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

A dry start to the day quickly turned into a wet afternoon with 20mph WSW winds and light rain.

An Osprey was spotted just off of Cobbs Quay, diving in and catching a fish only to be followed shortly after by a second individual who also caught a huge fish, what a fantastic sight for this time of year. There was also a Common Redstart along the main footpath at Holes Bay.

28 Spoonbill and a Marsh Harrier were recorded in the Wareham Channel.  Another Marsh Harrier was also seen over at Holten Pools along with Greenshank and a Wren. A Ringed Plover was also seen with several Dunlin at Baiter Park.

Large numbers of c16 Goldfinch were visiting the feeders today along with the regular Great–Spotted Woodpecker.

Duck numbers are on the increase at Swineham with 9 Pintail in amongst a mixture of Gadwal, Wigeon and Teal. Numbers of Duck are also increasing at Brownsea Lagoon with Teal and Shovler amongst the variety. c12 Curlew, several Dunlin and Redshank also present.

Common Redstart – Holes Bay cycle path – Rene Goad

 Osprey in Holes Bay south – Paul Morton

A dry start to the day quickly turned into a wet afternoon with 20mph WSW winds and light rain.

An Osprey was spotted just off of Cobbs Quay, diving in and catching a fish only to be followed shortly after by a second individual who also caught a huge fish, what a fantastic sight for this time of year. There was also a Common Redstart along the main footpath at Holes Bay.

28 Spoonbill and a Marsh Harrier were recorded in the Wareham Channel.  Another Marsh Harrier was also seen over at Holten Pools along with Greenshank and a Wren. A Ringed Plover was also seen with several Dunlin at Baiter Park.

Large numbers of c16 Goldfinch were visiting the feeders today along with the regular Great–Spotted Woodpecker.

Duck numbers are on the increase at Swineham with 9 Pintail in amongst a mixture of Gadwal, Wigeon and Teal. Numbers of Duck are also increasing at Brownsea Lagoon with Teal and Shovler amongst the variety. c12 Curlew, several Dunlin and Redshank also present.

Common Redstart – Holes Bay cycle path – Rene Goad

 Osprey in Holes Bay south – Paul Morton

A flock of 20+ Bearded Tit was recorded in the reedbeds between Pools Field and Lytchett Bay along with a single Marsh Harrier. A Peregrine bombing through Lytchett Fields flushed a lone Bar-tailed Godwit and newly arrived juvenile Spotted Redshank. A probable Merlin was also seen flying west across the Wareham by-pass early afternoon.

Holes Bay remains the place to see Osprey at the moment! This morning saw 3 different individuals over the Bay, a brilliant total for one place in early October! A glimpse of the disturbed gulls from Poole Quay warranted a quick scan with the binoculars and produced another Osprey soaring over the boat yard heading west towards Wareham Channel.

Holes Bay also harboured 1 Kingfisher, c400 Wigeon and 1 Brent Goose, an unusual sighting as Studland Bay typically hosts early returning birds in October.

A flock of 20+ Bearded Tit was recorded in the reedbeds between Pools Field and Lytchett Bay along with a single Marsh Harrier. A Peregrine bombing through Lytchett Fields flushed a lone Bar-tailed Godwit and newly arrived juvenile Spotted Redshank. A probable Merlin was also seen flying west across the Wareham by-pass early afternoon.

Holes Bay remains the place to see Osprey at the moment! This morning saw 3 different individuals over the Bay, a brilliant total for one place in early October! A glimpse of the disturbed gulls from Poole Quay warranted a quick scan with the binoculars and produced another Osprey soaring over the boat yard heading west towards Wareham Channel.

Holes Bay also harboured 1 Kingfisher, c400 Wigeon and 1 Brent Goose, an unusual sighting as Studland Bay typically hosts early returning birds in October.

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