Despite the hot weather today, there was still plenty to see in the harbour. During our Carey Osprey Tours, we were watching with excitement as the chicks were very active, ‘helicoptering’ and strengthening their wing muscles, in preparation for fledging from this Friday! Even after fledging, the chicks are still active, particularly from now onwards and will remain close to the nest over the next few weeks, even coming back to feed at the nest in mid August. CJ7 and 022 will continue to bring in fish on to the nest for the four chicks, even when the chicks are exploring the local area. In the morning session, we had 1 Hobby quickly fly-past and 1 Spotted Flycatcher feeding on insects by the side of the viewing platform. Elsewhere in the harbour, the first Kingfisher of the Autumn was seen in Holes Bay as well as increasing numbers of waders including 89 Redshank, 65 Black-tailed Godwit, 31 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel heading south-west, 9 Teal, alongside 1 juvenile Peregrine. This bird was one of the young from the nest on the Holes Bay Asda in Poole, with the juveniles now seeming to be venturing further afield and gaining in confidence, whilst also practising their hunting skills. Despite their nationwide decline, it seems to be that Swifts are having a relatively good breeding year locally. A maximum count of 26 were reported over Christopher Crescent Way in Oakdale today.

Male Osprey chick 5R4 ‘helicoptering’ this afternoon

The sunny, warm conditions made raptor watching ideal today. During our morning Summer Safari Cruise, 1 Osprey (presumably male 022) was seen in the Wareham channel, attempting to catch a fish. For a while, this Osprey was seen mobbing male White-tailed eagle, G463, who was observed flying off the back of the boat before landing on the salt marsh. A few moments later, a Marsh Harrier then joined in mobbing the eagle. Later in the journey, another 2 Marsh harrier, 1 Kestrel, 5 Common Buzzard and a juvenile Peregrine falcon were spotted by all on board.

While cruising up the mouth of the River Frome, 4 Bearded tit made their typical ‘pinging’ calls and appeared briefly on the top of the reeds. 2 Sand martin, 30 Swallow and at least 60 Mute Swan loafed around in the mouth of the river. The growing flock of Black-tailed godwit has now exceeded 200 in the Wareham channel.

The final chapter of today’s boat trip visited the Brownsea lagoon. This didn’t disappoint with 4 Spoonbill, 10 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 30 Mediterranean gull, 1 Common sandpiper, 5 Avocet and 2 Little tern. Little terns are one of the UK’s smallest seabirds. Their population has declined in recent years with only about 1,500 breeding pairs left in the UK. The nearest breeding colony in Dorset in on the Fleet, near Weymouth.

Elsewhere in the harbour today, 2 Whimbrel, 27 Curlew and 9 Redshank were in Brands Bay while 3 Mediterranean gulls and a couple of Lesser black-backed gulls were seen feeding off Jerry’s point.

White-tailed eagle – Male G463 – Wareham channel – Gail Edgley

Lytchett Bay had good coverage throughout the day. 166 Canada geese roamed around the bay in their family groups. The wader list continues to grow as more arrive from their breeding grounds; 5 Oystercatcher, 6 Curlew, 4 Black-tailed godwit, 36 Redshank, 1 Spotted redshank, 5 Greenshank , 1 Avocet, 8 Lapwing, 1 Common sandpiper and 3 Green sandpiper. Marsh harrier and 2 Osprey were seen intermittently and a Kingfisher, 3 Little Egret, 593 Black headed gulls and a single Mediterranean gull were also present.

Lapwing – Lytchett Bay – ianballam.bsky.social

For the second year running, a specific pair of Firecrest have successfully bred at Lytchett Bay. Firecrest was first recorded breeding in Hampshire in 1962 and has since spread across much of southern, eastern and central England.

Firecrest – Lytchett Bay – ianballam.bsky.social

The Poole Peregrine falcon chicks appear to be doing ok and are now venturing further than Asda in search of food.

Peregrine falcon chicks – Asda Poole – petey632.bsky.social

An incredible Summer Safari Cruise this morning! We were up at the top of the Wareham Channel and spotted the adult territorial White-tailed Eagle pair sat on Arne Moors. After a bit of waiting, in the mouth of the River Frome, we were lucky enough to see female G466 lift up and fly away from us. In the mean time, breeding male Osprey 022 appeared alongside the boat on his way to catch a fish, later appearing after having caught in the Middlebere Channel. Just as we were about the leave, male eagle G463 lifted up, all the gulls went up, and he flew straight towards us! Absolutely incredible! We also saw 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 2 Little Ringed Plover on Stilt Pools, Swineham, 1 adult female Marsh Harrier bringing in food to the (4) juveniles on Giggers Island and 4 Bearded Tits also at Swineham. Female Osprey 6C6 was also present in Lytchett Bay today.

The warm weather meant that raptors were on the move along the river valleys with several Common Buzzard, 3 Red kite and a Sparrowhawk seen over Carey floodplain. A White Stork flew west along the Piddle valley mid morning.

A Marsh harrier was seen hunting over the gull islands, spooking the gulls into a frenzy. Nearby an Osprey was in it’s usual dead tree at Lytchett Bay. Also at Lytchett Bay, several Sandwich tern feeding and Reed buntings moving about in the reed beds.

At Arne, at least 20 Oystercatchers, 1 Yellow-legged gull, 5 Sandwich terns and 30 Black headed gulls were milling around off Shipstal point. Brownsea Island until recently, held the only breeding pair of Yellow-legged gull in the UK. Perhaps the individuals that are still seen in the harbour are the off-spring of this pair?

A single Osprey has been spotted multiple times in the Lytchett Bay area. At the moment, we’re not sure if this is the unknown bird from yesterday or another visit from the wandering female 6c6 or a different individual.

It seems that Common swifts are gathering in bigger flocks at the moment, perhaps the first young birds of the year have now fledged? 32 Common Swift were seen over Poole. This ties in nicely with Swift Awareness week!

Wareham forest held 2 Red kite and 2 Crossbill and the odd sight of 106 Woodpigeon mostly heading North. This is more usual in November, when thousands of Woodpigeon can be seen migrating.

In the Swineham area, 3 Bearded tit, Water rail, a Mediterrean gull and further singles of Marsh harrier and White-tailed eagle were seen. Growing numbers of autumn migrant waders are building in numbers in the harbour with at least 60 Black tailed godwit, 14 Lapwing, Curlew and Greenshank.

Another day of stunning weather in the harbour! During our Carey Osprey Tours, the cooler temperatures meant birds were more active. 2 Red Kite flew over distantly, 1 Common Buzzard came a bit too close to the nest and was quickly seen off by CJ7 and 5 Mistle Thrush were seen. This morning, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull was on French’s Pools at RSPB Lytchett Fields. At Lytchett Bay, there were 3 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 25 Redshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Curlew, 2 Common Tern, and 1 Sandwich Tern. From Coombe Heath at RSPB Arne there was 1 Great White Egret, 1 White-tailed Eagle, 1 Sparrowhawk, and 1 Hobby. 1 Female Marsh Harrier was seen hunting over the gull islands, with 1 White-tailed Eagle later seen carrying prey past the gull islands. There was a clear increase in wader passage on Brownsea Lagoon today, with 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 16 Black-tailed Godwit, 17+ Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 5 Avocet, as well as 4 Spoonbill (including a colour-ringed individual NHB9). We also had 1 new, very tatty Osprey in the harbour today, in Lytchett Bay. Unfortunately, it didn’t come close enough to read the blue ring.

Blue-ringed Osprey – Lytchett Bay – Richard Stephenson