If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times before…..never, ever be put off by the weather. Despite the building wind and afternoon murk there were loads of good birds to be seen today, mostly from our two Osprey Cruises that went out this morning and this afternoon. Despite seeing Osprey from both cruises (between 3-4 from each cruise), it was the White-tailed Eagles that stole the show this morning with several close fly by’s across the Wareham Channel as both the adult male and female followed each other around both the north and south edge of the shore. We were also treated to 2 Hobby bombing around the boat, as well as 21 Spoonbill, 7 Avocet, 2 Glossy Ibis, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Great White Egret. This afternoons trip was a tad gloomier but rewards were had with a Bittern on the edge of Swineham CP, with one magic moment when both Bittern and Glossy Ibis were in the same binocular view. There were also 3-4 Osprey in Lytchett Bay, so we estimate there are at least 8+ still around which is a great early September total. Just up the Frome Valley a White Stork flew over Purbeck Sports Centre and seemed to come down west, close to the roundabout. On Lytchett Fields 2 Spotted Redshank and 15 Greenshank were on view from Frenches viewpoint.

White-tailed Eagle flying past our Osprey Cruise this AM – Alison Copland

White-tailed Eagle flying past our Osprey Cruise this AM – Alison Copland

There was a very autumn ‘vibe’ today, with the first calm, still morning for several days, which was always guaranteed to see a big movement of birds at dawn. This was most evident at the ringing station in the Lower Piddle Valley which logged 333 birds caught this morning including a late surge of 106 Sedge Warbler, 33 Grasshopper Warbler, 77 Blackcap and 37 Willow Warbler. Osprey numbers seem slightly lower with 5+ logged across the area during the day plus female White-tailed Eagle G466 dropped down into the channel this afternoon. Other highlights included 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Little Stint, 18 Spoonbill, 109 Avocet, 201 Dunlin, 93 Ringed Plover, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Knot, c100 Sandwich Tern and 10 Greenshank all on the Brownsea Lagoon. In Middlebere a Ruff flew over, plus there was a Great White Egret with another in the Wareham Channel. At Lytchett Fields some migrants included 3 Whinchat in arable field, also 1 Spotted Flycatcher in same area plus 2 Tree Pipit, and at RSPB Arne Farm the Pied Flycatcher was still near the Shipstal track along with several Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Redstart.

Great White Egret over Middlebere – BlueSky @dizzygirl66.bsky.social

Ruff over Middlebere – BlueSky @dizzygirl66.bsky.social