Incredibly early record of 12 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flying into the harbour this afternoon during the stormy conditions. We normally don’t see the first birds coming in until early/mid-October. There was a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper on the Brownsea Lagoon from our Osprey Cruise this morning along with c50 new Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Spoonbill and a further 20 in Wytch Lake. There was a possible juvenile Arctic Tern on the sandspit of Long Island. 2 late Swift were over Tower Park and another 2 were over Middle Beach, Studland. In Lytchett Bay there were 2 Osprey, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Spotted Redshank, 15 Greenshank and 1 Whimbrel. At the Middlebere Channel this evening there was a good count of 31 Yellow Wagtail amongst the cattle and horses, before heading off to roost. There were also 2 Spotted Redshank, 7 Greenshank, c100 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Hobby and 1 Osprey. At Swineham this evening 1 Ruff was on the newly filled Swineham ‘Stilt Pools’. The Brownsea Lagoon also had c150 Ringed Plover, 4 Knot and c100 Dunlin. Finally, at Holmebridge this afternoon 21 Cattle Egret were with cows just west of the bridge.

Greenshank – Lytchett Fields RSPB – petey632.bsky.social