Stunning conditions for this morning’s Autumn Safari Cruise delivered two Osprey, including a Scottish-ringed adult male (thought to be two-year-old 511 who has been hanging around in recent weeks) which flew right past the boat with a flatfish, having been briefly chased by a Marsh Harrier. Also present in the area were several passage Skylark moving overhead, 4 Kingfisher in the mouth of the Frome, 3 Grey Plover crossing the channel, a distant Merlin perched on the Keysworth shore, and both White-tailed Eagles on the gull islands, who watched nonchalantly on as two paddle-boarders cruised right past. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 70 Spoonbill, 40 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank, and 2 more Kingfisher, and as we returned to Poole Quay 8 Ringed Plover were sat on the marina wall. Highlights from elsewhere were 19 Greenshank on Sherford Pools in Lytchett Bay, and in Brands Bay there were 191 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Knot and 1 Brent Goose.

Scottish-ringed adult male Osprey in Wareham Channel from Autumn Safari Cruise – Alison Copland

Kingfisher on the Brownsea Lagoon wall –  Alison Copland