Mid to late October is such an exciting time with the expectation of something ‘juicy’ turning up and big numbers of birds on the move. Arne had a flavour of that excitement today with 5 Common Crane reported over Coombe Heath. There were also 3 Great White Egret in Middlebere and a Yellow-browed Warbler in the Arne car park. Also in Middlebere were c300 Avocet, c200 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Spotted Redshank, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 juv Spoonbill, 1 Firecrest and 1 Merlin. At Lytchett Fields there was a single Jack Snipe. In Broadstone another Yellow-browed Warbler was in Pine Springs Wood with a Long-tailed Tit flock. In Poole Harbour West there are now up to 6 Marsh Harrier in the Wareham Channel area along with a female Merlin near Swineham and a single Hobby remains over Arne Moors. Redwing were passing over last night along with Song Thrush and a few Fieldfare.