Today was our second Osprey bird boat of three and the conditions today (and the same for tomorrow) looked perfect. But don’t you just hate it when a crowd comes to see you and someone, or in this case something else steals the show? That’s exactly what happened today when the Ospreys were well and truly out-classed (as much as it pains us to say that). We were treated to an excellent flying display of an Osprey along the Arne shoreline down the Wareham Channel, while another flew to the north heading for Lytchett Bay. Common and Sandwich Tern were actively feeding, looking as if they were diving into glass as the harbour was totally motionless. Then it was the turn of the seals with 2-3 seen in the mouth of Middlebere and 3 Common Sandpiper were on the shore of Long Island. Then, out of nowhere, local musician and birder Simon Emmerson shouted out “whats that?? A..a Phalarope”… and sure enough, not 10 feet from the boat was a tiny, immaculate juvenile Red-necked Phalarope feeding happily as 50+ people stared down on it from a big yellow Brownsea Island Ferry. We watched it for a good 15 minuets as photographers happily snapped away in the mid afternoon sunshine. That wasn’t the only amazing birding event today. Elsewhere an incredible 73 Grasshopper Warbler were ringed on Ballard along with 27 Sedge Warbler, 11 Reed Warbler, 20 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Whitethroat, 1 Redstart and 1 Tree Pipit. A Great White Egret was in Wytch Lake and 11 Spoonbill were in Middlebere. At Lytchett Fields there were 95 Dunlin, 110 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ringed Plover, 8 Greenshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Common Sandpiper, 23 Green Sandpiper along with 3 Spotted Flycatcher and 7 Yellow Wagtail. Redstarts were at Greenland’s Farm, South Haven, Hartland Moor and Slepe Heath with Whinchat and Spotted Flycatcher also on Hartland. In Middlebere 4-5 Osprey were present all day. 

Red-necked Phalarope – Central Harbour – Katie Horrocks

Red-necked Phalarope – Central Harbour – Rowena Bird

It started off fine but cooled down by the afternoon. Passerine migration didn’t really pick up too much other than the odd Whinchat or Redstart on Hartland. Whitethroat and Blackcap are increasing in numbers though and as august gives way to September these two species will increase even more. In Middlebere there were 10 Spoonbill, 5 Osprey, 2 Greenshank and 2 Redstart along the access track. Migration through Ballard was slow with just 6 Sedge Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Whitethroat and 2 Redstart, although 94 House Martin were ringed and 2 British controlled birds were also caught. At Lytchett Bay there were 115 Dunlin, 21 Green Sandpiper, 10+ Yellow Wagtail, 12 Sedge Warbler and 1 Spotted Flycatcher. 

Spotted Flycatcher – Lytchett Bay – Shaun Robson

Apart from the obvious conservation benefit of our most recent Osprey translocation project there is a significant secondary benefit, which is the public benefit. Offering the opportunity for people to come and see these magnificent birds of prey is special in its self but being able to do it within the setting of Poole Harbour whilst watching plenty of other great wildlife truly is special. Today we hosted ours (and the projects) first ever Osprey translocation cruise where we were able to present, discuss and showcase the project to a budding and enthusiastic audience whilst taking in the best the harbour had to offer. We make no secret of the fact that this then provides all organisation involved within the project the opportunity to talk about their wider work, bettering and widening peoples understanding of other conservation issues and topics, which for us is just as important as the Osprey project alone. It was fantastic to see so many new faces and to take questions from everyone on board. It panned out exactly as we had hoped it would, when discussing it all those years ago, when the project was still just an idea rather than a reality. A huge thanks again to everyone on board and we look forward to our next two (Fri & Sat) this week. Thankfully, some (not all) Osprey played ball and our hardy passengers were treated to watching two Osprey fishing out in the Wareham Channel, with one even catching a fish. We also saw another (or the same) two on top of Arne Hill getting mobbed by Ravens. Whilst out on the boat plenty of Common and Sandwich Tern were still out and about feeding and we even had a Wheatear try and land on the boat near the mouth of the Frome. Black-tailed Godwit, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Shag, Little Egret and a Peregrine were also seen, but the real stars of the show were of course our talon-masked friends. Elsewhere in the harbour a Marsh Tit was ringed up on Ballard Down which is pretty exceptional along with 32 House Martin and 1 Garden Warbler. On Brownsea there were 2 Spoonbill, 1 Little Stint, 1 Spotted Redshank and the Bonaparte’s Gull. Lytchett Fields was mad with birds including 126 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 14 Green Sandpiper, 1 Knot, 8 Greenshank, 126 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper and a good sweep of Lapwing, Common Snipe, Shelduck and Black-tailed Godwit as well as 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Whinchat and 7 Yellow Wagtail. We also began night recording again properly a few nights ago and last night was quite busy with birds as 13 Tree Pipit, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 2 individual Common Sandpiper and 1 flock, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit flock, 1 small Ringed Plover flock and 1 Common Snipe all passing over our listening station between 9pm and 4:30am.

Common Seals see from Osprey boat trip this AM – Phyl England

All aboard…Osprey boat trip this AM 

Osprey – Middlebere – Simon Kidner (not photographed from boat trip)

A dark, dank, misty murky morning welcomed us this morning and it didn’t budge until around 11am, and with a stiff easterly wind it forced a Great Skua into Poole Bay which seemed lost in the fog, until it then cleared and the bird then headed out back south again, along with 9 Common Scoter. Ringing totals near Ballard included just 9 Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat and a Redstart. On Brownsea there was still 1 Little Stint and in Middlebere 5 Osprey and 9 Spoonbill were present. Night migration over our listening station in Old Town Poole was pretty slow too with just 3 Tree Pipit, 6 Robin, 3 Common Sandpiper and 1 Ringed Plover.

Juvenile Osprey – Middlebere – Simon Kidner

Juvenile Osprey – Middlebere – Simon Kidner

Once Sundays ‘yuk’ had moved on through, things improved weather wise and some passage picked up first thing with a good flurry of birds moving through Ballard which included 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 Redstart, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, and the standard Blackcap, Whitethroat and Willow Warbler. Sadly, we didn’t experience a stonking American gem like those lucky so and so’s did over at Portland when an American Yellow Warbler turned up at Culverwell, although it just goes to show, you just never ever know what will turn up next! On Brownsea there were good numbers of Black-tailed godwit, Dunlin, Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Little Egret, 1 Knot, 1 Little Stint, 2 Kingfisher and several Common and Sandwich Tern still hanging about. Out in the Wareham Channel there were 3-4 Osprey fishing/hunting/soaring with 2 Hobby over Arne Moors and an adult male Marsh Harrier left the dawn roost in Poole harbour west. Spotted Flycatcher are seemingly quite numerous at present with family groups and migrants active on many wooded, heathland edges, enjoying the warm sunshine and late summer insects. At Lytchett Fields there were 12 Yellow-legged Gull out in the whilst on the fields 123 Redshank, 104 Black-tailed Godwit, 91 Dunlin, 54 Lapwing, 12 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 20+ Green Sandpiper, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Wheatear and 1 Yellow Wagtail all enjoyed the late afternoon high tide. 

Pied Flycatcher – Ballard – Olly Slessor

Redstart – Ballard – Olly Slessor

This morning the Great White Egret appeared in Middlebere again before flying off north-east towards Round Island. Also in Middlebere were 10 Spoonbill, 3 Osprey, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Hobby and 1 Green Sandpiper, c200 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Greenshank. There was also a reliable report of a Goshawk heading over Middlebere mid-morning too, which spooked all the Spoonbill and waders. Confirmed records of ‘Gos’ are less than annual within our Poole Harbour area but with populations increasing elsewhere around the country, dispersing juveniles could well be moving through the area right now. On Brownsea there were 2 juv Little Stint. At Lytchett Fields there were 85 Dunlin, 81 Redshank, 21 Green Sandpiper, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit and 2 Blackcap. Migration through Ballard Down, Studland included 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatcher plus several each of Willow Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat.

Great White Egret – Middlebere – Phyl England

Spoonbill – Middlebere – Phyl England

Middlebere again saw a good deal of coverage with 9 Spoonbill, 3-4 Osprey but no sign of the Great White Egret. The first fledged juvenile Hobby of the summer were seen out over Hartland Moor and Marsh Harrier were seen at Lytchett Bay, Middlebere and Wareham Channel. A ringing session at Lytchett Bay produced 55 Sedge Warbler, 17 Reed Warbler, 4 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Tree Pipit and a Cetti’s Warbler whilst out on Lytchett Fields there were 90+ Dunlin, 6 Greenshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Tree Pipit, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 3 Blackcap and 2 Whitethroat. On the Brownsea Lagoon there was a single Little Stint with c200 Dunlin, 15 Avocet, c200 Black-tailed Godwit and 11 Ringed Plover.

Middlebere is receiving a lot of attention at present, and for good reason too. There were 8 Spoonbill, 3-4 Osprey and 1 Great White Egret, 8 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 400 Black-tailed Godwit and a Barn Owl there today. An Osprey was also seen leaving high to the south this AM although it was a presumed adult rather than one of our chicks. In the Wareham Channel 2 Marsh Harrier and another Osprey were out near the mouth of the Frome. 

Osprey – Middlebere – Phyl England

There was no sign of any Great White Egret today but 2 Cattle Egret were seen late yesterday afternoon, suggesting that (at least some of) the eight from yesterday morning were still hanging around. A Pied Flycatcher was seen at Arne and Redstarts were on Hartland and Slepe Heath. Ospreys were seen in Middlebere and off Shipstal Beach, Arne. 

Today, amazingly was a THREE egret day! Being late summer, good numbers of Little Egret are now back in the harbour and this morning 1 (possibly 2) Great White Egret were seen along the southern edge with one flying in over SW over South Haven towards Brownsea with another (or the same) seen in Middlebere later on. The most incredible report was 3 Cattle Egret flying into Middlebere with 5 Little Egret at 8:30am. However upon closer inspection of the photo the 5 Little Egret were in fact juvenile Cattle Egret meaning 8 flew in together!! This constitutes the largest Poole Harbour gathering of this species and could be a sign of things to come for the coming years? How prominent will they be this autumn and winter? Also in Middlebere were 7 Spoonbill, 4+ Osprey and 8+ Greenshank with a Whinchat along the entrance track. On the Brownsea Lagoon the Bonaparte’s Gull was still present with a Little Stint, 11+ Greenshank, 14 Avocet, 112 Little Egret, 160 Redshank, 3 Spotted Redshank, 110 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Knot, 325 Dunlin, 59 Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 30 Teal, 1 Osprey, 1 Hobby and 4 Kingfisher.