There was some really nice early August birding across the harbour today, with some obvious new arrivals, most notably a Wood Sandpiper on the Brownsea Lagoon. These speckled waders are still scarce autumn migrants, although these days they’re now at least annual at sites like Lytchett Fields and Swineham. Strangely they’re incredibly scarce of the Brownsea Lagoon which is where todays bird turned up, giving good views in front of the Avocet Hide. There were also new Osprey arrivals with 2 stunningly different un-ringed adult female Ospreys settling in and around the Middlebere area, one of which we saw catch a fish from our Summer Safari this AM before she headed to the Middlebere nest platform to devour her kill. An eclipse drake Garganey was on the Swineham Stilt Pools this evening along with 6 adult Yellow-legged Gulls. There are now 18 Spoonbill in the harbour with 9 on Brownsea this AM, whilst at the same time, 9 were in Middlebere. At Lytchett Fields this AM there were 11 Common Sandpiper, 12 Greenshank, 4 Green Sandpiper and 3 Common Snipe. At the Carey Secret Garden Ringing Station is was quieter this AM, although 5 Grasshopper Warbler were ringed, including the first adult of the season out of 55 caught in the last 3 weeks!

Wood Sandpiper – Brownsea Lagoon – Martin Adams

Un-ringed adult female Osprey on Middlebere nest platform, having just caught a fish which was viewed from our Summer Safari Cruise this AM

The same female Osprey as above in flight seen before her fishing trip – Middlebere – Mark Wright

The second un-ringed female Osprey seen soon after – Middlebere – Mark Wright

Eclipse drake Garganey – Swineham – Peter Moore

Adult Grasshopper Warbler (note pale tone and worn tail) – Carey Secret Garden Ringing Station – Matthew Scraggs