Sunny spells turned into dark clouds over the harbour this afternoon with WSW winds producing 26mph gusts. An Osprey spotted on Pergins Island, eating a fish, around 11.45, Holes Bay. Brownsea Webcam recorded Avocet, Black–tailed Godwit and Curlew.

A Wheatear was spotted on the Quay, Harbourside path and over at Sunnyside a Lapwing and a Little Egret were recorded. c32 Spoonbill are still being logged near to Shipstal Point.

Our second School Bird Boat of the winter took place this morning and they were lucky enough to see an Osprey circling right over the boat off Shipstal Point, Arne. A further 3 Osprey were also recorded over at Lytchett Bay so potentially 4 in the area currently. Also spotted from the boat was a flock of 55 Spoonbill at Middlebere and a Red–breasted Merganser in South Deep. Also, at Lytchett Bay, a ringing session this morning produced small movements of Goldcrest, Reed Bunting, Blackcap and Cetti’s Warbler. Lytchett Fields also recorded singles of Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Redshank and Black–tailed Godwit, along with 2 Greenshank.

A good variety of wader species were logged at Brownsea Lagoon this morning with 83 Avocet, c80 Black–tailed Godwit, c12 Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Dunlin and 1 Spoonbill. Wildfowl numbers are still high with Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal recorded. A Peregrine spent most of the day sat on the back wall of the lagoon surveying the area for unsuspecting prey.

Sunnyside produced a single Firecrest, whilst at the Quay several Swallow flew right over our office. Middlebere was also bustling with c350 Black–tailed Godwit, c150 Avocet, c50 Redshank, a Great White Egret, Lapwing, Teal and Wigeon. A Sparrowhawk was logged at PCW Drain and a Marsh Harrier was seen at Holton Pools in the afternoon.

Sparrowhawk – PC World Drain – Ian Ballam

Our second School Bird Boat of the winter took place this morning and they were lucky enough to see an Osprey circling right over the boat off Shipstal Point, Arne. A further 3 Osprey were also recorded over at Lytchett Bay so potentially 4 in the area currently. Also spotted from the boat was a flock of 55 Spoonbill at Middlebere and a Red–breasted Merganser in South Deep. Also, at Lytchett Bay, a ringing session this morning produced small movements of Goldcrest, Reed Bunting, Blackcap and Cetti’s Warbler. Lytchett Fields also recorded singles of Spotted Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Redshank and Black–tailed Godwit, along with 2 Greenshank.

A good variety of wader species were logged at Brownsea Lagoon this morning with 83 Avocet, c80 Black–tailed Godwit, c12 Curlew, Redshank, Greenshank, Dunlin and 1 Spoonbill. Wildfowl numbers are still high with Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal recorded. A Peregrine spent most of the day sat on the back wall of the lagoon surveying the area for unsuspecting prey.

Sunnyside produced a single Firecrest, whilst at the Quay several Swallow flew right over our office. Middlebere was also bustling with c350 Black–tailed Godwit, c150 Avocet, c50 Redshank, a Great White Egret, Lapwing, Teal and Wigeon. A Sparrowhawk was logged at PCW Drain and a Marsh Harrier was seen at Holton Pools in the afternoon.

Sparrowhawk – PC World Drain – Ian Ballam

A blustery day in the Harbour today with some showery downpours in the afternoon. Brownsea Webcam recorded a lovely flock of c24 Avocet and a Great Egret. Also present were c16 Curlew, c30 Dunlin and Black–tailed Godwit flying in and out throughout the day.

A ringing session by the Stour ringing group at Lytchett Fields this morning logged a stunning 40 Bearded Tit in addition to 3 Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Bunting, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Reed Warbler.

This morning an Osprey has been spotted over Holes Bay again heading towards the Twin Sails bridge and out into the Harbour.

A male and female Merlin were perched together Hartland Moor at midday and a Hobby was also spotted high over the Scotland Farm area shortly after. An adult male Marsh Harrier was also recorded alongside a sub-adult. Another Marsh Harrier was seen hunting over the fields at Holton Lee this morning.

A blustery day in the Harbour today with some showery downpours in the afternoon. Brownsea Webcam recorded a lovely flock of c24 Avocet and a Great Egret. Also present were c16 Curlew, c30 Dunlin and Black–tailed Godwit flying in and out throughout the day.

A ringing session by the Stour ringing group at Lytchett Heath this morning logged a stunning 40 Bearded Tit in addition to 3 Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Bunting, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff and Reed Warbler.

This morning an Osprey has been spotted over Holes Bay again heading towards the Twin Sails bridge and out into the Harbour.

A male and female Merlin were perched together Hartland Moor at midday and a Hobby was also spotted high over the Scotland Farm area shortly after. An adult male Marsh Harrier was also recorded alongside a sub-adult. Another Marsh Harrier was seen hunting over the fields at Holton Lee this morning.

Bearded Tit – Lytchett Heath

A bit quiet today due to the weather but the harbours and the county’s first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autimn was found in the PC World drain, viewed from the KFC car park looking back across the channel. Also there 20+ Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap and 5 Goldcrest. At Lytchett Fields there was a late Yellow Wagtail also 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 9 Greenshank and c200 Teal. In Lytchett Bay there was a single Spoonbill. In Holes Bay an Osprey was seen briefly in the northern section. A night sound recording session just north of the harbour produced 8 Redwing calls, 17 Song Thrush calls and 1 Robin.

A bit quiet today due to the weather but the harbours and the county’s first Yellow-browed Warbler of the autumn was found in the PC World drain, viewed from the KFC car park looking back across the channel. Also present 20+ Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap and 5 Goldcrest. At Lytchett Fields there was a late Yellow Wagtail also 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 9 Greenshank and c200 Teal. In Lytchett Bay there was a single Spoonbill. In Holes Bay an Osprey was seen briefly in the northern section. A night sound recording session just north of the harbour produced 8 Redwing calls, 17 Song Thrush calls and 1 Robin.

A Survey boat departed this morning and meandered down the Wareham Channel logging a plethora of species. Highlights included huge wader numbers comprised of 1874 Black-tailed Godwit, 34 Curlew, 7 Whimbrel and 16 Avocet among others. Other notable sightings include 11 Cetti’s Warbler, 4 Brent Geese, 240 Wigeon, 36 Teal, 48 Little Egret, 6 Greylag Geese, 2 Sandwich Tern, 240 Black-headed Gull and singles of Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Snipe and Greenshank. Hirundine passage continued to trickle through with a splattering of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin sightings. Additional sightings from Swineham include 197 Coot, 1 Pochard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 9 Gadwall, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Ruff and 22 Lapwing.

Our second consecutive Osprey watch morning at Holes Bay came up trumps again with an un-ringed juvenile Osprey fishing over the bay, attracting a crowd of 50 or so onlookers. Feeding flocks of Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Curlew and Oystercatcher were also observed along with Black-headed Gull, Wigeon, Teal, Kingfisher, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Grey Wagtail.

Last night our sound recording equipment was set up in the Corfe Castle Gap and identified 21 Song Thrush, 8 Redwing, and singles of Brent Goose, Oystercatcher and Moorhen. Sunnyside recorded passage Goldcrest and Blackcap whilst Lytchett Fields there were 15 Spoonbill, singles of Hobby, Whinchat, Grey Plover and 5 Bearded Tit. The max Spoonbill count was recorded at over, logging a flock of 50 individuals. 

A juvenile Honey Buzzard was logged over the Piddle Valley late afternoon and another Osprey was in Brands Bay too. Around Swineham/Piddle floods there were 2 Ruff, 22 Lapwing, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Common Snipe.

Osprey – Holes Bay South – Fiona Liddiard

A Survey boat departed this morning and meandered down the Wareham Channel logging a plethora of species. Highlights included huge wader numbers comprised of 1874 Black-tailed Godwit, 34 Curlew, 7 Whimbrel and 16 Avocet among others. Other notable sightings include 11 Cetti’s Warbler, 4 Brent Geese, 240 Wigeon, 36 Teal, 48 Little Egret, 6 Greylag Geese, 2 Sandwich Tern, 240 Black-headed Gull and singles of Common Sandpiper, Yellow-legged Gull, Snipe and Greenshank. Hirundine passage continued to trickle through with a splattering of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin sightings. Additional sightings from Swineham include 197 Coot, 1 Pochard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 9 Gadwall, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Ruff and 22 Lapwing.

Our second consecutive Osprey watch morning at Holes Bay came up trumps again with an un-ringed juvenile Osprey fishing over the bay, attracting a crowd of 50 or so onlookers. Feeding flocks of Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Curlew and Oystercatcher were also observed along with Black-headed Gull, Wigeon, Teal, Kingfisher, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Grey Wagtail.

Last night our sound recording equipment was set up in the Corfe Castle Gap and identified 21 Song Thrush, 8 Redwing, and singles of Brent Goose, Oystercatcher and Moorhen. Sunnyside recorded passage Goldcrest and Blackcap whilst Lytchett Fields there were 15 Spoonbill, singles of Hobby, Whinchat, Grey Plover and 5 Bearded Tit. The max Spoonbill count was recorded at over, logging a flock of 50 individuals.

A juvenile Honey Buzzard was logged over the Piddle Valley late afternoon and another Osprey was in Brands Bay too. Around Swineham/Piddle floods there were 2 Ruff, 22 Lapwing, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Common Snipe.

Osprey – Holes Bay South – Fiona Liddiard

A spontaneous Osprey Watch Event at Holes Bay this morning was a great success with many people enjoying views of an Osprey successfully hunting over the Bay. After serval failed attempts the bird caught a fish and carried its prey to feed on Pergins Island. Feeding flocks of Curlew, Black–tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher and Redshank were also seen along with numerous Great Crested Grebe and Kingfisher sightings. Studland Bay has logged the first returning Black–necked Grebe for the winter. Two individuals were recorded as well as 5 Brent Geese and 35 Mediterranean Gull.

Brownsea Lagoon offered wonderful views of feeding waders including 19 Curlew, c36 Black–tailed Godwit, 7 Avocet, 1 Merlin on the tern islands and a Peregrine. The Grey Plover are now frequenting Arne after arriving on Brownsea Lagoon late-September. Other species recorded on the reserve included Curlew, Lapwing, Avocet, Redshank, Dartford Warbler, and several passage Swallows. A female Goshawk was logged over Wareham Channel, coming in from the Frome over to Giggers Island. A large female was recorded over Slepe Heath recently on the 13^th September. A pair of Marsh Harrier were also observed over Gigger’s Island. The Swineham Cattle Egret was still present at Gravel Pits today and the juvenile Spotted Redshank was again observed on Lytchett Fields.

Due to the success of our Pop Up Osprey Watch along the Holes Bay cycle path, c700m north of Asda this morning we plan to run it again tomorrow from 9am to 12pm. We will have scopes on binoculars set up ready so please join us if you can!

Merlin – Brownsea Lagoon – Derek Morgan