It’s amazing how things can go from total calm to utter panic when birds are involved. That’s exactly what happened today when at 12pm a small, pale wader was discovered feeding just in-front of the double decker hide on our Brownsea Lagoon webcam. Small waders  are  always a nightmare to ID, especially tiny pretty much non descript ones on a less than perfect webcam screen. However, as the bird was noticeably smaller (half the size) of the Dunlin it was feeding next to even a Little Stint would have been a great find for our webcam. 

Most of the Little Stints that pass through the UK at this time of year tend to be juveniles, which show an obvious white ‘V’ on the back and are a lovely rufous colour. This bird had no ‘V’ and was very pale.

After various photos and phone conversations the bird was finally confirmed as Poole Harbour’s first SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPER and only Dorset’s 9^th record. The bird showed well up until 5pm when the island closed. During our time there it was attacked by both a Sparrowhawk and a Hobby!  There is a very good chance it could still be around tomorrow, so we will check the webcam first thing to get it back on the webcam.

Also on the Island a minimum of 6 Curlew Sandpiper, 6 Knot, 100+ Dunlin, 200+ Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Ringed Plover, 40+ Avocet, 3 Spotted Redshank, 8 Greenshank as well as Shoveler, Teal and 1000+ Oystercatcher. In Holes Bay this morning an Osprey was feeding in the northern section very close to the dual carriageway, also there 2 Whimbrel, 8 Wigeon, 46 Teal, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and a Med Gull. Nearby a Hobby and 2 Kingfisher were at Upton CP. A possible Great White Egret was seen dropping in to a ditch over near Keysworth.