There was a nice early record of a female/juv type Pied Flycatcher on Brownsea today. Early August tends to see the main passage begin for ‘Pied Flys’ but a few early ones often occur. Several years ago there was a record from the PCW Drain of one being ringed on July 27th. Elsewhere, this evening saw a White-tailed Eagle on the Shag Looe spit in the Wareham Channel, and another flew over Hydes Heath, an Osprey (presumed 022) caught a fish near Giggers Island, but it could also be CJ7 who is also now visiting the harbour again and there were 3 Spoonbill on Brownsea with 1 in Middlebere. On the Swineham scrapes there were 2 Yellow-legged Gull. At Lytchett Fields the first Ringed plover of the autumn appeared and there were 14 Dunlin, 5 Greenshank, 5 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Whimbrel, 53 Lapwing, 21 Black-tailed Godwit and 69 Redshank. There was also an intruder Osprey at the nest site this evening around 19:15, although we’ve received no photos from other nest platforms so are unsure as to who it was.

Female Osprey CJ7 away from the nest site! – Alison Copland