Another decent early autumn day, with all the feel of a chilly mid-September morning for our first Autumn Safari of the season this morning. There were loads of mid-September goodies on the Brownsea Lagoon including 1-2 Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 59 Spoonbill, 2 Common Sandpiper, c40 Dunlin, c200 Avocet, 2 Sanderling, c100 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Sandwich Tern, 1 Med Gull and small numbers of Gadwall and Shoveler. We were also in for a real surprise when we learnt that one of our Carey Osprey chicks from this summer, male 5R4, who hasn’t been seen for about a month, suddenly appeared in Middlebere and then ventured to the Wareham Channel where we saw him from the cruise. Where he’s been over the last few weeks is anyones guess, but he’s obviously doing well and fending for himself already! This is the first time a Poole Harbour fledged Osprey chick has stayed and taught it’s self how to fish before departing on migration. Long staying ‘Poole male’ Osprey 5H3 was also around this morning, and was seen fishing in Lytchett Bay. It really looks like he’s eyeing the harbour ready for next spring. At Swineham 2-3 Marsh Harrier were moving around and yesterday morning 10 came out of the west harbour roost. The river valleys are now brimming again and saw 5 Glossy Ibis drop onto RSPB Arne Moors this afternoon, and the scrapes at Swineham are filling with Teal, Gadwall, a few Wigeon and Shoveler and masses of Egyptian Geese. This afternoon female White-tailed Eagle G466 was hanging out in the Wareham Channel and wandering 2021 female G486 visited the Wareham Channel this morning too. Elsewhere a Pied Flycatcher was at Hatch Pond, and another was in the PCW Drain, opposite KFC. This afternoon 3 different Osprey were in Brands Bay and a Great White Egret was in Middlebere.

Juvenile Osprey 5R4 – Middlebere – Kate Plater

Wigeon – Lytchett Bay

Osprey sightings continue to be made across the harbour with an individual seen over Lytchett Bay. Data from other sites across the UK suggests more Ospreys will follow after the recent unsettled weather . No doubt our Autumn Cruises, starting tomorrow, will have further Osprey sightings in the coming weeks.

Lytchett Bay had a good range of waders, 15 each of Redshank and Greenshank, 6 Oystercatcher, 10 Curlew and 75 Black-tailed Godwit. Wigeon numbers are at 25, more than 150 Black-headed Gull and a migrant Whinchat and 2 Grey Wagtail were also a bonus.

Three Peregrine Falcons are still using the Asda building in Poole. The adult pair and one juvenile, a male, ring ‘HG’.

With the recent Atlantic storms, it’s worth while keeping eyes peeled for Grey Phalarope in the coming days. These small, Arctic breeding waders have just started their migration south and some get driven towards coastal areas during periods of high wind.

Peregrine Falcon (Juvenile male) – Asda Building – R Goad

With todays storm coming through later than originally planned, it actually allowed for some migration last night, which included the first large wave of Common Chiffchaffs of the autumn. It’s pretty standard for late July and all of August to play host to Willow Warbler migration, however, by early/mid-September nearly all Willow Warbler have moved through and the first migrant Common Chiffchaff start to move. By mid-September large numbers begin to migrate which was much in evidence this morning with high numbers across the  harbour including 81 that were ringed at Wild Woodbury, 40 in the Lower Piddle Valley, 50 at Lytchett Bay and lots in various hedgerows across the harbour. This period of the autumn also sees large numbers of Blackcap start to move, and this was also obvious this morning as multiple individuals bumbled through blackberry and elderberry bushes. Elsewhere a few Osprey are still ‘kicking about, and before this afternoons rain blue ringed male ‘442’ was fishing in Lytchett Bay and another was fishing in the Wareham Channel this morning. Male White-tailed Eagle G463 was over Middlebere this morning and 31 Spoonbill were at Shipstal Point. There are still Sedge Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler moving through with 22 and 6 respectively ringed in the Lower Piddle Valley this morning. Autumn (and winter) really are progressing with 72 Wigeon and 4 Pintail now back in Holes Bay.

Spoonbill – Middlebere – David Turner

Our Young Person’s bird ringing demonstration on the Lower Piddle Valley got off to a good start despite the rain showers. The next generation of conservationists and birders learnt about the science of bird ringing, close up identification and ageing features of species such as Chiff Chaff, Willow Warbler, Tree Pipit and Grasshopper Warbler.

Further along the next river valley, 6 Glossy Ibis are still present, often seen later in the afternoon from the side of the Wareham Bypass along the edge of the River Frome.

At Swineham this morning, 19 Egyptian Geese are enjoying the rising water levels along with 70 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Little Egret, 6 Coot and 5 Lapwing.

Teal are increasing at Lytchett Bay with at least 120 observed. 25 Lapwing, a single Bar-tailed Godwit alongside 199 Black-tailed Godwit, 60 Redshank and 18 Greenshank.

Brownsea Island lagoon also had a good range of the usual wader species with 5 Curlew Sandpiper and 4 Avocet being the highlights. An Osprey overhead momentarily disturbed the feeding and roosting birds below.

Spoonbill – Arne – dizzygirl66@bsky.social

Those at Coombe Heath, RSPB Arne today were treated to fantastic views of adult male White-tailed Eagle G463, giving a stunning low fly-past. You can clearly see his one foot in the photos. Over at RSPB Lytchett Fields this morning, 1 Osprey was present. At Middlebere, on the rising tide, 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 12 Greenshank and 1 Marsh Harrier were seen alongside Osprey 5H3, who’s still sticking around in the harbour. Over at Brand’s Bay, wintering wildfowl and wader numbers continue to rise, with 76 Teal, 5 Wigeon, 82 Curlew, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 73 Greenshank, 34 Mediterranean Gull, and 60 Common Gull. Brownsea Lagoon continues to deliver some fantastic views of passage waders – at least 5 Curlew Sandpiper including 5 right in front the Avocet hide, 13 Knot, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Common Sandpiper, and 65 Spoonbill.

Osprey – RSPB Lytchett Fields – Alison Copland

Adult male White-tailed Eagle G463 – Coombe Heath – @Kayakpoole.bsky.socialWheatear – Coombe Heath – @dizzygirl66.bsky.social

Spoonbill numbers continue to rise with now at least 66 in the harbour and mainly found on the Brownsea Island lagoon. 2 Little Stint were found amongst the larger flocks of Dunlin. Little Stint are similar in size to House Sparrows while Dunlin are a little larger, like a Starling. 10 Curlew Sandpiper, a single Knot and 15 Greenshank also on the lagoon.

A Osprey was spotted over Baiter and Poole Park, the observer drawn to the alarm calling gulls over head. The Osprey continued into the harbour and westwards along the northern shores of Brownsea Island. This was probably a newly arriving migrant. Another Osprey was seen at Lytchett Bay, catching a fish on it’s first attempt.

Lytchett Bay is getting busier with birds with a growing number of Wigeon (25) and 80 Teal. 10 Common Sandpiper were a high count for this area. 56 Redshank, 3 Spotted Redshank and 20 Greenshank were identified along with 6 Little Grebe. 

5 Glossy Ibis made a return to the same area off the Wareham bypass during the late afternoon.

Curlew Sandpiper – Brownsea Island lagoon – wildontheroad.bsky.social

Some pretty serious downpours tonight would have filled up the river valleys, making it perfect for the ongoing Glossy Ibis irruption. Yesterdays 5 were still on Lytchett Fields this morning and spent most of the day there before then heading off SW and were re-found in the Frome Valley near the Wareham by-pass. Yesterday there was a British record total of 605 birds logged across the country. While they used to be rare vagrants in the UK, sightings have really increased over the last decade as birds recolonise western Europe due to wetland restoration and, aided by climate change as the move north. They bred for the first time in the UK in 2022 in Cambridgeshire. This September’s arrival seems to be caused by birds dispersing in favourable winds from south-western Europe, along with very high breeding success in Spain and France from a growing population. Could this big influx encourage more birds to stay and breed? There was a flock of 91 in Devon yesterday so its likely we’ll see more over the next few weeks.

Grounded migrants were thin on the ground up around Ballard this morning but did include 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 3 Common Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Tree Pipit, 15+ Chiffchaff and a light passage of House Martin, Sand Martin and Swallow. In the Lower Piddle Valley, Carey a good range of migrants were ringed including 2 Nightjar, 6 Grasshopper Warbler, 15 Sedge Warbler, 1 Redstart, 26 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler and 1 Tree Pipit. On the Brownsea Lagoon 2 Curlew Sandpiper were out in front of the Avocet Hide and c50 Spoonbill were on the Tamerisk Island. In Lytchett Bay 3 different Osprey visited, as did an adult White-tailed Eagle. A flock of 11 Cattle Egret were at Holmebridge/Worgret, another was on Wareham Common, 1 in Lytchett Bay and 2 in Middlebere.

Glossy Ibis – Lytchett Bay

With calmer conditions this last night and this morning, it obviously got some birds moving with a new Wryneck on Brownsea today, right in front of the new Lookout hide. Plus, this evening the Glossy Ibis influx reached the harbour with 5 settling on Lytchett Fields this afternoon before relocating to the bay. There were 6 Curlew Sandpiper off Jerry’s Point, 2 on the Brownsea Lagoon and 2 on Lytchett Fields. Cattle Egret also seem to be arriving with 4 at Middlebere/Wytch Lake, 4 at Holme Bridge, 1 at Lytchett Fields and 2 at the Wareham Causeway. Wheatear, Whinchat and Stonechat seem a regular fix for the southern harbour heathlands, an Osprey was over Middlebere and 2 were in the Wareham Channel. The Spoonbill flock on Brownsea was 55 and a Great White Egret was at Swineham.

Northern Wheatear – Middlebere

The final Osprey cruise of the season provided the variety of species you’d expect during autumn migration. Two adult Osprey were seen, one perched on the Arne coastline, another briefly flying along the edge of the Wareham channel. As the storm clouds gathered overhead, birds kept lower in the skies with large groups of hirundines gathering and a flock of 13 Little Tern made a rapid entrance and southerly flight across the channel. Two Spoonbill were in flight looking for shallow areas during the high tide. 4 Bar-tailed Godwit fed along the sandy, quiet beaches of Arne and at least 10 Common sandpiper and 4 Redshank were feeding along the strand line of the northern edge of Brownsea Island.

On the Brownsea lagoon passage waders were in good numbers with 4 Curlew sandpiper, 4 Knot 2 Little Stint and a further 3 Bar-tailed Godwit. Dunlin numbers now exceed 100, 25 Ringed plover, 20 Redshank and 30 Avocet. The Spoonbill numbers are now at 63 including the 2 seen earlier.

Later in the day, 2 Grey plover, 8 Sanderling and a single Little Stint also seen on the Brownsea lagoon.

At Brands Bay, Studland, Great-crested Grebe (17) numbers are steadily increasing as wintering and passage birds arrive in the Harbour. 1 Little Stint, 29 Turnstone, 58 Redshank and 106 Bar-tailed Godwit also showing that passage migration is in full flow. A single, un-ringed juvenile Osprey was also seen and photographed having recently caught a fish.

At Lytchett Bay, Shoveler numbers are increasing with 6 individuals (4 also seen on Brownsea lagoon). 1 Ruff, 24 Greenshank, 2 Green sandpiper and 4 Spotted Redshank. A Pale-morph juvenile Honey Buzzard was seen flying overhead.

Avocet – Brownsea Island lagoon – Alison Copland

Spoonbill – Brownsea Island lagoon – Alison Copland

Juvenile Osprey with fish – Brands Bay, Studland – Birds of Poole Harbour