There was a nice bit of coverage from around the harbour today, starting of at Glebelands, Ballard where another vis-mig recording session was held. It took a while for birds to get moving, but when they did they just kept on coming. If you get a chance to experience this its well worth the effort as at times parties of birds were migrating just feet above our heads. Totals included 8 Crossbill, 8 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Yellowhammer, c500 Siskin, c700 Goldfinch, c100 Alba Wagtail, 4 Grey Wagtail, 17 Lesser Redpoll, c50 Linnet, 14 Chaffinch, c400 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin, 9 Skylark as well as 1 female Merlin, 1 Peregrine and 1 Kestrel. In the bushes on top of Glebelands Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Stonechat were present in moderate numbers and a late Whitethroat was noted too. Out in Studland Bay 7 Common Scoter, 4 Black-necked Grebe and 11 Brent Geese were out on the water and the Great White Egret was roosting at Littlesea. At Greenlands Farm 2 Wheatear and 3 Yellow Wagtail were on the open pasture. At Middlebere a reasonably late Pied Flycatcher was around the barns with 2 Spotted Flycatcher and from the hide the tide was perfect for holding lots of birds at the top of the Middlebere channel with 525 Avocet, 644 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Knot, c50 Redshank, 11 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, c200 Wigeon, 8 Pintail, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine. At Lytchett Bay View 6 Crossbill went over and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was present. Lytchett Fields held a pretty standard set of waders including Dunlin, Greenshank, Redshank, Lapwing, Snipe etc and a Marsh Harrier passed over too. The female Merlin is still present on Hartland and 6 Marsh Harrier left the west Poole Harbour roost. On Brownsea the Spoonbill total remained at 42 today.

Below are two recordings from this mornings session up on Glebelands, Ballard. The first is of the party of 8 Crossbill, which were migrating with several Goldfinches. These birds passed just feet above our heads giving a great opportunity to record their lovely yip yip call.

Crossbill – Party of 8 autumn migrants passing over Gleblands, Ballard – 30/09/15

There are a heard of 10 cattle on the top of Glebelands which act as an excellent Yellow Wagtail magnet. Any passing Yellow Wagtails instantly get drawn in by the small insects around the feet of the cows and often call the whole time they’re there. The birds in this recording literally fell out of the sky as they were migrating to stop off and take advantage of the cows.

Yellow Wagtails – Several birds stopping off to feed as they passed over Glebelands, Ballard – 30/09/15