More signs of Autumn migration today…..yes we know, we’re constantly mentioning Autumn and it’s only June. We’re sorry, but it’s not us….it’s the birds! At the Carey Secret Garden ringing station the team caught the first ‘departing’ / ‘dispersing’ juvenile Sedge Warbler of the autumn season which is a species that doesn’t breed on site there, so must be a migrant, along with the 2 Common Whitethroat which were also ringed today but don’t breed on site. Last year the Carey ringing station ringed 2170 Sedge Warbler, so hopefully this is the first of many. The team there also caught 34 Greenfinch today which is exceptional considering that once again, none breed on site. Both juvenile male and female Greenfinch can look very similar, but when in the hand the amount of green visible in the primaries allows for youngsters to be sexed easily. The Spotted Redshank was once again at Lytchett Fields along with Green Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, 25 Redshank, 73 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Lapwing and 1 Curlew. On Brownsea Lagoon 7 Spoonbill were present today, the Yellow-legged Gull was in Middlebere again and an adult White-tailed Eagle flew over too.

European Nightjar on Osprey perching branch last night as the moon was rising – RSPB Arne 

First migrant Sedge Warbler of the autumn – ringed in Lower Piddle Valley – Ed Betteridge

Male (left) and female (right) juvenile Greenfinches – Lower Piddle Valley – Ed Betteridge