October is obviously such a great month for migration, and if you’re lucky, a few rarities or two. The issue is, Poole Harbour is so vast, that rare or scarce birds can easily pass on through without detection. Thats when ringing efforts can really help pin point exactly whats in an area. We’re blessed here in the harbour with multiple ringing sites, which do an excellent job at monitoring migration through the harbour. Today, the ringing team at Lytchett Bay, being carried out by Stour Ringing Group were rewarded with years of ringing effort when a Radde’s Warbler appeared in the net just after dawn. A rare Dorset bird indeed with only a handful of previous records with this photo showing a couple of the main features including the apricot buff undertail coverts and the stout, thicker bill than Chiffchaff and you can also just make out the mottled ear covert.  Elsewhere things were a tad quieter with 5 Great White Egret and 2 White-tailed Eagle in the Wareham Channel, c65 Spoonbill were on the Brownsea Lagoon and a Merlin was on Hartland.

Radde’s Warbler – Lytchett Bay