The strong westerlies today may seem a little disruptive (with boat trips to Brownsea Island cancelled) but the conditions also make for excellent birding opportunities. Outside of the Harbour’s recording area a Sabine’s Gull was observed off Hengistbury Head and a Long-tailed Skua from Mudeford, Christchurch.

Scarce migrants are certainly passing through the harbour, so now’s a great time to check a local patch! Osprey continue to pass through the Harbour with sightings coming in from Lytchett Bay, Holton Pools and Shiptal point, Arne. The individual at Lytchett was first spotted in a dead tree opposite French’s Viewpoint. Other notable sightings at the site included 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Ruff, 4 Green Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Sparrowhawk.

5 Turnstone and a single Swallow was recorded at Sandbanks while a Marsh harrier was seen hunting over Slepe Moor this morning. The Poole Harbour Spoonbill flock continues to build, today recorded the highest count of the autumn with 50 individuals logged at Shipstal, Arne.

Marsh Harrier – Slepe Moor – Simon Kidner

The strong westerlies today may seem a little disruptive (with boat trips to Brownsea Island cancelled) but the conditions also make for excellent birding opportunities. Outside of the Harbour’s recording area a Sabine’s Gull was observed off Hengistbury Head and a Long-tailed Skua from Mudeford, Christchurch.

Scarce migrants are certainly passing through the harbour, so now’s a great time to check a local patch! Ospreycontinue to pass through the Harbour with sightings coming in from Lytchett Bay, Holton Pools and Shiptal point, Arne. The individual at Lytchett was first spotted in a dead tree opposite French’s Viewpoint. Other notable sightings at the site included 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Ruff, 4 Green Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Sparrowhawk.

5 Turnstone and a single Swallow was recorded at Sandbanks while a Marsh harrier was seen hunting over Slepe Moor this morning. The Poole Harbour Spoonbill flock continues to build, today recorded the highest count of the autumn with 50 individuals logged at Shipstal, Arne.

Marsh Harrier – Slepe Moor – Simon Kidner

A blustery day in the harbour again today but not much rain so conditions were a little better for birding. Over on the Brownsea Lagoon c100 Redshank, 14 Curlew, 2 Avocet, 2 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Black–tailedGodwit, 2 Greenshank, 1 Peregrine, 4 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, c10 Pied Wagtail, c200 Teal and 1 BrentGoose were recorded along with c40 Cormorants .

With a very high tide 1 un-ringed Osprey was seen over at Lytchett Fields and another at Holton Pools, likely the same late migratory individual that was there yesterday. Also at Lytchett Fields was a late Juvenile CommonTern, 1 Ruff, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, many Meadow Pipits, a lone Lapwing and a Grey Wagtail.

There were 2 Hobby around Middlebere plus single a Spoonbill and Whimbrel together with 250+ Avocet. And also 3 Hobby, a single Woodlark and 1 Marsh Harrier from Hyde’s Heath.

It seemed there was a massive Meadow Pipit movemnet going on this morning with parties overhead and out on short pasture across the whole harbour.

Over at Swineham a Female Merlin was seen chasing down Meadow Pipits and Starlings. 5 Yellow Wagtail and c50 Black-tailed Godwit were also logged. Movements of c40 Meadow Pipits were also coming in off of Branksome Chine.

The birds are starting to get more confident with the bird feeders at Holten Lee after being absent for a few weeks.  A male Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Robin, a Blue Tit, several Goldfinch and a Chaffinch have been seen on the Holton Lee Webcam.

 Osprey – Lytchett Fields

 Common Tern – Lytchett Fields

A blustery day in the harbour again today but not much rain so conditions were a little better for birding. Over on the Brownsea Lagoon c100 Redshank, 14 Curlew, 2 Avocet, 2 Swallow, 1 Chiffchaff, 4 Black–tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank, 1 Peregrine, 4 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin, c10 Pied Wagtail, c200 Teal and 1 Brent Goose were recorded along with c40 Cormorants .

With a very high tide 1 un-ringed Osprey was seen over at Lytchett Fields and another at Holton Pools, likely the same late migratory individual that was there yesterday. Also at Lytchett Fields was a late Juvenile Common Tern, 1 Ruff, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, many Meadow Pipits, a lone Lapwing and a Grey Wagtail.

There were 2 Hobby around Middlebere plus single a Spoonbill and Whimbrel together with 250+ Avocet. And also 3 Hobby, a single Woodlark and 1 Marsh Harrier from Hyde’s Heath.

It seemed there was a massive Meadow Pipit movemnet going on this morning with parties overhead and out on short pasture across the whole harbour.

Over at Swineham a Female Merlin was seen chasing down Meadow Pipits and Starlings. 5 Yellow Wagtail and c50 Black-tailed Godwit were also logged. Movements of c40 Meadow Pipits were also coming in off of Branksome Chine.

The birds are starting to get more confident with the bird feeders at Holten Lee after being absent for a few weeks.  A male Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Robin, a Blue Tit, several Goldfinch and a Chaffinch have been seen on the Holton Lee Webcam.

 Osprey – Lytchett Fields

 Common Tern – Lytchett Fields

Another overcast day today with 30mph gusts providing some unpleasant sea conditions. Some nice sightings today with Lytchett Fields recording pairs of Marsh Harrier and Spotted Redshank along with c75 Redshank, 3 Common Snipe, 7 Pintail, 4 Green Sandpiper and a single Ruff. Middlebere had 2 lovely flocks of Avocet feeding again, several Black–tailed Godwit and a Peregrine chasing down a Lapwing at speed.

On the Western side of the harbour 4 Marsh Harrier, 3 Hobby and a Merlin were seen in addition to an Osprey over Arne. Baiter Fields saw 2 Black–tailed Godwit amongst c300 Oystercatcher. Holes Bay recorded 2 Black Swan, likely to be the pair often seen in Wareham river. Upton Heath logged it’s 3^rdWheatear of the season.

Another overcast day today with 30mph gusts providing some unpleasant sea conditions. Some nice sightings today with Lytchett Fields recording pairs of Marsh Harrier and Spotted Redshank along with c75 Redshank, 3 Common Snipe, 7 Pintail, 4 Green Sandpiper and a single Ruff. Middlebere had 2 lovely flocks of Avocetfeeding again, several Black–tailed Godwit and a Peregrine chasing down a Lapwing at speed.

On the Western side of the harbour 4 Marsh Harrier, 3 Hobby and a Merlin were seen in addition to an Osprey over Arne. Baiter Fields saw 2 Black–tailed Godwit amongst c300 Oystercatcher. Holes Bay recorded 2 BlackSwan, likely to be the pair often seen in Wareham river. Upton Heath logged it’s 3^rdWheatear of the season.

A wet and windy day with just a few breaks in the cloud to allow for some sightings. Lytchett Fields recorded 2 Ruff, 6 Spoonbill, 2 Spotted Redshank, 6 Dunlin, 8 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, c10 Black–tailed Godwit, c10 Wigeon, c300 Teal and a Peregrine.

Over at Holes Bay a c40 Teal, c40 Wigeon, several Shoveler, 3 Curlew, c30 Redshank, 1 Black–tailed Godwit and a good record of a Curlew Sandpiper was logged from the stone Bench.

Brownsea Lagoon has been quiet recently with only 5 Avocet, c20 Black–tailed Godwit and numerous Shelduck being the highlights today but the high water levels on the lagoon haven’t helped. A likely Hen Harrier was also seen on the edge of Slepe Heath and up to 3 Hobby were again active over the heath. In Middlebere a winter scene was beginning to develop as a flock of c300 Avocet fed out in the channel and Teal and Wigeon numbers increased as a juv Marsh Harrier quartered above.

Avocet Flock – Middlebere 

A wet and windy day with just a few breaks in the cloud to allow for some sightings. Lytchett Fields recorded 2 Ruff, 6 Spoonbill, 2 Spotted Redshank, 6 Dunlin, 8 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, c10 Black–tailed Godwit, c10 Wigeon, c300 Teal and a Peregrine.

Over at Holes Bay a c40 Teal, c40 Wigeon, several Shoveler, 3 Curlew, c30 Redshank, 1 Black–tailed Godwit and a good record of a Curlew Sandpiper was logged from the stone Bench.

Brownsea Lagoon has been quiet recently with only 5 Avocet, c20 Black–tailed Godwit and numerous Shelduck being the highlights today but the high water levels on the lagoon haven’t helped. A likely Hen Harrier was also seen on the edge of Slepe Heath and up to 3 Hobby were again active over the heath. In Middlebere a winter scene was beginning to develop as a flock of c300 Avocet fed out in the channel and Teal and Wigeon numbers increased as a juv Marsh Harrier quartered above.

Avocet Flock – Middlebere 

It’s always worth doing a sea watch if possible during September and especially with a strong southerly wind. A quick check off Branksome Chine this afternoon produced Poole Harbour’s 4^th only record of Sooty Shearwater late afternoon. It arrived in from the east and did a couple of lengths of the waterline before being lost to the mist. There wasn’t much else moving other than a few Sandwich Tern and Gannet. In Whitley Lake, 28 Sandwich Tern were roosting on the jetty pylons of East Dorset Sailing Club. Off Knoll Beach another Brent Goose had arrived and an Osprey was again seen hunting in Lytchett Bay before the wind and rain kicked in. On Lytchett Fields there was a single Curlew Sandpiper also 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Ruff, 3 Ringed Plover, 12 Greenshank, 446 Teal and 24 Dunlin. On Holton Pools Greenshank and Kingfisher were seen from the hide along with 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine. At Baiter 31 Turnstone and 8 Ringed Plover were on the beach and a light passage of House Martin flew along the quay front at dawn.

Over the weekend the first wave of Yellow-browed Warbler hit the east coast, so it won’t be too long before the first Dorset/Poole Harbour record appears…we just need the forecast SW winds to ease off now and swing the other way.

Sooty Shearwater – Branksome Chine – Paul Morton

It’s always worth doing a sea watch if possible during September and especially with a strong southerly wind. A quick check off Branksome Chine this afternoon produced Poole Harbour’s 4^th only record of Sooty Shearwater late afternoon. It arrived in from the east and did a couple of lengths of the waterline before being lost to the mist. There wasn’t much else moving other than a few Sandwich Tern and Gannet. In Whitley Lake, 28 Sandwich Tern were roosting on the jetty pylons of East Dorset Sailing Club. Off Knoll Beach another Brent Goose had arrived and an Osprey was again seen hunting in Lytchett Bay before the wind and rain kicked in. On Lytchett Fields there was a single Curlew Sandpiper also 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Ruff, 3 Ringed Plover, 12 Greenshank, 446 Teal and 24 Dunlin. On Holton Pools Greenshank and Kingfisher were seen from the hide along with 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine. At Baiter 31 Turnstone and 8 Ringed Plover were on the beach and a light passage of House Martin flew along the quay front at dawn.

Over the weekend the first wave of Yellow-browed Warbler hit the east coast, so it won’t be too long before the first Dorset/Poole Harbour record appears….we just need the forecast SW winds to ease off now and swing the other way.

Sooty Shearwater – Branksome Chine – Paul Morton