On the same day where we’re sweltering in 30 degrees of heat, the first Pink-footed Geese of the autumn/winter arrived in Scotland, which was a stark reminder that we’re likley on borrowed time and that colder days really aren’t too far away. But….until then, we’ll continue to enjoy this Indian Summer and the birds that this warmth brings. Ospreys were once again still here in good force, with 2 in Lytchett Bay and 2-3 in the Wareham Channel with male Osprey 022 seen near the nest site briefly. On the Brownsea Lagoon an extra 10 Spoonbill arrived, bringing the total to 54 now. This is a decent early September total. Surely we can hit 100 this year? Also on the Brownsea Lagoon were 81 Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Knot, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 101 Redshank, 7 Greenshank, 129 Dunlin and 6 Sanderling. At Lytchett Fields a Whinchat was in the Approach Fields with 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Whitethroat. At Holes Bay wildfowl numbers are building steadily with 49 Teal, 36 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 9 Shoveler, and 2 Gadwall. A ringing session in the Piddle Valley actually returned a reasonable number of birds including 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 3 Stonechat and 4 Reed Bunting. There was another big passage of Swallow today too with many, many hundreds (likely thousands) passing over, often incredibly high, with a decent gathering at Ballard. Along the Holes Bay cycle path there were 2 Wheatear.

Migrant adult female Osprey – Lytchett Bay – Alison Copland