It was an exciting day for other parts of the Dorset coast with a massive passage of large shearwaters moving west past Durlston and Portland, mostly Great and Cory’s Shearwaters. The movement seemed to be happening too far west for Poole Bay to see any of this excitement although a Great Shearwater was logged out at sea from the top of Ballard, meaning we were able to record at least one for the Poole Harbour recording area records this year, the first since 1877! There was also a Balearic Shearwater logged out at sea from the top of Ballard and good numbers of Gannets. Efforts were made to try and log some in Poole Bay from Branksome Chine, but sadly no luck, although an ‘eared owl’ species (most likely Short-eared Owl) came in off the sea this morning and an Arctic Skua passed mid-morning, then this afternoon 3 Golden Plover came in off the sea, a decent passage of Swallow were heading west and c20 Common Scoter also moved west. This afternoon the Forster’s Tern was in the Middlebere Channel as was male Scottish Osprey ‘511’. A Merlin was seen dashing over Middlebere this evening and a Marsh Harrier over Slepe Moor. At Lytchett Fields 2 Spoonbill were on Sherford Pools this AM and off Jerry’s Point there were 2 Red-breasted Merganser.