A rather quite windy affair today with a peak gust of 42mph in the harbour, but that didn’t stop the birding for many people. From our Summer Safari this morning, female White-tailed Eagle G466 was sat on a sign over at Shipstal, RSPB Arne and we just caught a view of male Osprey 022 before he headed up the Piddle valley to deposit a fish to the nest site. We also had 2 juvenile Peregrine that were causing trouble in the Wareham Channel, firstly annoying one of a local Marsh Harrier, and then 2 Hobby started giving them grief over Arne Hill. The Brownsea Lagoon Spoonbill arrival seems to be getting going with 4 last week, 5 yesterday and present 6 today. Also on the lagoon today were 2 Avocet, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 11 Dunlin, 6 Greenshank, c400 Common and Sandwich Tern and 5 Common Sandpiper. In Lytchett Bay there were 2 mystery Osprey this afternoon which were in trees at the back of Sherford Pools before flying off over Holton Lee and esterdays Purple Heron was seen again in Little Sea at Studland. Last night we helped set up a ringing station at Carey Secret Garden, and opened the nets at dusk on the off chance a few Nightjar were around. By 10:15pm 3 were flying about and we managed to catch an adult male.

Greenshank – Wareham Channel, from Summer Safari Cruise – Mark Wright

Common Sandpiper, Brownsea shoreline, from Summer Safari Cruise – Mark Wright

Nightjar ringed last night in Lower Piddle Valley