Today heralded the first returning Hen Harriers with not one but two seen by the end of the day. An adult grey male was seen in several locations including Middlebere and the Wareham Channel with a ringtail female appearing over the Brownsea Lagoon late afternoon before then being seen again near Arne. Another surprise was when a flock of 6 Goosander were found ‘snorkeling’ in Newton Bay. Goosander are a scarce visitor to the main area of Poole Harbour normally appearing during cold snaps later in the winter or when there is increased shooting activity up the river valley’s. The Spoonbill flock seems more spread out now but there are collectively still between 40-50 (maybe more) still present. Up on Ballard vis-mig picked up slightly with a small passage of Linnet, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and alba wagtails along with 2 Golden Plover and a Ring Ouzel along the Studland Road. Brownsea got full coverage today and produced the goods with totals including 2 Little Stint, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 130 Avocet, 14 Spotted Redshank, 245 Redshank, 27 Greenshank, 2 Knot, 65 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, 4 Grey Plover, 375 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff, 520 Oystercatcher, 65 Shoveler, 1 Pintail, 550 Teal, 3 Brent Goose, 5 Spoonbill, 42 Little Egret, 3 Kingfisher, 1 Peregrine and the flyover Hen Harrier. At Lytchett Fields a Sanderling on the Sherford Pools was the first ever record for the fields and the 33^rd species of wader to be recorded here since the site was created in 2013. Also on Lytchett Fields were 8 Ruff, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 150 Dunlin, 14 Greenshank. The long-staying Stilt Sandpiper was again in Middlebere. Will we see another North American wader over-winter this year as we did with Lytchett Bays Lesser Yellowlegs last year? The Great White Egret was also in Middlebere with 2 Spotted Redshank, 3 Spoonbill, 135 Black-tailed Godwit, 119 Avocet, 9 Knot, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, the 6 Goosander and 4 Pintail. An amazing 19 Ruff were on Sunnyside Farm fields near Ridge. Migration through Ballard was again strong but variety low as big numbers of Chiffchaff pushed through and to a lesser extent Blackcap.

A few months ago we launched our winter bird boat schedule and places are booking up fast! If you’d like to join us and learn about Poole Harbours spectacular birdlife then don’t miss out and book on NOW – WINTER BIRD BOATS

Wheatear – Baiter – John Grendon

Oystercatcher – Baiter – John Grendon

Black-tailed Godwit – Baiter – John Grendon

There’s still plenty of great birds around to keep you interested and with most of October still ahead of us and some interesting weather systems heading our way in the coming weeks, we could see even more great birding along the way. With so much opportunity around every corner, even when heading out to see birds that you know are there, don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for ‘hidden extras’ tucked away. In Middlebere the Great White Egret was feeding in the top of the channel before lifting off and headed towards Arne. Spoonbills were commuting between Shipstal, Arne and Middlebere with 25 on site. The Stilt Sandpiper was again in Middlebere with 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 5 Knot, c700 Black-tailed Godwit, c200 Avocet and 6 Greenshank. On Lytchett Fields a decent count of 16 Greenshank was noteworthy as was 11 Ruff, 3 Little Stint, 1 Spoonbill, 150+ Dunlin and 1 Marsh Harrier. An Osprey was hunting in the Wareham Channel at dawn and 4 Marsh Harrier came out of the west Poole Harbour roost, 1 Merlin was on Slepe heath along with 2 Peregrine. Out in Studland Bay there were 4 Black-necked Grebe and 77 Med Gulls. Migration through Ballard Down was pretty strong too with 87 Chiffchaff, 18 Blackcap, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Firecrest, 5 Goldcrest, 1 Stonechat and 6 Meadow Pipit ringed. In Holes Bay NE a Common Sandpiper was near the PC World outflow with 460 Wigeon present in the bay with 125 Teal, 55 Redshank, 45 Black-tailed Godwit, and a Kingfisher. There were also 4 Little Stint on the Brownsea Lagoon. 

Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit – Middlebere – Simon Kidner

Today the Stilt Sandpiper ventured back to Lytchett Fields where it stayed for most of the day until it upped and left before being re-found again at Middlebere around 17:40. Also at Lytchett Fields were 10 Ruff, 3 Little Stint, 1 Spoonbill, 3 Green Sandpiper and 1 Marsh Harrier. At Sunnyside Farm there were 4 Wheatear. Marsh Harriers were at Hartland Moor, Holton Lee and the Wareham Channel. On Brownsea there were only 6 Spoonbill but also 1 Ruff, 6 Spotted Redshank, 10 Greenshank and 2 Kingfisher. At Baiter Wheatear have been seen along the beach and rocks over recent days and Sandwich Terns are still fishing along the shoreline. 

Sandwich Tern – Baiter – John Grendon

Sandwich Tern – Baiter – John Grendon

For most of today the weather was pretty yuk but it did clear away eventually by late afternoon and early doors it wasn’t too bad. Not much change on the bird front with the Stilt Sandpiper still in Middlebere for most of the day with 9 Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 4 Knot, 378 Avocet, 490+ Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Osprey. A Lytchett Bay record of 10 Ruff were counted with 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Little Stint and 2 Spoonbill. There was a report of a Wryneck flying over the Holton Pools hide mid afternoon, calling but it couldn’t be relocated. At Baiter there was a single Wheatear, several Ringed Plover and Turnstone. A Marsh Tit at Arne in a mixed-tit flock was a good record. On Arne moors there were 6 Ruff, 23 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Common Snipe. 

A very autumnal start to the day with the first 21 Brent Geese of the autumn entering the harbour just after dawn, along with the first 3 Black-necked Grebe being found out in Studland Bay, viewed from Middle Beach. In the Middle Beach car park there were 3 Firecrest along with another in Knoll Beach with a large mixed tit flock. There was a large pulse of Chiffchaff and Blackcap moving through with the early rain at dawn bringing a lot down. Passage through the Ballard area reflected this with 68 Chiffchaff, 20 Blackcap, 22 Meadow Pipit, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Redstart all ringed early on. In Studland church yard there were another c50 Chiffchaff along with another Firecrest. The Stilt Sandpiper remained faithful to Middlebere, feeding there for most of the day along with the Osprey which went on several fishing jaunts throughout the day. There was an incredible flock of 18 Ruff on Arne Moors, a sight very rarely seen these days. On Lytchett Fields there were 8 Ruff, 3 Little Stint, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 175 Dunlin and 11 Greenshank. There was a single Spoonbill on Holton Pools and 2 Kingfisher. At Greenland’s Farm there were 6 Wheatear and 1 Whinchat. Around the harbour Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall and Pintail numbers are rising by the day with now over 500 Wigeon in Holes Bay NE. 

Again, the Stilt Sandpiper was in Middlebere early morning and then again in the late afternoon, accompanied by 20 Spoonbill, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Osprey, 5 Spotted Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 3 Knot, 200+ Black-tailed Godwit and 200+ Avocet. At Lytchett Fields there were 5 Ruff, 3 Little Stint, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Knot, 1 Spoonbill, 1 Wheatear and 40+ Meadow Pipit. A sea watch from Branksome Chine produced 1 Red-throated Diver, 20 Common Scoter, 8 Wigeon and a handful of Sandwich Tern. In the Wareham Channel 31 Spoonbill were feeding off Giggers Island during the low tide and 4 Marsh Harrier were in the same area including an adult male. 

 Stilt Sandpiper – Middlebere – Simon Buckell

Stilt Sandpiper 02 MVI_2662 from Waderworld on Vimeo.

There was a good arrival of Firecrest with birds seen at Knoll Beach, Greenland’s Farm and South Haven. In Middlebere the Stilt Sandpiper was still feeding in the top of the channel with 3 Ruff also present (rare here), 21 Spoonbill, 1 Osprey, 1 Marsh Harrier and 300+ each of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit. A Great White Egret was in Brands Bay. In Holes Bay a Little Stint was feeding on the low tide (also rare here) with 1 Spoonbill, 409 Black-tailed Godwit, 41 Little Egret and 40 Dunlin. At Lytchett Fields there were 4 Little Stint, 2 Ruff, 1 Marsh Harrier 1 Wheatear and the normal good spread of common waders. Migration through Ballard again was pretty slow with just 8 Chiffchaff, 1 Redstart and 16 Meadow Pipit ringed. 

Common Redstart – Ballard Down – Olly Slessor

A quick catch up from today. The Stilt Sandpiper was still in Middlebere, there were 2 Curlew Sandpiper on Brownsea and 1 on Lytchett Fields. Little Stint totals are rising with 4 on Lytchett Fields and 2 on Brownsea. An Osprey was in Middlebere and a Great White Egret was on the marsh at Upton CP. Other highlights from Lytchett Fields included 4 Ruff, 12 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 155 Dunlin, 1 Marsh Harrier and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. In Holes Bay Wigeon totals hit 400+. On the Brownsea Lagoon 8 Sanderling, 15 Greenshank and 5 Spotted Redshank added to the interest. A Guillemot was sat off Poole Quay feeding early evening. There were 3 Firecrest in Upton CP along with another 3 at Arne. 

Middlebere definitely seems to be the place to be at present with a whole suit of birds to feast your eyes on. Not only was the Stilt Sandpiper present there for most of the day but the Spoonbill total has now nearly reached 60, with between 54 and 57 reported. Also in the Middlebere channel were 360 Avocet, 1041 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Greenshank, 10 Knot, 1 Ruff, 26 Dunlin and 1 Whinchat and 2 Dartford Warbler along the approach track. The Red-necked Phalarope was still on the small pool in the NW corner of Arne Moors late afternoon and at Lytchett Fields there were 4 Ruff, 2 Little Stint, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 141 Black-tailed Godwit, 250+ Dunlin and 1 Marsh Harrier around the bay. Firecrests are now beginning to move through with individuals seen in a private garden in Poole and 1 in a mixed-tit flock at Luscombe Valley. Migration through Ballard was moderate despite the early fog with over 100 Chiffchaff ringed and a good passage of Meadow Pipit overhead along with the first decent flurry of Grey and alba Wagtails, Linnet, Chaffinch and Goldfinch. We also got our nocturnal migration listening station up and running last night with some great results. Over the coming weeks there will be big movements of birds across Europe such as the arrival of our winter thrushes and the departure of the last of our summer migrants. By monitoring what passes over our listening station at night it gives a better understand of how and when different species are migrating plus giving us an insight into a nocturnal phenomenon that would otherwise go un-noticed. Last night, highlights included 2 Ring Ouzel, the first small pulse of Song Thrush with 13 in total and 9 Blackbird, 9 Robin, 3 latish Tree Pipit, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Skylark, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank, 1 Moorhen and 1 Grey Heron. 

Ring Ouzel – Call of a night time migrant – 26/09/17 @ 02:36 – Old Town Poole Listening Station 

Luckily, for those who had struggled to catch up with the Stilt Sandpiper during its time in Poole Harbour were given a third chance today as it reappeared in Middlebere today after being re-found yesterday evening. It fed quite happily out on the mud in the presence of 47 Spoonbill, 200+ Avocet, 500+ Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Wigeon, 1 Kingfisher and the Great White Egret. Not a bad place to go birding currently! The Yellow-browed Warbler that was at Arne was seen again in the car park and a newly arrived individual was at Lytchett Bay down near the waterworks along Slough Lane. On Lytchett Fields there were 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Ruff and 3 Little Stint, one of which got pulses racing due to its pale and different appearance. Overall the bird was dumpier, larger, paler and fed slightly differently but having consulted friends about the bird the agreed ID was a slightly more worn juv Little Stint. Still, it gave a great opportunity to be able to study the variability of this species. An Osprey spent the day touring the eastern end of Arne between Middlebere and Shipstal. Migration through Ballard was steady with 39 Chiffchaff, 23 Blackcap, 42 Meadow Pipit, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Stonechat ringed with the added bonus of a hunting Kestrel also ringed!

Little Stints showing great variability – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Kestrel – Ballard Down – Olly Slessor

Stonechat – Ballard Down – Olly Slessor

Yellowhammer – Ballard Down – Olly Slessor