Despite the early fog and mist, an atmospheric calm was once again spread across the harbour and after the moisture disappeared some birds got active including a (new?) Great White Egret on the Brownsea Lagoon giving a good size comparison next to a Little Egret, there were still c100 Spoonbill spread between Brownsea, Shipstal, RSPB Arne and Holes Bay. This afternoon 3 White-tailed Eagle arrived in from the north into the Wareham Channel, 2 juveniles and a sub-adult. A Goshawk was at Lytchett Fields, some new Grey Plover (4) were in Holes Bay, a Grasshopper Warbler was in Lytchett Bay and there was 1 each of Hobby and Merlin near Godlingston Heath.

Grasshopper Warbler – Lytchett Bay – Shaun Robson

Great White Egret and Little Egret – Brownsea Lagoon – Nikki Tutton

Please excuse the missing sightings for yesterday. A small technical glitch meant they didn’t upload, so here is a combined weekend mash up. The stunning early October weather brought birds and birders out. There was a great mix across the area including c100 Spoonbill moving between the Brownsea Lagoon and Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne, c400 Avocet on the Brownsea Lagoon, 1 Curlew Sandpiper was in the Wareham Channel, 3 Ruff were on RSPB Arne Moors, Osprey were seen near Goathorn and over Shipstal Point, White-tailed Eagles were in the Wareham Channel and the 2026 Dorset fledged eagle chick was briefly on Round Island yesterday afternoon. This afternoon there were Hobby over Keysworth and Hyde’s Heath, RSPB Arne, the sinensis Cormorant flock is now up to c800 birds, and between 4-5 different Marsh Harrier are now active around the Wareham Channel area. 4 Glossy Ibis were on the edge of the Wareham Channel today, 2 Pochard are still on Swineham GP and there were 9 Spoonbill and 527 Wigeon in Holes Bay yesterday. The autumns first Redwing was sound recorded over Upton in te early hours of Saturday morning, there are now up to 6 Great White Egret using the Arne Moors/Wareham Channel area and a Goshawk was over Godlingston Heath.

Osprey in the mist at RSPB Arne this morning 

A slower day today with a steady SW wind, but a possible Short-eared Owl over Brownsea this morning brought some promise along with a confirmed Marsh Harrier there too. The lagoon on Brownsea was busy again and logged 100 Spoonbill, c400 Avocet, 4 Knot and a good spread of common waders. An Osprey was over Lytchett Fields with another along the Goathorn peninsular. It was a Chiffchaff day at the Carey ringing station with 194 ringed, including a dutch ringed individual highlighting birds are moving from the east……along (hopefully) with a Nutcracker or two! This morning 5 dark-bellied Brent Geese arrived into the harbour and headed west.

Juvenile Hobby – Carey Osprey nest 

Dutch ringed Common Chiffchaff – Carey Ringing Station

Kingfisher – Goathorn, Brands Bay – Mark Singleton

With yesterdays strong winds from the east, it was hoped that maybe some sea birds had been blown into Poole Bay, and despite the wind swinging early this AM to a light south westerly we were able to log a Sooty Shearwater heading across Poole Bay before being seen heading out towards Old Harry. Also out in Poole Bay were 2 Merlin seen heading in off the sea, 1 dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Curlew, 1 Kittiwake and 1 Common Scoter. Elsewhere around the harbour it was busy again with a juvenile White-tailed Eagle on the Brownsea Lagoon with 101 Spoonbill, 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 377 Avocet, 1 Glossy Ibis (over) and 25 Greenshank. A Glossy Ibis was in the Wareham Channel, 1 Spotted Redshank was on the Stilt Pools, Swineham, 1 Barnacle Goose was also at Swineham, Osprey were over Middlebere, Lytchett Bay and the Wareham Channel, 2 Great White Egret were on Arne Moors with another in Middlebere and there were singles of Hobby over Middlebere and Swineham.

Egyptian Goose, Barnacle Goose and Canada Goose – Swineham, from this AM’s Autumn Safari – Alison Copland

Eurasian Spoonbill flock – DWT Brownsea Lagoon from this AM’s Autumn Safari – Alison Copland

Despite the cloud all day, a perfect sunset saw the day out, illuminating the whole harbour on the low tide and it’s many, many birds! There were 5 Glossy Ibis in the Wareham Channel this evening, with 4 each of Great White Egret and Marsh Harrier out on Arne Moors. There was also a feeding flock of c150 Avocet also out in the Wareham Channel this evening and 2 Spoonbill. There was a minimum of 2 Osprey still, including an un-ringed juvenile which landed on our tree cam at RSPB Arne this morning. A White-tailed Eagle caught a fish in the Wareham Channel this evening. This morning 2 Glossy Ibis flew past the PCW Drain, Holes Bay, 93 Spoonbill were later counted on the Brownsea Lagoon, 5 Grasshopper Warbler and a Water Rail were ringed at the Carey Ringing Station.

Un-ringed juvenile Osprey – RSPB Arne

Un-ringed juvenile Osprey – RSPB Arne

Some of our team were active out across much of the harbour today with two Autumn Safari Cruises, giving good coverage throughout the day and a fantastic range of species at different locations. Highlights from today included 94 Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon, along with 1 Little Stint, c400 Avocet, 16 Greenshank, 4 Sanderling, c25 Ringed Plover and 1 Great White Egret was on the north shore. In the Swineham/Wareham Channel area tehre were 2 Osprey, 2 White-tailed Eagle, 4 Great White Egret, 4 Glossy Ibis, 2 Pochard, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Goshawk 1 Red Kite, 1 Peregrine and 8 Sandwich Tern. At the Carey Ringing Station 3 Grasshopper Warbler were ringed along with 176 Common Chiffchaff, 13 Stonechat, 42 Blackcap and 1 Spotted Flycatcher. A Little Ringed Plover was on the Stilt Pools at Swineham.

Avocet flock Brownsea Lagoon – Alison Copland