A colder but brighter day today made for an excellent Autumn Safari Cruise this morning. After the bad weather yesterday some birds were deciding to head on migration including an Osprey which came up off Brownsea and began circling high in the sky. Another was seen in the Wareham Channel heading towards Middlebere, presumably 511, which was seen later eating a fish at Coombe Heath. There were sightings of Osprey over Lake Pier and also in Holes bay so at least 3 birds still in the harbour today. Also from the boat this morning we saw 2 Marsh Harrier over Arne Moors and Swineham as well as 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Snipe and several migrating Meadow Pipit and Skylark. On Brownsea 5 Spoonbill gave a good flyover in addition to 45 being on the Lagoon. Also present were 5 Grey Plover, c200 Avocet, 7 Greenshank, 1 Kingfisher, and 1 juvenile male Sparrowhawk.

In the Middlebere Channel alongside Osprey 511 were 1 Great White Egret, 1 Goshawk and a flyover Red Kite. Lytchett Fields had 1 Marsh Harrier, as well as 16 Greenshank, 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank and 1 Curlew Sandpiper. The Forster’s Tern was still at Shipstal point, RSPB Arne. The Cormorant roost is also building up in the harbour with over 300 coming in to roost in the Piddle valley.

Osprey 511 – Middlebere – Mark Wright

Great White Egret – Middlebere Channel – Mark Wright