Right across the country autumn migration is well under, with already some big numbers of birds passing through various areas. Despite not being in the Poole Harbour area I think it’s worth mentioning Durlston CP recently had a large passage of around 200-500 Willow Warbler in one morning, not to mention this mornings 40 Garden Warbler plus a stunning Melodious Warbler, and many more of other species such as Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler.

I’m glad to say a similar story is occurring across the harbour with migrants popping up all over the place, including a Grasshopper Warbler that flew into the office windows at Arne. Passerines such as Garden Warbler, Redstart, Whitethroat and Willow Warbler have been popping up on various scrub areas such as the Turlin Moor side of Lytchett Bay, Swineham, Holton Lee and Upton Heath. Waders still continue to be a feature with 2 Wood Sandpiper at Lytchett Bay along with 5+ Green Sandpiper, 5+ Greenshank, 12 Snipe, 5 Whimbrel and 6 Ringed Plover. On the Brownsea Lagoon there are 5 Spotted Redshank, 5 Common Sandpiper, 6 Greenshank, 200+ Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Avocet and 20+ Dunlin. The 1 Spoonbill continues to commute between Middlebere and Brownsea. Any day now the first Ospreys of the autumn should reappear especially around the Middlebere/Wareham Channel area.