Although we’re only in the early stages of the summer months, the first signs of autumn migration occurred today right on cue with the first 2 Green Sandpiper of the autumn appearing at Middlebere this evening, with another logged in north Dorset the day before. The BTO also announced today that some of their sat-tagged Cuckoo’s from this summer are already now down in central France, also having started their autumn migrations south. There were 2 on Hartland today, but these were probably birds that have been around for most of the spring. Also another possible sign that autumn is creeping in was an adult Yellow-legged Gull in Middlebere. These are the southern European equivalent to our Herring Gulls, and tend to breed a bit earlier in the year. Many then have a northerly Autumn migration with adults often arriving mid-late summer and fresh juveniles often following suit it August. There were 2 adult Little Ringed Plover on the Stilt Pools, Swinheam, and 3 different White-tailed Eagles were seen including both our resident adults (G463 & G466) which were around Middlebere and the Wareham Channel, and recently arrived 2024 juvenile G704.

Green Sandpiper – Middlebere – Garry Hayman

Adult Yellow-legged Gull – Middlebere – Garry Hayman

Another stunning Sunset Safari Cruise this evening with male Osprey 022 hunting in the Wareham Channel and a gorgeous Marsh Harrier flyby in the evening light! Other highlights included a summer plumage Spotted Redshank on the mudflats, 2 Bearded Tit, and a flock of 50 Sand Martin surrounding the boat in the River Frome, plus the cacophony of Sandwich and Common Terns on the Brownsea Lagoon to end the trip. Elsewhere Yellowhammer, Woodlark and Cuckoo were all recorded at Morden Bog, with the latter also heard at Arne and Stoborough Heath: possibly birds making one last stopover in the UK on their migrations south to sub-Saharan Africa!

Marsh Harrier – Wareham Channel, Sunset Safari Cruise – John Thorpe

Warm and sunny conditions benefited both birds and birders today with plenty of sightings. The calmer weather meant that Common Swifts were easier to see; Holes Bay, Swineham and Poole town centre all recording sightings. Holes bay also had a single Curlew and 12 Shelduck. The Asda building Peregrine falcon chicks have finally begun to fledge with the male taking flight before his three female siblings. At Turlin Moor LNR, 60 Black-headed gull, 1 Mediterranean gull, 1 Sandwich tern and 3 Reed warbler were noted. The Rutland female Osprey, 3H9, has been back again in Poole Harbour, feeding in the Middlebere Channel. Last night our Nightjar walk was really productive and saw multiple individuals active on Slepe Heath, with no less than 8 seen chasing each other about with Cuckoo and multiple Dartford Warbler also logged and male White-tailed Eagle G463 was out in the Wareham Channel.

Peregrine Falcon chick – Holes Bay – @dorsetraptors.bsky.social

Heavy rain from dawn until midday dampened some of the local recording today. However, conditions improved dramatically during the afternoon with an Osprey seen perched up at Lytchett Bay along with a single Little ringed plover, 6 Mediterranean gull, 4 Reed warbler, 214 Canada geese and the single odd-looking Ruddy x Common Shelduck hybrid.

The Carey Ospreys went from prolonged sheltering from the downpours in the morning, to basking in the sun by the afternoon! Male Osprey, 022 continued to provide for the growing family with a brown trout dropped off at breakfast and a mullet at midday. Song thrush and Mistle thrush have successfully fledged chicks on the Carey estate, with 3 Mistle thrush chicks following and begging for food from their parents. 2 Woodlark also recorded here.

The ever dutiful CJ7 sheltering her growing chicks.

Summer seems to be returning, with a 24 degree heat shimmering across the harbour today, and a mild easterly breeze. The/a Roseate Tern was on the Brownsea Lagoon again this afternoon. From our Sunset Safari this evening we had 2 different White-tailed Eagles moving around including adult male G463 and a 2024 juvenile G704. One of the local Marsh Harriers came in to see off the juvenile eagle, just as male Osprey 022 then started hunting close to the boat in the Wareham Channel. A late (or early?) Whimbrel was in with a few Curlew, calling over the Wareham Channel and on the Brownsea Lagoon 4 Avocet and 1 Spoonbill were roosting. At Swineham 2 Little Ringed Plover were on the Stilt Pools and a Hobby flew over. There was also a new (male?) Osprey today, which was seen in Lytchett Bay this morning whilst both ours were at the nest site, which we’re hoping may land on one of our nest platforms over the coming days.

White-tailed Eagle – Doing a Corfe fly by from our Sunset Safari – Alison Copland

White-tailed Eagle getting harassed by local Marsh Harrier from our Sunset Safari – Alison Copland

Male Osprey 022 hunting in Wareham Channel this evening from our Sunset Safari – Alison Copland

It’s been a good spring for cranes and storks this year, and today added to the tally of sightings with yesterdays 2 White Stork that were seen over Organford doing a fly by of the Osprey viewing platform at Carey Secret Garden this morning. On the Brownsea lagoon 4 Spoonbill dropped in this morning and stayed all day, but there was only 1 Avocet. Also a flock of 6 Crossbill passed over the centre of the island mid-morning. The Peregrine family on the Asda building are building in confidence and it’s possible 2 actually fledged today, with only 2 on the roof for most of the day until this evening when all 4 were back safely together on the flat rooftop. A Great White Egret flew over Wareham Common this morning, female White-tailed Eagle G466 was is the Wareham Channel for most of the morning and 3 Hobby were over Hydes Heath.

White Stork – Piddle Valley, Carey Estate – Alison Copland

White Stork – Piddle Valley, Carey Estate – Alison Copland

Peregrine chicks on the Asda flats this evening – Tanya Hart

Although drier today, it was still pretty fresh, especially out on our Sunset Safari Cruise this evening where the SW breeze kept birds low. Saying that Marsh Harrier were still out hunting, targeting young gulls on the gulls islands. Somehow we missed 2 separate fishing trips from male Osprey 022 who delivered 2 Bass to the nest whilst we were out on the boat, possibly caught in Middlebere? The Brownsea Lagoon was busy with Sandwich and Common Terns, and also had 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Avocet as well as c80 Oystercatcher. This afternoon 2 White Stork flew over Organford, Sandford and were later reported over Langton Matravers near Swanage.

Avocet – Brownsea Lagoon from this evening Sunset Safari