With thrushes, finches, wagtails, pipits and larks all on the move at the moment, a dedicated watch at dawn can be quite spectacular, especially at key sites like South Haven, Studland or Ballard Down. But you don’t have to seek out the remote areas of the harbour for good results and new lookouts like the Ham Common Watchpoint or the Rock Lea Viewpoint, Lytchett Bay could really deliver too! Today opened with a cracking sunrise for a dawn visual migration (vis-mig) stint along the Ballard ridge near Glebelands. There were plenty on the move, but never reaching huge numbers. Totals included c.100 alba Wagtail, c.100 Meadow Pipit, c50 Linnet, c.100 Goldfinch, c50 Skylark, 1 Redwing, smaller numbers of Siskin, Chaffinch, etc. Elsewhere, the first Brambling of the autumn was logged at Wild Woodbury, just outside of the harbour area while a White-tailed Eagle flew along Otter Island, Lytchett Bay and the Fields featured 2 Curlew Sandpiper and a Ruff with c.40 Dunlin. A few Skylark over and 2 Firecrest along Slough Lane completed the notable sightings from the Bay. Nearby, a sizeable corvid roost left Pergin’s Island at first light heading west, hitting 4 figures with 750+ Jackdaw and 200+ Carrion Crows. This evening 2 different Merlin were hunting, 1 out in the mouth of the Frome, the other on Hartland. At the top end of the Wareham Channel there was a minimum of 6 Marsh Harrier including a full adult male plumaged individual, which was joined by a Merlin and began hunting togther, in much the same way we’ve seen Merlin and Hen Harrier do. A juvenile Hobby was still hunting over Hartland this afternoon and 2 adult Goshawk were seen circling at two separate un-disclosed areas of the harbour, one (an adult female) seen circling with an adult male Sparrowhawk, highlighting the colossal size difference between the two.

Here at Birds of Poole Harbour, we recognise the importance and value in getting youngsters out into their local environment, learning about the natural world and our place in it. With this in mind, we work with local primary schools to deliver winter bird boats every year and this season is no different! We kick started our project this week which is set to connect 1,132 local children with the harbour over the next few months and teach them about the local wildlife and industry. Today’s glorious weather made way for stunning up close Common Seal sightings in the Wareham Channel, hunting Sandwich Terns and impressive flocks of Continental Cormorants. Two Red-breasted Merganser flew up the Wareham Channel and a flock of c.50 strong Wigeon showcased the magic of migration in action. And the beautifully settled weather continues into tomorrow, setting the scene for a wonderful Autumn Safari Cruise on Wednesday morning. There’s still places available if you fancy a slice of the action! Check out our event details here… 

Ballard Down at Dawn

A social media post posted last night from a Dutch birding group showed the amazing satellite images of huge numbers of birds leaving the Wadden Sea area of the Dutch/German coast, heading towards the UK last night. This resulted in large numbers of winter thrushes arriving on to the east coast this morning with small numbers filtering down to us here. Redwing were logged over Upton, Slepe Heath, Studland and Wareham this morning, but with another clear night tonight and northerly winds, there’s a good chance more will arrive tonight/tomorrow morning. Another new arrival today saw the return of an old friend, Water Pipit 1K, that was originally ringed at Lytchett Bay in 2020 and is now back again for it’s third winter. On the Brownsea Lagoon there was a minimum of 66 Spoonbill, and there were 2 White-tailed Eagles today with G801 returning having been for a long distance wander over the last couple of days, and a new arrival in the form of 3-year old G866 who only retuned from Scotland last week, and has since been mooching around the south coast, likely in search of a mate. Peregrine and Marsh Harrier were causing mayhem at Lytchett Fields but there was at least 1 Little Stint, 1 Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Ruff. In Middlebere c370 Avocet were roosting and 2 Marsh Harrier and 1 Merlin were busy around the top end of the channel. A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Middlebere this evening and 2 Curlew Sandpiper were in Holes Bay north, a decent holes bay record!

Water Pipit ‘1K’ – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Another day of decent passage, with good movements of passerines including Meadow Pipits, Linnet and Swallows seen crossing the harbour and departing the Purbeck coast beyond.

Yesterday’s Whooper Swan was reported at Middlebere once again early this morning, along with 5 Spotted Redshank, Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 52 Avocet, c500 Black-tailed Godwits, c250 Teal, 160 Wigeon, c20 Pintail, Kingfisher and Marsh Harrier. Numbers of the latter in the harbour appear to remain fairly steady, with a total of 11 emerging from roosts in the Wareham Channel at first light.

Lytchett Fields was also fairly consistent with recent species and counts, hosting 2 Little Stint, minimum 5 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 12 Greenshank, and 250+ Dunlin.

This evening was the Poole Harbour WeBS with some decent birds logged including an Osprey in Brands Bay, 20 Cattle Egret near Redcliff, Ridge, 1 Merlin in Middlebere, c350 Avocet off Shipstal Beach, c20 Spoonbill in Arne Bay and 6 Red-breasted Merganser in Brands Bay.

Kingfisher – Poole Harbour – @twamers on Twitter

A day full of beautiful weather and birds. Lots to talk about, firstly a Whooper Swan was seen entering the harbour entrance at dawn, and was then seen a short while later in Middlebere. This is a great early October record, with most passage Whooper Swan records occurring during the latter part of October. Arriving with the swan were the winters first 4 Red-breasted Mergansers which were off the Brownsea southern shore (South Deep) along with 8 Great Crested Grebe and 7 dark-bellied Brent Geese were on ‘Stoney Island’ on the low tide near the harbour entrance. On the falling tide this afternoon 66 Spoonbill remained faithful to Brownsea as did c100 Avocet. In the Frome Valley 12 Cattle Egret were between Holmebridge and East Stoke. Female White-tailed Eagle G801 was active in the Wareham Channel this AM, and was joined by 3-year old G318 who then lured her away to north Dorset later afternoon! This morning for our Bearded Tit ringing demo 15 Bearded Tit were ringed in total along with 5 Cetti’s Warbler. In Middlebere there were still 8 Spotted Redshank and c300 Avocet. At Lytchett Fields there were 7 Curlew Sandpiper on the rising tide with 1 Little Stint. A nice variety of different plumaged Marsh Harriers were on show around the Wareham Channel, Middlebere, Lytchett Bay and Arne area.

Whooper Swan – Middlebere – Mark Wright (Twitter – @markwright12002)

After yesterday’s record high of 84 Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon, we participated in a co-ordinated count at 10am across the harbour to confirm numbers. Interestingly, however, only the lagoon produced any Spoonbill, with just 52 counted. It’s likely that the remaining numbers may have been feeding at the top of the Wareham Channel, taking advantage of the brief low-tide at that time. With WeBS on Sunday, we will have a second attempt at establishing numbers, with all areas covered.

Despite the lack of Spoonbill, the Middlebere Channel was teeming with activity. Numbers of 371 Avocet were active in the channel, along with c. 65 Teal, c.300 Black-tailed Godwit, c.60 Redshank, 8 Spotted Redshank, 1 Knot and plenty of Shelduck, Little Egret, Wigeon and low numbers of Pintail. It’s always a rush of excitement when a bird of prey comes through, flushing the waders and wildfowl into a flight response which is referred to as a “dread”. This morning, the ringtail Hen Harrier was seen again, along with a large female Peregrine and Marsh Harrier.

At Lytchett Fields during the early afternoon, there were highlights of Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper and Cattle Egret reported, as well as 2 Knot, 3 Curlew Sandpiper and 1 Sandwich Tern in Lytchett Bay. A short scan over Studland Bay in hope of picking up the first Black-necked Grebe of the winter were not so fruitful, although the sighting of 2 Dark-bellied Brent Geese over the bay marked the changing of the season, along with 2 colour-ringed Mediterranean Gull, which we are now looking into to establish their origins. On Hartland 6 Crossbill flew over and several parties of Siskin, Linnet and Chaffinch were also passing on low numbers, suggesting there was some vis-mig movement going on. Finally, we still have Osprey activity in the harbour, with one seen hunting in Brands Bay this afternoon.

Spotted Redshank – Middlebere Channel – Paul Morton

It’s been 4 years in the making, but we finally have a new Spoonbill record for the harbour, with a total of 84 individuals counted on the Brownsea Lagoon this morning. The previous highest record was in 2018, when 80 birds were counted. There seems to have been a decent breeding season this year, not only in the UK but also on the continent, likely contributing to this record. 1 individual Spoonbill was also sighted in Lytchett Bay this morning, potentially taking the total to 85. Noting specific details of timings is so important when co-ordinating counts across the harbour to get an accurate count. It will be interesting to see how many individuals are logged this weekend during the next WeBS count of the season, with a harbour-wide co-ordinated count of all wetland species.

From Coombe Heath this morning, 3 Spoonbill were also counted amongst growing numbers of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit. There was also plenty of raptor activity, including the highlight of a ringtail Hen Harrier, along with Marsh Harrier, Peregrine and Kestrel seen. Elsewhere, sightings of note included 1 Little Stint still present at Lytchett Fields.

We also have our first Low Tide Cruise of the season coming up this Saturday, and there are still spaces available. With numbers of wildfowl and waders rising each day, as well as record numbers of Spoonbill, it should be great. You can find tickets here.

Spoonbill – Middlebere Channel from Coombe Heath – Kate Plater

Bit grim today, but a perfect crisp autumn evening by the end with a couple Redwing ‘zeeping’ over Slepe Heath at dusk. A Marsh Tit was on feeders near the Piddle Valley, and White-tailed Eagle G801 was seen sheltering out on the salt marsh of the Wareham Channel. On the Brownsea Lagoon 66 Spoonbill arrived in at dawn having been feeding out on the early (and dark) morning low tide. A sea watch at Branksome returned 3 Brent Geese arriving into the harbour as well as low numbers of Gannet and Kittiwake passing by. The fist Jack Snipes of the autumn were also found with 1 at RSPB Arne and 2 at Sunnyside.

Mediterranean Gull – Studland Beach

These south-westerlies are not what we daydream about in the lead up to autumn, however they did serve to hold back the tide at Lytchett Bay, retaining enough mud to tempt in a Ruff which was feeding between French’s Pools and the Approach Field. The falling tide earlier in the morning also featured a Curlew Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank. Out towards East Holme on the finges of the harbour boundary, at least 7 Cattle Egret were kicking about in with the cattle and the afternoon drizzle kept the remaining hirundines (House Martin and Swallows) low over Lower Piddle Valley while a Mandarin flew up the valley. This evening 16 Cattle Egret flew into roost towards the Wareham Channel area and there was also an un-ringed juvenile Osprey in Brands Bay.

Avocet – Middlebere – Mark Wright

Marsh Harrier – Middlebere – Mark Wright