Once again, the harbour was at it’s late autumn best this afternoon, with the mud flats fast filling with the sound of wetland birds as they moved to and from various feeding areas. From our Autumn Safari this afternoon female White-tailed Eagle G466 caught a fish fairly close to our boat, although frustratingly did so just behind a spit of salt marsh, however it didn’t stop us from experiencing the absolute ease these birds are able to catch a fish as she twisted effortlessly a few meters above the water before simply ‘plonking’ down into the water to retrieve her prize which looked to be either a Mullet or a Bass. Even more interestingly was the fact we later saw her flying low across the mud from the north side of the Wareham Channel to the south side, directly over hundreds of waterfowl and waders, and other than 10 Avocet that decided to have ‘a pop’ at her, not a single bird flinched, seemingly carrying on with their feeding routine as if there was no danger. Also in the Wareham Channel were 4 Glossy Ibis, 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, c500 Black-tailed Godwit, c500 Dunlin, 3 Greenshank, 1 Kingfisher, c10 Grey Plover, 24 dark-bellied Brent Geese and plenty of Teal, Wigeon and Gadwall. Round the back of Green Island a small raft of 6 Red-breasted Merganser were settled and the Brownsea Lagoon had c60 Spoonbill, 9 Greenshank, c100 Avocet and 19 Bar-tailed Godwit. Another Red-breasted Merganser was close to the harbour mouth this AM too. This morning, a small goose sp with Graylags flew over the Lower Piddle Valley and was assumed to be a Pink-footed Goose.

Female White-tailed Eagle G466 from this afternoons Autumn Safari – Mike Gaston

Female White-tailed Eagle G466 from this afternoons Autumn Safari – Mike Gaston

Glossy Ibis from this afternoons Autumn Safari – Mike Gaston