It’s back! The long-returning Forster’s Tern was seen today from our Autumn Safari Cruise on a post, off of Ham Common Nature Reserve. Having been originally seen in 2023, as the 2nd ever for Dorset and 22nd ever for the UK, this long-returning, mega rare, north American Tern has reappeared. It was last seen in March this year and has not been seen since, although there was an unconfirmed report a few weeks ago. Last summer it spent time in Ireland, before making it’s way back to Poole Harbour, to eventually overwinter in Brittany, France. It’s likely it will do the same again this winter, but hopefully it will stick around in the harbour for a few more people to see. In the past it’s favoured marker bouys off Moriconium Quay, Shipstal Beach, the Brownsea Lagooon and occasionally Lytchett Bay.

The 6 Glossy Ibis reapearred again today at Lytchett Fields this morning, having been favouring the river Frome and Swineham areas. This afternoon 2 Ruff and 6 Curlew Sandpiper were in the Middlebere Channel on the falling tide this afternoon. The PC World Drain was jumping with birds first thing this morning: 40+ Common Chiffchaff, 10+ Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Kingfisher, 3 Jay 

From our Autumn Safari Cruise we also saw 2 White-tailed Eagle, neither of which were our local pair. 1 was an adult 4-year old female G486 and the other a 2nd calendar year youngster G717, both in the Wareham Channel. 2 Osprey were also in the Wareham Channel along with 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 3 Kingfisher, 2 Common Sandpiper and 2 Green Sandpiper. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were c200 Avocet, 1 Kingfisher, 5 Curlew Sandpiper, 20 Greenshank and 70+ Spoonbill making Poole Harbour, and specifically the Brownsea Lagoon the most important staging site in the UK for this species as numbers will continue to build until mid-October, when many then leave to destinations beyonds, including one sat-tagged individual last summer which staged in Poole Harbour during September but ended up in Senegal by Christmas!

 Forster’s Tern – Wareham Channel, off the Ham Common Nature Reserve – Alison Copland