This afternoon’s much needed rain delivered the goods! The showers dumped migrants across the harbour, the best of the bunch being 2 Wood Sandpiper at Lytchett Fields. The excellent wader count at the site also included 45 Redshank, 43 Black-tailed Godwit (of which 2 juvenile), 27 Green Sandpiper, 12 Greenshank, 14 Common Sandpiper and singles of Spotted Redshank, Dunlin, Whimbrel and Curlew. A newly-arrived juvenile Marsh Harrier also entered the Harbour this morning, fresh in from the River Sherford at sunrise.

Brownsea Lagoon also got in on the action with a female Ruff present, accompanied by 24 Ringed Plover and a good flock of Dunlin. The harbour’s first Little Stint of the autumn is surely days away now?

After the excitement at Lytchett Bay the previous day, a last minute (03:30am) decision to ring at the site again produced a smaller return, highlights consisting of a Grasshopper Warbler and 5-year-old(!) Reed Warbler. Wintering in West Africa, this bird will have clocked up over 30,000 km in its lifetime. Incredible for a bird that weighs just over 10 grams!

Elsewhere, records of Pied and Spotted Flycatchers increased significantly across the Harbour. One lucky birdwatcher enjoyed watching an Osprey make 5 fishing attempts in Lytchett Bay at 10.50am, eventually witnessing a successful catch. West Poole Harbour clocked up a cracking Woodlark feeding party of 18 individuals!

Wood Sandpiper – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam