Another fantastic day today, despite the damp start. It was confirmed ‘officially’ thanks to a coordinated count that there are in fact 100+ Spoonbill in the harbour, 108 to be exact with the DWT Brownsea team counting 95 and 13 more being counted from our Autumn Safari which then joined the 95. We believe this is the full harbour total, although for all we know there could also have been one or two hiding in Middlebere, but for now we’ll settle for 108. This isn’t only a Poole Harbour record, but also a Dorset record and we believe the highest count of any Spoonbill flock currently anywhere in the country. Elsewhere 2 Glossy Ibis flew over RSPB Arne Moors this morning, at Swineham there were 3 Little Stint, 2 Ruff and 3 Curlew Sandpiper with another Ruff on Arne Moors and another 2 on the Brownsea Lagoon. Off Swineham Point 2 Spotted Redshank were feeding, 10+ Bearded Tit were in the reedbeds there, he Black-necked Grebe was still in the Wareham Channel and 3 Marsh Harrier were around Giggers Island. There were also 4 dark-bellied Brent Geese that flew over the Wareham Channel just after 9am. A Great White Egret was in the Wareham Channel and another went into roost at Hatch Pond this evening. At Middlebere the 2 Ring Ouzel from yesterday were still there, and a Hobby was still hunting hirundines. At the lower Piddle Valley ringing site 2 tardy Grasshopper Warbler were ringed along with a very late Willow Warbler plus 55 Chiffchaff. The last 7 days has seen a huge push of Common Chiffchaff with the Lower Piddle Valley ringing site ringing a whopping 1074 in just 7 days!

Glossy Ibis over RSPB Arne Moors from this AM’s Autumn Safari – Alison Copland

17 of this mornings 108 Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon from this mornings Autumn Safari – Alison Copland