Yet another busy day around the Harbour. Incredibly, the Harbour’s third Wryneck in three days was picked up along Hyde’s Heath path, Arne. However, this was not the only star bird of the day as a Wood Sandpiper was also recorded at Lytchett Fields joined by 18 Greenshank, 2 Ringed Plover, 6 Green Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, c70 Redshank, 23 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, 6 Willow Warbler and c50 Yellow Wagtail.

Passerine passage at Ballard down this morning included 7 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Yellowhammer and 2 Yellow Wagtail. A large flock of 131 Mediterranean Gull was also logged on a nearby field. Hartland recorded singles of Redstart, Whinchat, Whitethroat and Merlin along with more numerous Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler and Blackcap. Neighbouring Soldier’s Road picked up 2 Tree Pipit and another Redstart. Sunnyside Scrape saw a juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 5 Yellow Wagtail and another fly-over Tree Pipit. At South Haven, Studland there were singles of Pied Flycatcher and Redstart, 3 Spotted Flycatcher and 4 Whitethroat. 

The Wareham Channel delivered on birds of prey with numerous sightings of 5 Osprey along with 3 Marsh Harrier and a juvenile Peregrine. Middlebere channel saw 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 4 of the 21 Spoonbill recorded on Brownsea Lagoon. A further 2 Great White Egret were still present at Little Sea, Studland following the initial sighting yesterday evening.

Lytchett Bay continued its good form with a juvenile Ruff seen this morning. The migrant wader was accompanied by 13 Yellow Wagtail, 1 juvenile Little Ringed Plover, 2 Spotted Redshank and 3 Spotted Flycatcher along the lane towards the fields.

Our Osprey cruises continued to delight with at least 6 Osprey observed along the Wareham Channel once the atmospheric fog lifted. A Scottish female (with a blue ring on her left leg) was seen perched right on the edge of the Channel sitting out the fog also offered splendid views. The 3 Black Tern spotted on the cruise two day previously made a second appearance on today’s trip.

The Harbour’s second Wryneck of the autumn was observed along scrub the in gap between Ballard Down and Nine Barrow Down. The same location recorded Osprey, Redshank, Spotted Flycatcher and Whinchat all passing through.

What a difference a change in wind direction makes! The epic day began with a ringing session at Lytchett Heath unveiling 1 Wryneck, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 5 Grasshopper Warbler and 2 Redstart. An excellent start to an eventful Sunday only beginning to unfold! Our fourth Osprey cruise then set off into the Wareham channel providing delightful sightings of 6 different Osprey, including at least one juvenile and various adults. On top of the excellent views of hunting Osprey, other species encountered included 3 Arctic Tern, c10 Common Tern, c20 Sandwich Tern and 1 Common Seal. A scan of Brownsea Lagoon to end the fruitful cruise produced 18 Spoonbill and 25 Avocet.

By the afternoon things were really cranking up. The Harbour’s third record of Tawny Pipit was heard calling over Hartland Moor, 400m west along the tramway opposite the Middlebere parking lay-by. The same site recorded movement of Tree Pipit, Willow Warbler and 2 Redstart. Sunnyside scrape is becoming increasing productive with 6 Wheatear, 1 Green Sandpiper and 2 Whinchat all observed. A slender ringtail Harrier sp. flew west at Upton Country Park at 14:30 – given the time of year and current wind direction the last two days, Montagu’s Harrier is a serious candidate.

Wryneck – Lytchett Heath – Terry Elborn

A spectacular Osprey Cruise was had today with up to 6 Osprey and over 30 species seen throughout the cruise. As we headed out of the Harbour we saw a flock of Greylag Geese heading out from Poole Park, perhaps off on their migration to locations elsewhere outside the harbour. Plenty of Common Tern were seen perched up on the buoys and cruising over the water. A Great Crested Grebe was seen as we headed further towards the Wareham Channel and soon after 2 Osprey were spotted in the distance, flying towards in the direction of their feeding ground. It wasn’t long before we spotted an individual flying closer to us as we reached the Wareham Channel and we were treated to watching this beautiful bird of prey diving and grabbing a fish in full view of a boat full of spectators, providing an epic display and fantastic photo opportunities. Over the next hour we saw a mix of adults and juveniles, with juveniles watching over head to pick up on the feeding skills from the adults. To top this amazing trip off we saw 3 Black Tern, one flying right over the top of the boat, 3 Spoonbill feeding, c200 Black–tailed Godwit, a raft of sinensis Cormorant feeding, Dunlin, Knot, a Little Egret, 2 Buzzard and 3 Common Seal hauled out on the mud!

Finally, we set off back towards Brownsea Lagoon where we saw Spoonbill (c18 confirmed on the Webcam), 6 Avocet and 3 Curlew, rounding off a mind-blowing Cruise. Hopefully the upcoming Osprey Cruises will be just as fruitful!

Osprey were also recorded at Lytchett Bay, Holes Bay and Arne throughout the day. From Middlebere hide 1 Marsh Harrier 1 Whimbrel, 2 Greenshank, 3 Spoonbill and 1 Green Sandpiper.

Sunnyside Scrape logged singles of Redstart, Whinchat, Green Sandpiper and several Yellow Wagtails. Adult and Juvenile Hobby were recorded across Arne and Corfe River Channel.   

A beautifully sunny day today with Highs of 23°C. Brownsea Lagoon was busy with c20 Dunlin, c600 Oystercatcher, 12 Spoonbill, 8 Avocet, c20 Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and c10 Gadwall. 5 Osprey were seen from our Osprey Cruise this morning, mostly around Wareham Channel and Middlebere area. Also from th boat were c300 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Marsh Harrier and 4 Common Seal. 1 Peregrine was also seen looking for a meal over Brownsea Lagoon but was chased off by a feisty Swallow. Holton Pools saw 1 Green Sandpiper and a Reed Bunting. What looked to be a Stork species was seen over the Wytch Channel at dawn heading towards Lytchett Bay, but was sadly lost in the fog.

Today we hosted our 1^st Osprey cruise of the autumn and it was a corker. Within 10 minutes of starting the trip we had an adult hunting out over Arne Bay before another 3 were then seen further up the Wareham Channel. Another then flew out across to Arne before we then later picked one up fishing along the Holton shoreline. Just as we exited the Wareham Channel the best view of the morning came when a fresh juvenile which had originally been cruising over Arne Bay then came and passed right over the boat and headed towards the quay. All this within the first hour! Other reports of Osprey today came from Holton Lee, Poole Town Centre and Middlebere where there was also 5 Spotted Redshank new in, 3 Whimbrel and 1 Greenshank. From our Osprey boat we also logged 2 Hobby having a tag team battle against 2 Buzzard, a Marsh Harrier cruised along Arne Moors and 12 Spoonbill were on the Brownsea Lagoon. We also had a large low tide in the Wareham Channel where c200 Black-tailed Godwit and a flock of 24 Knot were feeding. Sandwich and Common Tern escorted us around the harbour with noisy juveniles still food begging from adults and sinensis Cormorant numbers are building. At Lytchett Fields a Yellow Wagtail was on the fields and a few Tree Pipit passed through the Corfe gap at dawn.

There are still places available on our boat trips next weekend so if you’re looking for something to do to see out August then come and join us for what we hope will be another Osprey-tastic morning out – https://www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/poole-harbour-bird-boats

Another productive day in the harbour today with lots going on. The main highlight was the harbour’s (and the UKs) first Ortolan Bunting of the autumn which was sound recorded at night flying over/through the Corfe Gap at 4:30am. It was a good night for night recording despite the crystal clear sky which also saw 1 each of Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and Redshank logged, also a small Common Tern flock, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Tree Pipit, 10 Robin, 2 flycatcher sp and 1 Little Grebe. Hopefully this means the flood gates are open and we’ll begin recording plenty more of these species.

This morning we also hosted our first Osprey watch event at Ham Common viewpoint, Rockley which was a great success with 4-5 different Osprey seen, including three at once for several minutes. Our team were set up with telescopes and binoculars for visitors to use and the good news it we’ll be there again next Wednesday morning so why not join us. Or, if you can’t wait until then to see an Osprey our Osprey cruises are running from Aug 24^th to Sept 1^st and for full booking details CLICK HERE.

Elsewhere in the harbour an Osprey was on the Middlebere nest platform for a lot of the day, and was even seen nest prepping/stick moving later in the afternoon which suggests CJ7 may not be the only interested female in town. In the Wareham Channel there were 328 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Common Sandpiper in the mouth of the Frome. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 12 Spoonbill and 2 Arctic Tern were in a large gull flock off Arne. At Sunnyside Farm a Hobby dashed past the scrape viewing screen and a Yellow Wagtail flew over the cattle field. Marsh Harrier’s were seen over Giggers Island and at Holton Pools where a Kingfisher was on he sticks too.

If you thought yesterday was Osprey-tastic, then today was Ospre-ndulous! A grand total of 4 Osprey were seen together circling over Wareham Channel. Numerous sightings were also recorded once again across Holten Lee, Lytchett Bay and Middlebere.

A grand afternoon on Brownsea Lagoon produced 1 Curlew Sand, 1 Knot, 226 Dunlin, 11 Greenshank, 102 Redshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Avocet, 42 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Turnstone, 5 Ringed Plover, 12 Spoonbill, 1 Wheatear and 2 Peregrine. Several butterflies were also recorded including 1 Clouded Yellow & 3 Painted Lady. The water levels on the Lagoon are looking superb at current – offering incredible views of common wader species.

There were ‘Groppers’ galore on Lytchett Heath at the ringing session this morning. The record day saw a count of 32 Grasshopper Warblers!!

Sedge Warbler – Lytchett Heath

Grasshopper Warbler – Lytchett Heath

It was Osprey-tastic again today with numerous sightings around the Middlebere area with 2 different individuals seen with fish and another couple out in the Wareham Channel, and with our Osprey cruises coming up at the end of this week and most of next week the new arrivals couldn’t have come at a better time. SEE HERE FOR BOOKING INFO.

Find of the day goes to a summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe off Jerry’s point which is about 2 months early, but we won’t grumble. At Lytchett Fields there were 14 Greenshank, 1 Marsh Harrier, another Osprey, 2 Tree Pipit overhead, 1 Hobby, 13 Green Sandpiper and 1 Common Sandpiper. In Brands Bay only singles of Grey Plover and Whimbrel were logged. At dawn a Barn Owl was sat on the Middlebere hide and there was a Peregrine on the Brownsea Lagoon.

Osprey were recorded all over the western side of the Habour today with numerous sightings logged across Holten Lee, Lytchett Bay, Wareham Channel and Middlebere. An impressive 3 Osprey were seen at the same time over the Wareham Channel at midday. Mid-August to early September can be the best time to try and spot Osprey about the Harbour as migrants stop off to refuel before continuing their migration south for the winter.

Spotted Flycatcher was also of note at Holten Lee this morning and the Studland Black Tern was still present at the same location as yesterday. A Hobby was hawking over both Coombe and Hyde’s Heath at Arne while the ASDA Peregrine was observed perching on the supermarket this afternoon.