There was lots of good birding to be had today with quality throughout the day. The day started with the 6th Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn being ringed at the Carey Secret Garden ringing station and the 2nd Water Pipit of the season ringed at Lytchett Bay, plus another was on site. There were Great White Egret in Lytchett Bay, 2 in Middlebere, 2 in the Wareham Channel and 1 roosting on Swineham GP. The Black-necked Grebe flock in the Wareham Channel has risen from 4 to 6 and both White-tailed Eagles were in the Wareham Channel all day. This evening a Bittern flew in over Slepe Heath heading south, calling as it headed towards Corfe and 2 Merlin went into roost on Hartland Moor. This afternoon 2 Black Redstart were in Upton on roofs at Tree Hamlets, including a cracking adult male. On Wareham Common 12 Cattle Egret were with the cows and 45 Spoonbill were on the Brownsea Lagoon and 4 flew into the Piddle Valley to roost this evening whilst 7+ Marsh Harrier were also going into roost.

Great White Egrets – Middlebere – John Thorp