There’s still plenty of great birds around to keep you interested and with most of October still ahead of us and some interesting weather systems heading our way in the coming weeks, we could see even more great birding along the way. With so much opportunity around every corner, even when heading out to see birds that you know are there, don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for ‘hidden extras’ tucked away. In Middlebere the Great White Egret was feeding in the top of the channel before lifting off and headed towards Arne. Spoonbills were commuting between Shipstal, Arne and Middlebere with 25 on site. The Stilt Sandpiper was again in Middlebere with 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 5 Knot, c700 Black-tailed Godwit, c200 Avocet and 6 Greenshank. On Lytchett Fields a decent count of 16 Greenshank was noteworthy as was 11 Ruff, 3 Little Stint, 1 Spoonbill, 150+ Dunlin and 1 Marsh Harrier. An Osprey was hunting in the Wareham Channel at dawn and 4 Marsh Harrier came out of the west Poole Harbour roost, 1 Merlin was on Slepe heath along with 2 Peregrine. Out in Studland Bay there were 4 Black-necked Grebe and 77 Med Gulls. Migration through Ballard Down was pretty strong too with 87 Chiffchaff, 18 Blackcap, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Firecrest, 5 Goldcrest, 1 Stonechat and 6 Meadow Pipit ringed. In Holes Bay NE a Common Sandpiper was near the PC World outflow with 460 Wigeon present in the bay with 125 Teal, 55 Redshank, 45 Black-tailed Godwit, and a Kingfisher. There were also 4 Little Stint on the Brownsea Lagoon. 

Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit – Middlebere – Simon Kidner