Today saw the Poole Harbour Spoonbill flock total rise to 49 with 45 at Arne and 4 on Brownsea, will the big 50 be reached by the end of the week or we will start to see numbers drop off as birds move further south west? Interestingly we have had some information back about four of the six colour-ringed Spoonbill, with data showing that two were ringed in the Netherlands as chicks, one in 2013 and the other in 2006. The other two were ringed in Germany and Denmark but no further information was given. Also out in the harbour today was the winters first Goldeneye, which flew from Arne Bay towards central harbour, also 30+ Great Crested Grebe dotted about and 7 Sandwich Tern. On Baiter Beach 12 Ringed Plover and 11 Turnstone were feeding. Out on Hartland another Merlin was spotted and the now regular ringtail male Hen Harrier was active between Hartland Middlebere. There are also at least 5 different Marsh Harrier in the harbour at the moment. 

October is a great time of year for listening to birds as well as looking for them so below are a selection of recordings made recently up on Glebelands, near Ballard by local birder Nick Hopper, highlighting some of the sounds made by some of our less common migrants. 

Ring Ouzel – Flight Call – Glebelands 12/10/14

Ring Ouzel Call – Glebelands 21/09/14