The strengthening wind kept most birds at bay today, but anyone who gave some time to watching Poole Bay could have been rewarded with Balearic Shearwater as we’re now moving into prime time for this rare species, and strong winds, especially from the south or south-east could reward you with one or two individuals. They were logged off Portland and Hengistbury today, so they’ll be out in Poole Bay somewhere. The Spoonbill was still in Middlebere and the parent Marsh Harriers were logged there too, plus at Lytchett Bay. At Slepe Heath there were 2 Hobby and on the rising tide at Lytchett Fields 1 Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel, 25 Black-tailed Godwit and 42 Curlew. At Challow Hill there were 2 Common Whitethroat and 2 Yellowhammer.

Yellowhammer – Challow Hill, Corfe

A quieter day today with a Spoonbill in Middlebere, 2 Hobby over the Piddle Valley and both Osprey were seen over the Wareham Channel around midday but also visited a different nest platform elsewhere in the harbour. Near the harbour mouth there were 2 Turnstone. The Peregrines were active around the Asda building, which now seems to be their favoured hang out area.

Osprey pair CJ7 and 022 on different nest platform in the harbour

This morning’s Poole Harbour Osprey Project Tour treated guests to prolonged views of 022 fishing across the Wareham Channel, mobbed extensively by Marsh Harrier when passing over Gigger’s Island with Common Buzzard providing further comparison further off. The cruise also enjoyed both Common and Sandwich Terns constantly feeding and Great Crested Grebe showed with 2 young on Swineham Gravel Pits. Yesterday’s 2 Pochard remained present on Holme Lane Gravel Pit this morning. Autumn migration kicking in at Lytchett Bay with 32 breeding plumage Black- tailed Godwit fresh in along with first Whimbrel. Presumably just arriving back from Iceland?

Common Tern and male Osprey 022 from Osprey Project Cruise Boat – Clare Slade

After the exciting challenging of identifying what was decided to be a Black Kite, which flew over Greenlands Farm yesterday, there have been no further sightings of it in the area. The highlight from today has been 2 Pochard at Holme Lane Gravel Pit, which were accompanied by 9 Egyptian Geese.

On the low tide early this afternoon, a watch at Lytchett fields produced a 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Curlew, 12 Lapwing, 5 Teal, as well as 17 juvenile Black-headed Gulls and 2 juvenile Pied Wagtails. Later on at Lytchett Fields the first Greenshank of the autumn was reported – July is kicking things off nicely already! Over at Brands Bay on the low tide, 57 Curlew, 28 Redshank and the sole Brent Goose were reported, as well as a Cuckoo on the heath.

Pochard – East Holme – Garry Hayman

An exciting report shortly before noon of what was initially thought to be White-tailed Eagle flying low over Greenlands Farm, before gaining height and heading east towards Poole, had us scanning the skies over the harbour from Poole Quay. However, when photos emerged the images didn’t seem show a classic White-tailed Eagle, but in fact another large raptor species. The jury was out and suggestions ranging from Booted Eagle and Lesser Spotted Eagle began being muted. However as the photos were more widely circulated it was agreed the bird was in fact a kite species of sorts that was in heavy moult, most likely a Black Kite. In fact what was thought to be the same individual was photographed over Porthgwarra, Cornwall on June 18th and was ID’d then as a Black Kite. It certainly got plenty of heads scratching!

All four of the Poole town Peregrines were perched on the Asda building at midday, with one of the adults hunting over Holes Bay an hour prior. The Quail reported at Hartland earlier in the week has not been heard for the last two days.

Last night’s Nightjar walk at Slepe Heath delivered sensational views yet again with a male Nightjar catching a moth metres in front of the group to a chorus of churring and displays across the heath. Vocal Dartford Warblers accompanied the impressive parachute display flights of Meadow Pipit, mobile Linnet flocks and a Peregrine powered north over the heath towards to harbour as dusk drew in and the Nightjar activity built.

Probable Black Kite – Greenlands Farm – Aidan Brown

July is here…..officially (but un-officially) the start of Autumn migration! We now have five months of excitement, anticipation and birding spectacles ahead of us. July will see the first pulse of waders start coming through and the first south-bound Willow Warblers will start appearing in a couple of weeks time. August sees huge numbers of warblers, chats, hirundines and so much more pushing south through Dorset with September, October and November providing a visible (and nocturnal) migration bonanza with the odd rarity thrown in for good measure.

The autumn migration season got well underway this AM with waders now appearing at all inter-tidal areas of the harbour with small flocks of Redshank, Curlew and Oystercatcher most prominent. All either finished or failed breeders from further afield.

At Brands Bay this morning, the single Whimbrel from yesterday was reported again, as well as 1 Ringed Plover and 1 Brent Goose. At Holes Bay, 32 Redshank, 11 Curlew, 6 Black-tailed Godwit and 5 Oystercatcher were recorded from the Stone Bench, as well as 2 Swift and 3 Swallow.

This afternoon, 022 could be heard distantly skydancing over the Osprey nest site, which is a key part of his bonding process with CJ7. Making long undulating display flights, he will repeatedly call, no doubt with CJ7 perched nearby. Fortunately one of our team, Alison Copland, managed to film 022 skydancing earlier in the week (26th), which you can watch below. This season will be the first time this behaviour has been recorded on the South Coast in nearly 200 years, so it’s a momentous event. It’s another promising step for the pair as they continue to bond, which adds to our anticipation for 2022.

Yesterday evening we hosted another Purbeck Puffin Cruise, which recorded the highest number of Puffin at Dancing Ledge so far this year, totalling at least 7 individuals. A Gannet passed over the boat as we passed Durlston head, and 4 Razorbill were seen amongst the Guillemot at Durlston and Dancing Ledge. There were 2 Peregrine we perched on the cliffs at Durlston, one being a juvenile, as well 2 in flight and more sightings further along the coast.

Puffins – Dancing Ledge – Seb Haggett

022 Skydancing – Alison Copland

A warm and muggy one today with no sign of the Melodious Warbler again today but the Quail finally started calling early evening in the south of the harbour.  One of todays highlights was flyover Honey Buzzard at Lytchett Bay. A species thats always a joy to see. Also, there were plenty more signs of autumn migration getting under way with 7 Little Ringed Plover (6 adults and 1 juv) at a private site in the west of the harbour as we finished up surveying for our breeding waders of Poole Harbour survey. Plus, at the same site there were 2 Green Sandpiper. Last night, 3 (newly arrived?) Green Sandpiper were calling loudly in the Frome Valley and there was another at Sunnyside Farm.

There are also already larger flocks of waders assembling in different areas with a flock of 95 Curlew in the Wareham Channel, plus a flock of 35 Redshank. Plus, a big group of 97 Mute Swan were also in the Wareham Channel. At Holme Lane there were 7 Egyptian Geese and another in the Wareham Channel and in Brands Bay there was 1 Whimbrel and 48 Curlew. Peregrines were of course present in Poole with the family hanging out mostly on the Asda building, but an adult was also on a pylon near Holton Lee feeding on a Black-headed Gull and others were also logged at Middlebere and Ballard. Nightjar are still putting on great shows with birds seemingly appearing to be active earlier than normal in recent nights. It could simply be the warm muggy evenings that are getting them active early. Some day time roosting Nightjar were also found at Holton Lee. Luke Johns from the DWT Brownsea team kindly informed us that after a really slow and poor start, Sandwich Tern breeding pairs are now up to 57. This is still way down to the normal 150-200 pairs, but considering it looked like there were going to be none for quite a while this is encouraging. Swift were seen entering a building, under some tiles near the Tatnum which is also good news because although we see plenty around the (Old) Town, we rarely hear of nesting sites.

Peregrine with Black-headed Gull – Holton Heath – Alison Copland

Well, after a couple of weeks it seems the Melodious Warbler has packed up its bags and gone. Of course it may have just moved area slightly (within the harbour?), but it definitely wasn’t logged at Middlebere at all today. The Quail in the south of the harbour near Hartland was calling again on and off throughout the day. Male and female Osprey CJ7 and 022 were on the nest cam again throughout the day with 022 seen in the Wareham Channel around midday. A Marsh Harrier was hunting in Lytchett Bay and 2 Hobby were over Hartland. The Poole Peregrines were logged teaching the juvs how to hunt with the female seen catching a pigeon and then dropping it for the juveniles, which is quite a spectacle to watch.

Juvenile Peregrines – Asda, Poole – Holes Bay Nature (@BayHoles)

It was good to get yesterday out of the way. We could do without the wet and windy weather thank you very much. As a result of the sun coming out the Melodious Warbler at Middlebere was in full voice again mid-morning which is now its 14th day on site which is pretty incredible! The Quail in the south of the harbour also gave several bursts of song again mid-morning but wasn’t heard again for the rest of the day. There were also 3 Little Tern that exited the harbour mouth this AM too which is a good June record. In Middlebere yesterday evening a Spoonbill arrived in and there were 2 Hobby there too. Common Whitethroat seem to be nesting in Holes Bay SE and in the Wareham Channel male Osprey 022 was seen fishing just off Giggers Island where he caught a decent sized Mullet. The first Reed Warbler young of the season were logged at Swineham and at Lytchett Fields there was a single Little Ringed Plover.

Reed Warbler fledglings – Swineham – Peter Moore

Melodious Warbler – Middlebere (June 25th) – Mark Wright