A mixed bag of weather with sea mist lingering over the Purbeck hills for much of the day. The juvenile Purple heron remains on Little Sea, Studland, although often elusive. It’s often been seen from the Rees Cox bird hide at dusk.

Swineham was watched well today with Kestrel, 2 Lapwing, 1 Green sandpiper, 2 Skylark, 2 Cetti’s warbler, 2 Reed bunting and 3 Bearded tit all seen from the area closest to the harbour. This is one of the best sites in the harbour for Bearded tit, often initially located by their distinctive ‘pinging’ calls. Elsewhere at Swineham, along the river walk, 60 Reed Warbler, 100 Sand martin, 240 Starling, 1 Marsh harrier and 1 Greenshank. 

At Lytchett Bay, 2 Osprey were seen throughout the day and it appears that one is without a blue davic ring, indicating a new unknown, individual is now in the area. A juvenile Peregrine falcon was also seen and photographed, it appears to be one of the recently fledged Poole birds and looks to be confidently finding its way around the harbour.

6 Spoonbill, a Whimbrel and good numbers of Linnet were recorded on Coombe heath.

During the morning’s Summer Safari Cruise, we watched 2 Osprey hunting together along the northern edge of the Wareham channel. Later, a single Osprey landed with a fish in a pine tree on the Arne peninsula. These could have been the same individuals that were later seen in Lytchett Bay. A distant White-tailed eagle caused mayhem in the Wytch channel with dozens of gulls and egrets erupting into the air. The eagle was soon lost to view in the light rain that was moving in from the south west. Black-tailed godwit numbers continue to rise with at least 170 recorded, also 10 Greenshank, 4 Avocet, 20 Dunlin, 4 Mediterranean gulls and 2 Turnstone were the highlight on the Brownsea lagoon.

This evening an un-ringed male Osprey was hunting in the Wareham Channel along with a ringed individual. Last night a Wood Sandpiper was noc-migged over an Oakdale garden, and this morning it was another amazing morning for Grasshopper Warbler with 17 ringed in the Lower Piddle Valley.

Juvenile Peregrine Falcon – Lytchett Bay – Mark Wright

Linnets – Coombe heath – dizzygirl66.bsky.social