Day Two of our Osprey Cruise extravaganza saw 4-5 Ospreys active around the Wareham Channel and Lytchett Bay. The morning’s trip included quartering Marsh Harriers and was topped by outrageous views of White-tailed Eagle G801, at first seen feeding on the mud and later gracing the skies with a close fly-by of the boat! The afternoon boat enjoy prolonged views of an Osprey hunting in the Wareham Channel, eventually catching on its 7th attempt(!). At one point, a Hobby briefly interacted with the migrant Osprey before returning to the Arne peninsula. Common Seals were seen throughout, glistening in the sunshine. Elsewhere, a Wood Sandpiper remained on Swineham Point Pools until flushed by a Marsh Harrier and 7 Green Sandpiper were along the Piddle Valley floods. A Spotted Flycatcher occupied North Bestwall and Holes Bay clocked up 233 Black-tailed Godwit, 100+ Redshank, 9 Dunlin, 27 Curlew, 33 Teal and a 1 Little Grebe. Brand’s Bay featured similar numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin and Teal, with Mediterranean Gull numbers steadily reaching 31 ahead of the high tide roost. A Spotted Redshank was still on the Fields at Lytchett Bay and a Grasshopper Warbler was seen briefly along the ditch in Approach Field. Brownsea Lagoon enjoyed a Little Stint and 13 Spoonbill, with a further 2 spending some time around the Middlebere Channel.

White-tailed Eagle – taken from Osprey Cruise – Alison Copland

Osprey (unringed) – Lytchett Bay – Mark Wright