With this mornings heavy fog not lifting across the harbour until about 10am, we had to be patient until any birding could start, but when it did clear it was another stunningly beautiful late September day. Our Autumn Safari this AM produced the goods and logged 2 Pochard new in on Swineham GP with good numbers of Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Coot and Mallard. There seems to be a new layer of surface weed on the main gravel pit which we haven’t seen before, and it seems to be excellent for attracting dabbling ducks this autumn, so lets hope it attracts and sees wildfowl numbers build through the winter. There were a couple of Osprey still about, including Kielder Forest juvenile female 2B9, who’s still here having first arrived into the harbour on August 16th. Male White-tailed Eagle G466 was in the Wareham Channel this morning with 2 Great white Egret, c200 Avocet and 1 Marsh Harrier. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were only 45 Spoonbill and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit plus small numbers of Avocet, Greenshank, Redshank and Ringed Plover. A juvenile Little Ringed Plover was on the Stilt Pools at Swinheam and yesterday evening 46 Cattle Egret and 1 Glossy Ibis went into the Swineham roost. Last night we also registered the beginnings of the next phase of autumn migration with first nocturnal migrating Song Thrush of the autumn. Song Thrush are always the first to start moving with first Redwings probably only a week away now.

Sonagram of Song Thrush nocturnal flight call

Despite the windy conditions the birding was alright today, and although theres not too much new in or out, theres a good spread of birds to enjoy. Highlights today included a Wood Sandpiper on RSPB Arne Moors, 3 Glossy Ibis, 2 Osprey, 4 Spotted Redshank, 2 Great White Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine in the Wareham Channel, another Osprey was along teh southern shores near Goathorn, Brownsea Lagoon held 65 Spoonbill and 332 Avocet, A Cattle Egret flock of 33 birds were between Bog Lane and East Holme in the Frome Valley, and in Middlebere there were 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Great White Egret and 26 Knot.

Spotted Redshank and Greenshank – Wareham Channel – Terry Elborne

Spotted Redshank and Greenshank – Wareham Channel – Terry Elborne

Peregrine – Wareham Channel – Terry Elborne

Grim to start, lovely by the end….a typical mid-September day. No big push of birds today due to the wet start, but birds started to emerge after lunch with Curlew Sandpipers at Lytchett Bay, Middlebere and the Brownsea Lagoon. The autumns first Merlin was also at Middlebere this evening with a good mix of waders including 310 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Spotted Redshank, 17 Knot, 11 Greenshank, 3 Great White Egret and 1 Cattle Egret. At Swineham Point this evening 3 Glossy Ibis were flying around, and there were also 3 Marsh Harrier, 1 Osprey and 200 sinensis Cormorant flew up the Piddle Valley at dusk. Brownsea hosted 50+ Spoonbill again, a lone Gannet was in Studland Bay. There was a Spotted Redshank in Holes Bay yesterday.

Merlin – Middlebere this evening – Garry Hayman

After several murky, dank nights, it was no surprise that after last nights clear sky’s and bright morning, with a hint of north in the wind, resulted in a big movement/push of birds at first light. The biggest movement saw c1200 Meadow Pipit move WNW in land, most hugging the southern edge of the Ballard ridge into the wind. The busiest period was between 7:00am to 8:30 in which time lots of Swallow started to push through too with c400 logged along with c200 House Martin. Also on the move were small pulses of Chaffinch and Linnet, 1 Tree Pipit, 11 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Yellowhammer and 1 Reed Bunting, The bushes up around Ballard were also busy with birds and logged c50 Blackcap, c80 Chiffchaff, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Sedge Warbler and 8 Common Whitethroat. The Blackcap push was also noted in the PCW drain with 50+ seen and at the Carey Ringing Station 84 were ringed with 20 Willow Warbler, 45 Common Chiffchaff, 22 Sedge Warbler, 5 Common Whitethroat, 6 Grasshopper Warbler and 1 Spotted Flycatcher. Interest elsewhere included a growing Spoonbill flock on Brownsea with 68 counted this afternoon, 3 Glossy Ibis were in the Wareham Channel, 9 Goosander were still in Brands Bay, 3 Osprey were in the Wareham Channel plus another was on a channel marker out near central harbour with a fish(!), 1 Curlew Sandpiper was on the Brownsea Lagoon. There are a few more White-tailed Eagles about now too with one seen flying towards the harbour right over Poole Town Centre this afternoon, which was 2025 G607, plus a few others have made their way ‘harbour bound’ so keep your eyes and ears open wherever you are, especially over the Purbeck ridge and west of Poole Harbour.

Roe Deer also watching vis-mig, counting Meadow Pipit at Ballard this morning 

As we hit the mid-September point, the mix of autumn and winter across the country starts to merge. Whilst we still have Swallows and Ospreys here down south, up t’north today saw the first Fieldfare, Yellow-browed Warblers and Pink-footed Geese of the winter hit the northern isles of Scotland, which means it’s only a couple of weeks until we hear the first ‘zeets’ of arriving Redwings just after dark. That said, ther’s still plenty of ‘summer’ left to enjoy with 2 Hobby over Middlebere today, a minimum of 3 Osprey are still around, including our 2-year old male 5H6 who arrived mid-May this year, and who was also in Christchurch Harbour today. At Sunnyside there were 4 Yellow Wagtail still, a Common Redstart was at RSPB Arne and a Spotted Flycatcher was in the PCW Drain. At Lytchett Fields there were 400 Black-tailed Godwit plus 13 Greenshank and 16 Lapwing. A Glossy Ibis was in the Wareham channel yesterday morning, 9+ Cattle Egret were on Wareham Common where there were also 2 Whinchat. On Brownsea the Spoonbill count reached 62 and there were 50+ Redshank, 21 Greenshank, 17 Curlew, 16 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Black-tailed Godwit and increase to 228 Avocet.

2-year old male Osprey 5H6 – Settled briefly on old harbour nest platform today

Despite the murky conditions today, there was still some good birding action to be had. Multiple Osprey were seen throughout the harbour, with 1 seen from the Lookout at Upton Country Park flying over Holes Bay south west. 1 adult and 1 juvenile Osprey were also seen from the Middlebere NT hide, as well as 3 Great White Egret, and 1 adult White-tailed Eagle carrying a fish. 54 Spoonbill were counted on Brownsea Lagoon. A quieter session today at the Carey Ringing station in the Lower Piddle Valley, with 44 birds ringed included 1 Spotted Flycatcher.

Osprey with fish – Middlebere NT hide – Alison Copland

Adult White-tailed Eagle carrying a fish – Middlebere NT Hide – Alison Copland

Today was the last of our 47 Osprey Cruises and what a cracking season it’s been! Although the Osprey action was slightly quieter today, with 1 Osprey seen in the Wareham Channel during this morning’s trip, we still ended up with a brilliant species list. Highlights included 1 Whinchat, 8 Green Sandpiper, and 5 Greenshank on the Arne Moors, 2 Hobby over the River Frome hunting Meadow Pipits, and, 3 Marsh Harrier. Over on the Brownsea Lagoon were 6 Shoveler, 54 Spoonbill, c120 Avocet, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, and c10 Dunlin. Later on this afternoon, 2 distant Osprey were seen over Newton Cove from Brands Bay hide and there were over 30 Cattle Egret seen with the cattle at East Holme.

Greenshank – Mark Wright