Today was a classic autumn day with a great range of species seen and true signs of autumn migration. The first Yellow-browed Warbler to be ringed in Poole Harbour this year was up on Ballard Down where 2 Firecrest were also ringed along with 23 Lesser Redpoll and 22 Chiffchaff, 9 Blackcap and 8 Goldcrest. A Cattle Egret also arrived in low over Ballard before heading NW over Studland Village. On top of Glebelands, Ballard a strong passage of Linnet, Goldfinch and Siskin went through west with Meadow Pipit and alba Wagtails mixed in. Out on a flat calm Poole Harbour 6 Red-breasted Merganser were in South Deep off the southern Brownsea shore with 20 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Black-necked Grebe. Out in Studland Bay another 7 Black-necked Grebe were feeding with 1 Guillemot, 1 Common Scoter, c30 Med Gull and 1 juv Gannet also settled out in the bay. Another Hawfinch passed over Poole Town mid-morning and another 4 bounded south along Middle Beach Studland. On the Brownsea Lagoon 60 Spoonbill were settled on the high tide. Kingfishers were in Holes Bay NW (Upton CP, Poole Park, Holton Lee and at Shipstal, Arne. At Lytchett Fields 34 Skylark passed overhead, 1 Curlew Sandpiper and 4 Ruff were on the fields and both Peregrine and Marsh Harrier were touring the area. 

Yellow-browed Warbler – Ballard Down – Paul Morton