37 Dunlin were flushed by a Peregrine hunting in the Bay, with 80+ Cormorants and a Little Grebe also observed.

A fine spread of waders was also recorded at Middlebere Channel including singles of Bar-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover, as well as c550 Black-tailed Godwit, c60 Avocet, 1 Whimbrel, 20 Knot, 15 Dunlin, 3 Pintail and Spoonbill. Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and 2 Marsh Harriers also made appearances. Hobby were recorded from Ridgewarf and Slepe Heath chasing a flock of c100 Swallow.

With the howling south-easterly wind that had built by mid-afternoon it made birding a tad tricky however Osprey continue to be seen at several sites. It really has been one of the best Osprey autumns on record with a likely three different birds still in the harbour with 2 juveniles in and around the Holes Bay area/Lytchett Bay area and an adult at Middlebere. Spoonbill seem to be multiplying by the day with 42 now in the harbour with the entire flock feeding out in the Wareham Channel on the low tide this morning. Also out in the Wareham Channel were c50 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, 8 Knot and a huge number of gulls also 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine. At Swineham the Cattle Egret was again in the fields behind Curlews Cottage. At Holton Lee 2 Spotted Flycatcher were out on the heath with another 2 at the PCW Drain. At Lytchett Fields 2 Ruff, 8 Dunlin and 2 Greenshank were feeding. From the ‘Stone Bench’ at Upton CP 503 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Teal, 4 Shoveler and 2 Pintail were counted.  Just outside the harbour a White Stork was reported flying over Sturminster Marshall.

Adult Osprey – Middlebere – Simon Kidner