What an absolutely pristine day, and with the sun and switch in wind direction, a delivery of birds was observed at multiple sites across the harbour. After sustained southerly wind for several weeks, last night suddenly saw a clear night and a northerly airflow properly kick in which meant birds from further north took advantage of the tail wind and ended up on the south coast. The main arrivals today consisted of Common Chiffchaff, Swallow and House Martin. Common Chiffchaff were everywhere and with 163 ringed in the Lower Piddle Valley alone highlights that many thousands would have been spread right across the harbour this morning. Swallow and House Martin were on the move all day, with high totals (but un-counted) logged across the entire Poole Harbour airspace from sunrise to sunset. The first arrival of Ring Ouzel also dropped down with 1 in the Ulwell Gap and 2 at Ballard logged. A late Swift was over Ballard Down. There were only 4 of Glossy Ibis seen today at Lytchett Bay in the pools field next to Rock Lea view but there was a Little Stint on Lytchett Fields with 2 Spotted Redshank. At South Haven, Studland the Chiffchaff arrival was also much in evidence with c150 logged in bushes around the point plus 605 Siskin passed over and a Whinchat and Wheatear were also there. At Slepe Heath a Tree Pipit, 5 Crossbill and a random Ringed Plover passed over. At lunch time 4 White-tailed Eagle were circling over Stoborough with 4 Raven and 460 Cormorant entered the Piddle Valley roost and 5 Spoonbill flew up the Piddle Valley. The Brownsea Lagoon still had 70+ Spoonbill, will we reach 80 by the end of September?

Knot – Brownsea Lagoon – Nicki Tutton