A nice early record and the first of the winter, of 1 Black-throated Diver from South Haven that flew into Poole Harbour. Hopefully it’s still hanging around somewhere in Brands Bay or off Salterns Marina, but it hasn’t been resighted yet. A small group of 14 Crossbill also flew north over the harbour entrance. On the fast rising tide this morning in the Middlebere Channel there were 7 Curlew Sandpiper, 20 Knot, 1 Spotted Redshank, 480 Avocet, 240 Black-tailed Godwit, 16 Pintail, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Great White Egret and 1 Peregrine. 1 Great White Egret was also in Holes Bay. At Lytchett Fields there were an impressive 5 Spotted Redshank along with 13 Greenshank. 15 Cattle Egret were between East Holme floodplain and the village ford with cattle. From our Autumn Safari Cruise this morning we saw a flock of 12 Greenshank in the Wareham Channel along with 1 White-tailed Eagle, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese and at Swineham, Stilt Pools, 2 Ruff and 2 Green Sandpiper. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were at least 100 Spoonbill, 3 Knot, c20 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Greenshank and c200 Avocet. A Merlin was at Middlebere, 14 Crossbill passed over the harbour entrance.

Dark-bellied Brent Goose – Off Hamworthy Beach from our Autumn Safari – Alison Copland