It’s assumed these are all UK Wood Pigeons that have moved south through the country during the late summer and early Autumn and are departing the south coast, heading down into Cork Oak forests of Portugal and Spain.

There was plenty else on offer today too with the Wood Sandpiper still on the Swineham Scrape along with 2 Green Sandpiper, 35 Curlew, 62 Lapwing, 1 Redshank and 2 Common Snipe. In Brands Bay the drake Velvet Scoter was still present along with 3 Common Scoter, also the first 2 drake Goldeneye of the winter and 3 Black-necked Grebe. Off Middle Beach, Studland the summer plumaged Great Northern Diver was still there along with 15 Black-necked Grebe. A flock of 2-3000 Starling left the reedbeds near Swineham at dawn as Marsh Harrier began to stir in the Wareham Channel. Finally, a Great Bustard was seen again in flight over Brownsea this time, heading towards Arne and just outside the harbour boundary an adult male Hen Harrier was seen at Morden Bog.

Wood Pigeon migration over Poole Harbour this morning