This unsettled spell is gradually coming to an end and by Tuesday some decent calmer weather will be us, hopefully encouraging some more migrants to pass through. Some new arrivals did appear today with 2 Cattle Egret appearing on Lytchett Fields, where the adult Curlew Sandpiper was still present along with 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Green Sandpiper, 55 Redshank and c30 Lapwing. At Swineham there were 2 adult Yellow-legged Gull on the scrape, an adult moulting Marsh Harrier was over the reed bed and 2 adult Osprey, assumed to be CJ7 and 022 were out over the Wareham Channel. At Middlebere there were 5 Spoonbill still, 1 Spotted Redshank and 2 Greenshank. The Brownsea Team also announced today that despite a poor early start to the breeding season, the Sandwich Tern colony still managed to fledge 40 youngsters this year, which is quite amazing considering at one point in mid-May it looked like none were going to nest or fledge.

We also reported the recent shenanigans of our now resident pair of Ospreys, 022 and CJ7 who went missing from the nest-cam about a month ago. There seemed to be an air of concern about their disappearance, and whether they were still showing signs of wanting to nest. Well, we can confirm that the pair are still firmly togther, but have in fact spent the last month building (well adding to) another nest platform in the harbour. This isn’t unusual so late in the season, especially for a pair of Osprey that didn’t successfully breed, and it could be that the pair have been building whats called a frustration nest, or they’re simply looking to keep their options open for next year? Either way, they’re still very much into one another, and really haven’t gone far.

CJ7 and 022 on their new (temporary?) nest platform elsewhere in the harbour 

Middlebere Channel supported 5 Spoonbill today, including a returning 2014 Dutch colour-ringed bird. 245 Black-tailed Godwit graced Lytchett Fields this morning, accompanied by an adult Curlew Sandpiper, 10 Greenshank, 105 Redshank, 6 Common Sandpiper, small numbers of Green Sandpiper, Snipe, Dunlin and a juvenile Peregrine putting an welcome appearance while and a Purple Hairstreak Butterfly added some variety.

Sandwich Tern – Brownsea Lagoon – Nick Hull

Curlew Sandpiper – Lytchett Fields – Gary Hayman

The Lytchett Bay Curlew Sandpiper was on show through the day, however yesterday’s Ruff appears to have already moved on. The Fields also held 3 Green and a Common Sandpiper, singles of Whimbrel, Dunlin, Curlew, Lapwing, Marsh Harrier, 200+ Black-tailed Godwit and c.70 Redshank. Black-tailed Godwit numbers are also increasing by the day at Holes Bay, with 373 logged to the north west this morning. For anyone visiting Upton Country Park, sadly the area around the site of the old hide is now fenced off due to a sewer leak. Good views still accessible from the stone bench.

Juvenile Cuckoo – RSPB Arne – Kate Plater

This grizzly weather was always likely to down a few passing migrants, and it did in the shape of 2 newly arrived Ruff and an adult Curlew Sandpiper on Lytchett Fields, along with 6 Common Sandpiper, 11 Greenshank, 22 Redshank, 1 Dunlin and 1 Green Sandpiper. At Baiter there were 10 Turnstone and in Holes Bay 1 Common Sandpiper, 170+ Black-tailed Godwit and 40 Redshank. Everything else seemed to hunker down for the most part of the day and is likly to do so with wind and rain forecast for the coming days……there is always the option of a sea watch or two though!

Juvenile Peregrine – Poole Town – Rene Goad

Wonderful to receive news of 014’s chick 494 in Wales took his first flight at 11:35! A very momentous moment as this the first chick to fledge as a direct result of the Poole Harbour Translocation Project. Well done to all involved in monitoring and protecting this nest in Wales. Returning the harbour saw yet another fine day with more birds on the move. Another busy morning of ringing at Lytchett Bay saw over 100 migrants ringed, mainly consisting of Sedge Warbler‘s along with smaller numbers of Reed and Willow Warbler’s, 4 Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Garden Warbler. Holes Bay enjoyed 4 Common Sandpiper on the Railway Embankment this morning while a juvenile Peregrine occupied the Asda highrise. Come the afternoon the Bay held 210 Black-tailed Godwit, 88 Redshank and 12 Curlew, with Black-headed Gull numbers building to c.1,000 through the evening. There were 3 Spoonbill in Middlebere with 6 Greenshank and 1 Spotted Redshank and to the east an Osprey was seen in Christchurch Harbour. The first passage Yellow Wagtail of the autumn was up on Hartland as was the fist migrant Common Redstart with a male seen. An evening spent at Holton Heath delighted visitors with at least 5 Nightjar churring away.

494 fledging – Pont Croesor – @GlaslynWildlife (twitter account)

Juvenile Goldcrest – Middlebere – Garry Hayman

The month is getting off to a good start for Osprey with 3 circling high over the Wareham Channel, prompting our resident male 022 to go into full display mode. We’re not sure who the new bird was? A Poole translocated bird? An early migrant? A wandering two year old from elsewhere? Who knows, but it’s a great start to the osprey season with plenty more hopefully still to come. A fantastic ringing session was held at Lytchett Heath, highlight just how many migrarts are already on the move with 12 Grasshopper Warbler ringed along with 94 Sedge Warbler, 3 Garden Warbler and 12 Willow Warbler. Up on Ballard the first Wheatear of the autumn was present and at Swineham 1 Osprey sent up c200 Black-tailed Godwit & 30 Lapwing out in the Wareham Channel and there were 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hobby, plenty of Cettis & Reed Warbler, 210 Canada Geese, 3 Egyptian Geese + 7 young and 2 Yellow-legged Gulls. In Holes Bay there were 4 Common Sandpiper and in Brands Bay 3 Whimbrel and another Common Sandpiper. Arne and Middlebere are still producing the goods with the Great White Egret seen again in Middlebere, the Cuckoo was posing nicely again on the Coombe Heath sign post and there were 3 Spotted Redshank in Middlebere.

Grasshopper Warbler – Lytchett Heath

A promising rising tide Lytchett Bay late morning harboured 276 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Ringed Plover, 30 Curlew (including the returning colour-ringed bird from Hampshire), 7 Dunlin, Common and Green Sandpipers, 6 Greenshank, 4 Whimbrel, 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull and the hybrid Lesser Black-backed x Herring Gull. Later in the day, an incoming tide at Middlebere featured 4 Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 1 Spoonbill, 1 Whimbrel, 9 Curlew, 16 Oystercatcher and 17 Shelduck. A juvenile Cuckoo RSPB Arne was particularly showy at RSPB Arne and Ower Bay showcased both Curlew and Whimbrel.

Juvenile Cuckoo – RSPB Arne – @TACbirds (twitter account)

The strong winds (although westerly) saw a few seabirds moving through Poole Bay. A dedicated watch from Branksome Chine offered 1 Balearic Shearwater, 7 Manx Shearwater and 2 Fulmar. Time visits with strong winds, especially southeasterly, anytime between now and October for a chance to connect with passage skuas, petrels and shearwaters, all species you would be hard pressed to find elsewhere in the harbour area. The Holes Bay Common Redshank count halved on yesterday’s count totaling c.50, bolstered by 96 Black-tailed Godwit, 46 Curlew, 2 Whimbrel and 2 Common Sandpiper at low tide. Last night’s Nightjar walk on Slepe Heath wrapped up a magical end to our series for the year. Again, we were treated to numerous flybys, including one bird that briefly hovered in front of the group, allowing one of our guests to capture a photo of the action in very limited light!

Steve Grundy – Male Nightjar – Slepe Heath Nightjar Experience Walk