For a Monday, there were a good range of sightings today spread right across the harbour. The Brownsea Lagoon was busy and saw c400 Dunlin, c90 Redshank, 29 Spoonbill, c80 Ringed Plover, c400 Oystercatcher, 15 Sanderling, 17 Knot, 9 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 13 Curlew, 2+ Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Avocet and 15 Shoveler. Holes Bay NE looked good on the low-tide this AM and saw 83 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 1 Common Sandpiper, 500+ Black-tailed Godwit and 40+ Redshank. There was a green surprise at Lytchett Bay with a Ring-necked Parakeet flying around French’s Farm, also a Woodlark flew over Lytchett Fields where there was also 3 Ruff, 2 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat and a good raptor mix of 2 Osprey, 1 Peregrine, 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Hobby and 1 Kestrel. Osprey sightings increased today with sightings of 2 over the Rockley area, 1 out over the Wareham Channel and 1 at Middlebere. Also at Middlebere were c300 Black-tailed Godwit, 70 Avocet, 1 Hobby and 1 Marsh Harrier. An arrival of c100 sinensis Cormorant was witnessed over Lytchett Bay, a sight we’ll see more of as September progresses with the Poole Harbour flock often reaching c700 individuals by October. Finally, some exciting news in that it seems a juvenile White-tailed Sea Eagle flew over Wareham mid-morning heading towards Wareham Forest. Sadly it was only seen by one observer but we’re hoping to get some info from the Roy Dennis Wildlife foundation to see if it’s any of the birds from their reintroduction.

Hobby – Slepe Heath

Meadow Pipit – Hartland Moor