From the Arne/Middlebere area there was late news of a Great White Egret yesterday in Middlebere with 35 Curlew also in the Channel and 1 Redstart on the heath. On Lytchett Fields The Ruff was still present with up to 16 Common Snipe, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 30+ Lapwing, 2 Yellow Wagtail and plenty of Black-tailed Godwit. This morning was also our monthly field trip, this time hosted up on Ballard Down, an area we’ve never visited on one of our trips before and it was absolutely stunning. Migrants were in evidence but slightly thin on the ground as 1-2 Lesser Whitethroat, 5+ Common Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 5+ Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, a few House Martin and Swallow over plus a big flock of 70+ Linnet moving through along the cliff top. Out in Studland Bay Sandwich Terns and Med Gulls were feeding in a mixed flock and a Gannet was out off Old Harry. Along Soldiers Road, Hartland a Whinchat was on a barbwire fence feeding with 2 Stonechat.  An Osprey passed over/near the northern shores of the harbour. Night recording from our listening station Friday night into Saturday was again very quiet with no sign of night passage. 

Old Harry and Ballard Field Trip – Barbara Bisset

Ruff – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam