Today we took out our first School Bird Boat of the winter and we were lucky with the weather, having only 6mph winds for a calm and pleasant cruise.  An Osprey was spotted first thing flying directly over the Birds of Poole Harbour Office. 4 further Osprey were recorded with 3 together at Holes Bay and 1 seen at the same time close to the boat, resulting in an unusually high number for this time in the year. Also recorded from the boat were 2 Peregrine, c30 Spoonbill, c50 Avocet, 4 Sandwich Tern and 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. A Wheatear was also seen at Holes Bay.    

Brownsea Lagoon was flourishing today with a variety of species recorded including 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, 14 Knot, 12 Greenshank, 52 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Ringed Plover, 6 Grey Plover, 1 Sanderling, c12 Curlew, 2 Kingfisher, 3 Firecrest and a Cetti’s Warbler (a rare sighting for Brownsea).

At Greenlands Farm there was a single Whinchat, 6 Wheatear and plenty of Chiffchaff. We also carried out our first night ringing session of the autumn in the south of the harbour which resulted in a handful of Common Snipe seen (1 caught and ringed) and a single Jack Snipe seen. 

At Middlebere there were 24 Wigeon, 800+ Black-tailed Godwits , 300+ Avocet, 4 Redshank, 9 Shelduck, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Spotted Flycatchers around the barns along with 10+ Chiffchaff. 

Today we took out our first School Bird Boat of the winter and we were lucky with the weather, having only 6mph winds for a calm and pleasant cruise.  An Osprey was spotted first thing flying directly over the Birds of Poole Harbour Office. 4 further Osprey were recorded with 3 together at Holes Bay and 1 seen at the same time close to the boat, resulting in an unusually high number for this time in the year. Also recorded from the boat were 2 Peregrine, c30 Spoonbill, c50 Avocet, 4 Sandwich Tern and 6 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. A Wheatear was also seen at Holes Bay. 

Brownsea Lagoon was flourishing today with a variety of species recorded including 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Spotted Redshank, 14 Knot, 12 Greenshank, 52 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Ringed Plover, 6 Grey Plover, 1 Sanderling, c12 Curlew, 2 Kingfisher, 3 Firecrest and a Cetti’s Warbler (a rare sighting for Brownsea).

At Greenlands Farm there was a single Whinchat, 6 Wheatear and plenty of Chiffchaff. We also carried out our first night ringing session of the autumn in the south of the harbour which resulted in a handful of Common Snipe seen (1 caught and ringed) and a single Jack Snipe seen.

At Middlebere there were 24 Wigeon, 800+ Black-tailed Godwits , 300+ Avocet, 4 Redshank, 9 Shelduck, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Spotted Flycatchers around the barns along with 10+ Chiffchaff. 

The miserable morning weather didn’t put off some, birding from a vehicle at Baiter Park produced a reasonable Turnstone flock of c20 birds around the slipway, also 4 Ringed Plover and the first 2 Rock Pipit of the autumn. A minimum of 5 Marsh Harrier were seen quartering along the Wareham Channel once the heavy showers passed this morning. Hyde’s Heath featured 3 Hobby chasing one another and another individual was spotted amongst the hirundine flow on Hartland Moor. A juvenile Peregrine was perched on a gatepost towards the Ridge end of the Moors and a single Osprey was observed crossing the Channel from Middlebere.

An Osprey was seen hunting over Lytchett Bay this morning before landing in tree and being mobbed by a Magpie. Meanwhile Lytchett Fields recorded 2 Knot and c15 Black-tailed Godwit. The several Grey Plover that arrived on Brownsea Lagoon recently were still present.

 Turnstones – Baiter Park

The miserable morning weather didn’t put off some, birding from a vehicle at Baiter Park produced a reasonable Turnstone flock of c20 birds around the slipway, also 4 Ringed Plover and the first 2 Rock Pipit of the autumn. A minimum of 5 Marsh Harrier were seen quartering along the Wareham Channel once the heavy showers passed this morning. Hyde’s Heath featured 3 Hobby chasing one another and another individual was spotted amongst the hirundine flow on Hartland Moor. A juvenile Peregrine was perched on a gatepost towards the Ridge end of the Moors and a single Osprey was observed crossing the Channel from Middlebere.

An Osprey was seen hunting over Lytchett Bay this morning before landing in tree and being mobbed by a Magpie. Meanwhile Lytchett Fields recorded 2 Knot and c15 Black-tailed Godwit. The several Grey Plover that arrived on Brownsea Lagoon recently were still present.

Turnstones – Baiter Park

Today started fine and ended not so fine…torrid in fact. Still, there’s still a good suit of birds across the harbour. Ospreys are clinging on perhaps into October with 1 at Lytchett Fields, 1 at Middlebere and 1 in Holes Bay NE. The Brownsea Lagoon looked prime for a rarity but sadly it wasn’t to be but there was still a great range of species with 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 916 Oystercatcher, 1 Spotted Redshank, 9 Greenshank, 4 Grey Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, 113 Avocet, 336 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit, 121 Redshank, 4 Knot, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Peregrine. From dawn there was another big push of Swallow, House Martin and Chiffchaff with a good number of Blackcap on the move too. At Middlebere/Hartland there were 12 Wheatear. In the Wareham Channel 3 Marsh Harrier were active flushing the masses of gulls that were out feeding on the flooded fields and 36 Spoonbill were feeding there too and a Cattle Egret was on the Swineham floods again. Marsh Harrier were also at Middlebere and Lytchett Fields. Kingfishers are putting on a good show at Sunnyside and Holton Pools currently and tomorrows forecast looks as if it could bring the first Redwing of the autumn with northerly winds late tomorrow night.

Curlew – Middlebere – Simon Kidner

oday started fine and ended not so fine….torrid in fact. Still, there’s still a good suit of birds across the harbour. Ospreys are clinging on perhaps into October with 1 at Lytchett Fields, 1 at Middlebere and 1 in Holes Bay NE. The Brownsea Lagoon looked prime for a rarity but sadly it wasn’t to be but there was still a great range of species with 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 916 Oystercatcher, 1 Spotted Redshank, 9 Greenshank, 4 Grey Plover, 4 Ringed Plover, 113 Avocet, 336 Black-tailed Godwit, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit, 121 Redshank, 4 Knot, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Peregrine. From dawn there was another big push of Swallow, House Martin and Chiffchaff with a good number of Blackcap on the move too. At Middlebere/Hartland there were 12 Wheatear.In the Wareham Channel 3 Marsh Harrier were active flushing the masses of gulls that were out feeding on the flooded fields and 36 Spoonbill were feeding there too and a Cattle Egret was on the Swineham floods again. Marsh Harrier were also at Middlebere and Lytchett Fields. Kingfishers are putting on a good show at Sunnyside and Holton Pools currently and tomorrows forecast looks as if it could bring the first Redwing of the autumn with northerly winds late tomorrow night.

Curlew – Middlebere – Simon Kidner

The recent heavy rain led to very high water levels observed across the Harbour. The ephemeral water bodies can draw in large numbers of wildfowl and waders, making for great birding spectacles. Sunnyside attracted 42 Mallard and 9 Gadwall, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Sedge Warbler and a Kestrel. Swineham and Bestwall also experienced flooding and new Swineham scrapes along the Two-Rivers walk look fantastic with a pair of Wheatear, 6 Cetti’s Warbler, 17 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Peregrine, 1 Hobby and a passage of Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin all observed. The gravel pit featured 130 Coot, 20 Gadwall, 70 Cormorant. Numerous Black-headed & Lesser Black-backed Gulls, c50 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Curlew and c40 Lapwingfrequented Lower Piddle flood fields.

At least one Cattle Egret was present in the flooded fields between River Frome and Bog Lane along with abundant hirundine movement, 15 Lapwing and 12 Mute Swan. 2 Marsh Harrier were spotted at Holton Pools this afternoon. Lytchett Fields harboured great species diversity racking up totals of 2 Osprey, c150 Black-tailed Godwit, c120 Redshank, 26 Dunlin, 6+ Greenshank, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Curlew Sandpiper and a single Ruff.

The recent heavy rain led to very high water levels observed across the Harbour. The ephemeral water bodies can draw in large numbers of wildfowl and waders, making for great birding spectacles. Sunnyside attracted 42 Mallard and 9 Gadwall, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Sedge Warbler and a Kestrel. Swineham and Bestwall also experienced flooding and new Swineham scrapes along the Two-Rivers walk look fantastic with a pair of Wheatear, 6 Cetti’s Warbler, 17 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Peregrine, 1 Hobby and a passage of Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin all observed. The gravel pit featured 130 Coot, 20 Gadwall, 70 Cormorant. Numerous Black-headed & Lesser Black-backed Gulls, c50 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Curlew and c40 Lapwing frequented Lower Piddle flood fields.

At least one Cattle Egret was present in the flooded fields between River Frome and Bog Lane along with abundant hirundine movement, 15 Lapwing and 12 Mute Swan. 2 Marsh Harrier were spotted at Holton Pools this afternoon. Lytchett Fields harboured great species diversity racking up totals of 2 Osprey, c150 Black-tailed Godwit, c120 Redshank, 26 Dunlin, 6+ Greenshank, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Curlew Sandpiper and a single Ruff.

Middlebere Channel was bustling with activity today, clocking up totals of c300 Avocet, c50 Black-tailed Godwit, 58 Shelduck, 6 Curlew, 2 Common Tern, 1 Whimbrel, Kingfisher, 2 Buzzard and a Peregrine. A Hobby was seen over Hartland Moor and an unringed adult Osprey was also spotted fishing over the channel before heading towards the Wareham Channel. A second unringed Osprey (juvenile) was observed around in Brands Bay and showed to within 40m of the hide.

Large mobile flock of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit flying up from the salt marsh at Middlebere today. Disturbed by a raptor- Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Hobby were hunting along the channel. A large Swallow and House Martin passage was recorded through Sunnyside this morning.

Lytchett Fields featured 12 Dunlin, 9 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, numerous Redshank and several Black-tailed Godwit. A Common Crane was also seen over the Fields, along with 2 Osprey and singles of Peregrine and Marsh Harrier. An unusual visitor to Brownsea Lagoon was captured on our webcam – 4 Peacock spent the morning roaming around.

Peacock – Brownsea Island

Middlebere Channel was bustling with activity today, clocking up totals of c300 Avocet, c50 Black-tailed Godwit, 58 Shelduck, 6 Curlew, 2 Common Tern, 1 Whimbrel, Kingfisher, 2 Buzzard and a Peregrine. A Hobby was seen over Hartland Moor and an unringed adult Osprey was also spotted fishing over the channel before heading towards the Wareham Channel. A second unringed Osprey (juvenile) was observed around in Brands Bay and showed to within 40m of the hide.

Large mobile flock of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit flying up from the salt marsh at Middlebere today. Disturbed by a raptor- Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Hobby were hunting along the channel. A large Swallow and House Martin passage was recorded through Sunnyside this morning.

Lytchett Fields featured 12 Dunlin, 9 Greenshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, numerous Redshank and several Black-tailed Godwit. A Common Crane was also seen over the Fields, along with 2 Osprey and singles of Peregrine and Marsh Harrier. An unusual visitor to Brownsea Lagoon was captured on our webcam – 4 Peacock spent the morning roaming around.

Peacock ‘flock’ – Brownsea Lagoon