Here we are…August, the month of giving. Quite literally a time of year where anything could turn up in terms of passage migrants with all the expected passerines already on the move with species such as Pied Flycatcher, Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Yellow Wagtail and Redstart already on the move. Plus, August is THE month to find some good waders with Little Stint, Curlew and Wood Sand piper on everyone’s radar. Of course, its also Osprey season plus a great time to find a scarcity or two with Wryneck, Melodious Warbler or Red-backed Shrike all possibilities! Over the weekend the fine weather saw the/a un-ringed female Osprey fly over Lytchett Fields and it’s thought that the same bird is heading to Wareham Forest/Morden Bog to feed as one was seen there late afternoon. There were a minimum of 3 Marsh Harrier in the west of the harbour along with 3 Hobby and 3 Peregrine too. Slepe Heath saw the first Wheatear of the autumn and Willow Warbler are appearing in good numbers in scrubby fringes of the harbour each morning currently. At Lytchett Fields there were 150+ Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper, 6 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 4 Green Sandpiper and 1 Yellow-legged Gull. At Upton CP from the Stone Bench wader numbers are building nicely there too with 130+ Black-tailed Godwit, 50+ Redshank, 8 Curlew, 15 Little Egret and c10 Curlew. In the PC World Drain there were 8 Willow Warbler, 2 Garden Warbler and 4 Blackcap. There are still Crossbill moving about with a group of 3 over Stoborough Heath and small parties of 5-10 on the edges of Wareham and Rempstone Forest. Female Osprey CJ7 is still making semi regular visits to her nest to nest prep and tidy and with this new female hanging about, we wonder if all this female presence in the harbour will be enough for a male to stay around….just for a day or two??!!

Un-ringed female Osprey – Lytchett Fields – Alison Copland