The early morning looked promising with low cloud and no wind, but the cloud soon brought drizzle and by 9am, birding was a wash out. We did still manage to jam in a short ringing session in the west of the harbour before the rain set in which saw the first 2 Grasshopper Warbler of the autumn caught. An Osprey was out over the Wareham Channel getting mobbed and a Hobby was seen over the Arne Road. Lytchett Fields was busy on the rising tides today which saw 83 Lapwing, 94 Common Redshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 5 Little Ringed Plover, 15 Dunlin, 10 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank and 1 Whimbrel with a flyover Yellow Wagtail too and a visiting Marsh Harrier. CJ7 was back on her nest again briefly today. We’ve got a feeling she’s soon going to be joined by a second bird over the coming weeks, but will it be one of our translocated chicks from 2017 or 2018?? In Holes Bay the over-summering Wigeon was still there and 8 Teal are now already back in Holes Bay NW.

Grasshopper Warbler – West Poole Harbour