Perfect conditions meant for a fantastic Osprey Cruise this morning, starting with 2 White-tailed Eagle feeding on the RSPB Arne shoreline and juvenile Osprey 5H5 perched on a dead tree nearby. 2 further Osprey were seen over the Wareham Channel during the course of the morning, along with 2 Hobby hunting migrating Swallows as they passed over the boat. Brownsea Lagoon proved productive with 29 Spoonbill, c.50 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, 12 Avocet, 2 Greenshank and 40+ Redshank. On the low tide this morning in Brands Bay were 56 Teal, 11 Grey Plover, 32 Ringed PLover, 116 Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit, 103 Dunlin and 16 Knot. 3 Wood Sandpiper were present on the pools at Bestwall meadows near Swineham. There were around 640 Black-tailed Godwit in the Wareham Channel on the remaining exposed mudflat in the afternoon, and 2 Marsh Harrier active over the reedbeds at Swineham. 1 Little Ringed Plover was present on Sunnyside Scrapes this afternoon. Lytchett Bay proved successful for raptors this PM, with 1 White-tailed Eagle, 2 Osprey and 1 Marsh Harrier reported. The Forster’s Tern was also present again at Shipstal Point and 1 Ruff was reported from Middlebere.

White-tailed Eagle – RSPB Arne Shoreline from Wareham Channel – John Dadds