Today we began our three day Autumn Dorset Discovery which saw us venturing around the Arne RSPB reserve, a full trip report will be available to read in the coming week but highlights included 3-4 Osprey, with 2 un-ringed birds in the dead trees at the back of Middlebere, 19 Spoonbill, 3 Firecrest, 4-5 Dartford Warbler, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Hobby, 6 Knot, 6 Greenshank, 15 Avocet, c300 Black-tailed Godwit c30 Dunlin plus Dunlin, Redshank, Curlew, Oystercatcher, 1 Smooth Snake, 1 Grass Snake and both Raft and Wasp Spiders around the Coombe heath ponds. The Baird’s Sandpiper was again on the Brownsea Lagoon with a Little Stint and 2 Spotted Redshank in amongst the Dunlin flock. At Lytchett Fields there were 2 Curlew Sandpiper and a Wood Sandpiper along with 1 Knot, 24 Ringed Plover, 328 Dunlin, 135 Black-tailed Godwit, 12+ Greenshank, 15+ Green Sandpiper, 25+ Snipe, 100+ Redshank, 80+ Lapwing, 26 Little Egret, 100+ Teal and 10 Yellow Wagtail. Migration through Ballard was rather slow with ringing totals only consisting of 6 Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffchaff, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 11 Blackcap and 5 Whitethroat.

Curlew Sandpipers – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam