If there weren’t enough signs to prove autumn had well and truly landed, well today’s arrival of the harbours (and Dorset’s) first Yellow-browed Warbler of the season just about sealed it. Sadly it was on private land, but this does mean these awesome little autumn gems are now beginning to pass through, so its well worth keeping yours eyes peeled in passing Long-tailed Tit flocks and your ears on high alert for their familiar calls. Below is a recording made from Knoll Beach, Studland back in 2014 to help you familiarise yourselves. Middlebere was again popular as 29 Spoonbill, 1 Osprey, 1 Great White Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 709 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Greenshank, 121 Avocet, 4 Knot, 18 Wigeon, 6 Pintail and 19 Yellow Wagtail. At Lytchett Fields there were 2 Little Stint, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 1 Spoonbill, 12 Wigeon and all the usual cohort of waders and wildfowl. In the Wareham Channel on the low tide 25 Spoonbill were feeding and 8 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 13 Pintail and large numbers of other gulls were out on the mud. The first night ringing session of the autumn/winter didn’t produce any Jack Snipe (or Woodcock) unsurprisingly as its still too early but the first Common Snipe was ringed along with a Wheatear. 

Yellow-browed Warbler call of autumn migrant – 31/10/14 – Knoll Beach, Studland, Poole Harbour

Common Snipe – Lower Frome Valley

Little Stint – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Little Stints – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam