Such a perfect day across the harbour with calm conditions and loads of good birds from east to west. Starting off with the Brownsea Lagoon which today held 71 Spoonbill, c500 Avocet, 25 Knot, 10 Grey Plover, c30 Turnstone, c80 Dunlin, 25 Ringed Plover, 8 Greenshank a handful of Bar-tailed Godwit and 200+ Common Redshank. The South Deep area is starting it’s mid-autumn interest with the first 8 Red-breasted Merganser off Furzey Island and 1 Common Scoter off Jerry’s Point. The White-tailed Eagle pair were spread between east and west with male G463 in the Wareham Channel and female G466 active off Green Island, and was seen trying to steal a fish from a Seals moth from this afternoons Autumn Safari. The sinensis Cormorant flock looks to be well over 1000 now with the whole flock out in central harbour this afternoon, chasing a fish shoal close to the shore of Furzey Island which attracted in 43 Little Egret into the feeding frenzy. We mentioned the other day that we didn’t think 1000+ Cormorant had ever been logged before, but have since been updated that DWT volunteer Martin Adams logged 1085+ together on Brownsea Lagoon 26/10/25. Around the Swineham, Keysworth, Arne Moors area a Barnacle Goose was at Swineham, 4 Spotted Redshank, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier (juv male), 5 Marsh Harrier, 6 Glossy Ibis, 5 Great White Egret and 6 Bearded Tit were around the fringes of the Wareham Channel and 4 Red Kite were over Keysworth. A fresh juv White-tailed Eagle was over Middlebere this morning and 5 Great White Egret flew high over Middlebere. At Bog Lane, near the Springfield Hotel 12 Cattle Egret were feeding in fields there and the autumns first Jack Snipe was accidentally flushed from an area of bog near Rempstone. A lone juv Common Tern was hunting of Poole Quay all day and a handful of Sandwich Tern were spread across the harbour.

Our Autumn Safari Cruise this AM as we passed the Brownsea Lagoon as viewed from the lagoon hide – DWT Warden Nicki Tutton

Jay – Seaview, Constitution Hill

October is obviously such a great month for migration, and if you’re lucky, a few rarities or two. The issue is, Poole Harbour is so vast, that rare or scarce birds can easily pass on through without detection. Thats when ringing efforts can really help pin point exactly whats in an area. We’re blessed here in the harbour with multiple ringing sites, which do an excellent job at monitoring migration through the harbour. Today, the ringing team at Lytchett Bay, being carried out by Stour Ringing Group were rewarded with years of ringing effort when a Radde’s Warbler appeared in the net just after dawn. A rare Dorset bird indeed with only a handful of previous records with this photo showing a couple of the main features including the apricot buff undertail coverts and the stout, thicker bill than Chiffchaff and you can also just make out the mottled ear covert.  Elsewhere things were a tad quieter with 5 Great White Egret and 2 White-tailed Eagle in the Wareham Channel, c65 Spoonbill were on the Brownsea Lagoon and a Merlin was on Hartland.

Radde’s Warbler – Lytchett Bay

A cool start to the morning, with a small amount of vis-mig, mostly Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtails. Interest came later in the day with the autumns first Hen Harrier over RSPB Arne Moors/Swineham/Keysworth, looking like a juv ringtail male, a Golden Plover flew over the Wareham Channel at lunch, 6 Glossy Ibis were also out in the Wareham Channel with 4 Great White Egret and 2 Curlew Sandpiper were out on Arne Moors, ‘scopeable’ from Slepe Heath with c150 Dunlin and 8 Grey Plover. A flock of 14 Spoonbill flew over Redhorn Quay, Brands Bay and a Goshawk was circling above Slepe Heath this afternoon. Our low tide cruise was busy and saw a White-tailed Eagle give a stunning close fly by, providing a truly wild experience, plus there were 4+ Marsh Harrier. 

Spoonbill over Redhorn Quay – Clive Hargrave

Despite the early fog and mist, an atmospheric calm was once again spread across the harbour and after the moisture disappeared some birds got active including a (new?) Great White Egret on the Brownsea Lagoon giving a good size comparison next to a Little Egret, there were still c100 Spoonbill spread between Brownsea, Shipstal, RSPB Arne and Holes Bay. This afternoon 3 White-tailed Eagle arrived in from the north into the Wareham Channel, 2 juveniles and a sub-adult. A Goshawk was at Lytchett Fields, some new Grey Plover (4) were in Holes Bay, a Grasshopper Warbler was in Lytchett Bay and there was 1 each of Hobby and Merlin near Godlingston Heath.

Grasshopper Warbler – Lytchett Bay – Shaun Robson

Great White Egret and Little Egret – Brownsea Lagoon – Nikki Tutton

Please excuse the missing sightings for yesterday. A small technical glitch meant they didn’t upload, so here is a combined weekend mash up. The stunning early October weather brought birds and birders out. There was a great mix across the area including c100 Spoonbill moving between the Brownsea Lagoon and Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne, c400 Avocet on the Brownsea Lagoon, 1 Curlew Sandpiper was in the Wareham Channel, 3 Ruff were on RSPB Arne Moors, Osprey were seen near Goathorn and over Shipstal Point, White-tailed Eagles were in the Wareham Channel and the 2026 Dorset fledged eagle chick was briefly on Round Island yesterday afternoon. This afternoon there were Hobby over Keysworth and Hyde’s Heath, RSPB Arne, the sinensis Cormorant flock is now up to c800 birds, and between 4-5 different Marsh Harrier are now active around the Wareham Channel area. 4 Glossy Ibis were on the edge of the Wareham Channel today, 2 Pochard are still on Swineham GP and there were 9 Spoonbill and 527 Wigeon in Holes Bay yesterday. The autumns first Redwing was sound recorded over Upton in te early hours of Saturday morning, there are now up to 6 Great White Egret using the Arne Moors/Wareham Channel area and a Goshawk was over Godlingston Heath.

Osprey in the mist at RSPB Arne this morning 

A slower day today with a steady SW wind, but a possible Short-eared Owl over Brownsea this morning brought some promise along with a confirmed Marsh Harrier there too. The lagoon on Brownsea was busy again and logged 100 Spoonbill, c400 Avocet, 4 Knot and a good spread of common waders. An Osprey was over Lytchett Fields with another along the Goathorn peninsular. It was a Chiffchaff day at the Carey ringing station with 194 ringed, including a dutch ringed individual highlighting birds are moving from the east……along (hopefully) with a Nutcracker or two! This morning 5 dark-bellied Brent Geese arrived into the harbour and headed west.

Juvenile Hobby – Carey Osprey nest 

Dutch ringed Common Chiffchaff – Carey Ringing Station

Kingfisher – Goathorn, Brands Bay – Mark Singleton