Although the grot had gone through by this morning and the sun broke out, the consistent wind strength remained between 35-40mph for most of the day making birding efforts largely rewardless. The only reports all day were an autumn high count of 75 Shag through the harbour entrance at dawn, 7 Curlew Sandpiper were in Middlebere this morning, 100+ Spoonbill were on the Brownsea Lagoon and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was in Holes Bay. It seems the grotty weather signalled the BTO to carry out some overdue admin, as local Stour Ringing Group received some interesting news today, albeit 10 years late, in that a Eurasian Curlew that was ringed by the ringing group in Feb 1987 at Fitzworth, Poole Harbour was sadly shot in NW Russia in April 2015, some 2486km away c28 years later! Now that pretty incredible.

Ringing and life end locations of Eurasian Curlew ‘ FCO71OO’

Spoonbill squadron – Brownsea Lagoon – Nicki Tutton