The final Osprey cruise of the season provided the variety of species you’d expect during autumn migration. Two adult Osprey were seen, one perched on the Arne coastline, another briefly flying along the edge of the Wareham channel. As the storm clouds gathered overhead, birds kept lower in the skies with large groups of hirundines gathering and a flock of 13 Little Tern made a rapid entrance and southerly flight across the channel. Two Spoonbill were in flight looking for shallow areas during the high tide. 4 Bar-tailed Godwit fed along the sandy, quiet beaches of Arne and at least 10 Common sandpiper and 4 Redshank were feeding along the strand line of the northern edge of Brownsea Island.

On the Brownsea lagoon passage waders were in good numbers with 4 Curlew sandpiper, 4 Knot 2 Little Stint and a further 3 Bar-tailed Godwit. Dunlin numbers now exceed 100, 25 Ringed plover, 20 Redshank and 30 Avocet. The Spoonbill numbers are now at 63 including the 2 seen earlier.

Later in the day, 2 Grey plover, 8 Sanderling and a single Little Stint also seen on the Brownsea lagoon.

At Brands Bay, Studland, Great-crested Grebe (17) numbers are steadily increasing as wintering and passage birds arrive in the Harbour. 1 Little Stint, 29 Turnstone, 58 Redshank and 106 Bar-tailed Godwit also showing that passage migration is in full flow. A single, un-ringed juvenile Osprey was also seen and photographed having recently caught a fish.

At Lytchett Bay, Shoveler numbers are increasing with 6 individuals (4 also seen on Brownsea lagoon). 1 Ruff, 24 Greenshank, 2 Green sandpiper and 4 Spotted Redshank. A Pale-morph juvenile Honey Buzzard was seen flying overhead.

Avocet – Brownsea Island lagoon – Alison Copland

Spoonbill – Brownsea Island lagoon – Alison Copland

Juvenile Osprey with fish – Brands Bay, Studland – Birds of Poole Harbour