Its fair to say Dorset is having a pretty good year with Poole Harbour certainly benefiting from extra coverage too. Today, despite the rain, saw pots of gold at either end of the rainbow when to begin with Poole Harbours second Stilt Sandpiper turned up at Lytchett Fields. Initially playing hard ball at the very back of French’s Pools, it finally gave its self up and flew and landed on the pools next to the viewpoints giving point blank views. There’s still some question as to whether it’s the same bird as the Lodmoor bird and giving its rarity status it’s probably likely, however there seem to be some slight plumage differences showing in some photos, so I guess we’ll see. Then, at the other end of the day a Red-necked Phalarope was found swimming around in exactly the same pool as the Grey Phalarope that was found on Sunday with both feeding shoulder to shoulder with one another in the NW corner of Arne Moors. As the site is private and the birds were found during a survey, access wasn’t granted immediately but with thanks to Ridge Wharf Boat Yard who later kindly agreed access through their yard, people were able to come an enjoy the birds from a safe distance up on the sea wall. For directions to try and see the birds CLICK HERE. Lytchett Fields had a great supporting cast of 2 Ruff, 3 Knot, 2 Little Stint, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 200+ Dunlin, 40+ Lapwing, 100+ Redshank, 300 Teal and 7 Wigeon. A sea watch from Branksome chine produced 4 Eider east and a pale morph Arctic Skua harassing an Arctic Tern. The seasons first school bird boat also took place today and despite the wind and rain 2 Arctic Tern, 6 Spoonbill and a good selection of waders on the Brownsea Lagoon including 1 Little Stint, 5 Common Sandpipers, 3 Spotted Redshank, 18 Greenshank, 1 Sanderling, 3 Ringed Plover and 38 Dunlin kept spirits high. A Peregrine was hunting just off Poole Quay mid morning and another was roosting on he tall part of the Asda building. 

Stilt Sandpiper – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Stilt Sandpiper – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

If there weren’t enough signs to prove autumn had well and truly landed, well today’s arrival of the harbours (and Dorset’s) first Yellow-browed Warbler of the season just about sealed it. Sadly it was on private land, but this does mean these awesome little autumn gems are now beginning to pass through, so its well worth keeping yours eyes peeled in passing Long-tailed Tit flocks and your ears on high alert for their familiar calls. Below is a recording made from Knoll Beach, Studland back in 2014 to help you familiarise yourselves. Middlebere was again popular as 29 Spoonbill, 1 Osprey, 1 Great White Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 709 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Greenshank, 121 Avocet, 4 Knot, 18 Wigeon, 6 Pintail and 19 Yellow Wagtail. At Lytchett Fields there were 2 Little Stint, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 1 Spoonbill, 12 Wigeon and all the usual cohort of waders and wildfowl. In the Wareham Channel on the low tide 25 Spoonbill were feeding and 8 adult Yellow-legged Gull, 13 Pintail and large numbers of other gulls were out on the mud. The first night ringing session of the autumn/winter didn’t produce any Jack Snipe (or Woodcock) unsurprisingly as its still too early but the first Common Snipe was ringed along with a Wheatear. 

Yellow-browed Warbler call of autumn migrant – 31/10/14 – Knoll Beach, Studland, Poole Harbour

Common Snipe – Lower Frome Valley

Little Stint – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Little Stints – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Lytchett Fields is still looking strong at present with a great sweep of birds across the whole site with 3 Ruff, 2 Little Stint, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 16 Greenshank, 100+ Redshank, 1 Spoonbill, 200+ Dunlin, 40+ Lapwing and 300+ Teal. In Middlebere the Great White Egret was seen again and there were 21 Spoonbill, 2 Osprey (one Scottish ringed bird and 1 un-ringed), 700+ Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Peregrine, 40 Avocet, 2 Greenshank and 4 Grey Plover. In Holes Bay, 4 Black Swans appeared from somewhere, but we’re not assuming Australia. The Brownsea Lagoon was also looking fab with 1 Little Stint, 6 Sanderling, 6 Grey Plover, 8 Spoonbill, 2 Kingfisher, 3 Pintail of note alongside increasing numbers of Wigeon, Gadwall and Shoveler, 300+ Oystercatcher, 40 Avocet, numerous Redshank, Sandwich Tern, and 2 Firecrest near the villa. The Grey Phalarope was again out in the NW corner of Arne Moors. 

Chiffchaff – Poole Garden – Marcus Lawson

After a busy day yesterday, things quieted down today, which for a Monday is no surprise. The big news of the day is that we no longer received a signal from our last juvenile Osprey LS6 meaning that all 8 of this summers translocated chicks are now underway with some even possibly already down in Africa. We’d like to say a huge thanks to everyone that’s been involved from volunteers, landowners and you the public for supporting the work with either financial donations or joining us on our Osprey boat cruises back in August. Arne was buzzing with people through August, all excited to see Osprey within Poole Harbour and now that all 8 have gone we can now reflect, assess and start planning for next year now! Sightings from around the harbour included 21 Spoonbill at Middlebere, 9 on Brownsea and 1 on Lytchett Fields. There were single of Ruff and Curlew Sandpiper on Lytchett Fields too and migration the Ballard Down included a steady flow of Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Meadow Pipit with 2 Common Redstart also ringed. There are already 3 Merlin back, mostly frequenting the Hartland area but also traveling down the Wareham Channel area too. 

Today was the first Poole Harbour WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey) of the season which sees 30 volunteers head out into the harbour and count all waders and waterfowl present. This continues all the way through the winter until the end of February and sees a really accurate picture painted as to how healthy (or not so healthy) our over-wintering waders and wildfowl populations are. Being only mid-September many birds are yet to arrive but the first signs that winter is just around the corner became evident today as rising numbers of Wigeon, Pintail, Teal and Shoveler were all recorded as were rising numbers of over-wintering waders. Highlights from around the harbour included the Great White Egret in the mouth of Wytch Lake, the Scottish ringed Osprey caught a fish in the same area. A Grey Phalarope was found on a small pool in the NW corner of Arne Moors with 2 Wheatear and a Marsh Harrier there too. What was almost certainly a Pink-footed Goose came and landed on the Brownsea Lagoon for only 30 seconds before sadly lifting off again and disappeared west. A Brent Goose was also on the Southern shores but its hard to say whether this is an early returning bird or one of the two that over-summered in the area which haven’t been seen for around a month. At Lytchett Fields there was 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 1 Pintail, 239 Dunlin, 1 Spoonbill, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Yellow Wagtail. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 3 Spotted Redshank and 3 Spoonbill. Out in the Wareham Channel 14 Spoonbill were feeding. Migration through Ballard was slow with only 16 Chiffchaff and 9 Blackcap ringed which compared to yesterday was a stark difference. A visible migration watch up on Glebelands, Ballard Down was slow but gave an insight of things to come as small groups of Goldfinch, Linnet, Siskin and Chaffinch passed over heading NE with stronger totals of Meadow Pipit and Hirundines, along with 1 Ringed Plover and the first small arrival of Song Thrush. At Greenlands Farm there were 2-3 Redstart, 2 Whitethroat and again, small totals of Linnet, Goldfinch and Chaffinch passing overhead. Brands Bay was heavily disturbed by walkers for most of the afternoon but 7 Spoonbill and an Osprey were highlights during the WeBS. 

To get a more detailed understanding of Poole Harbours over wintering birds, why not have a read through our 2008 Waders and Waterfowl of Poole Harbour study carried out by Nick Hopper. This gives a great insight into the feeding, roosting and distribution of all our over-wintering species during the 2008/09 winter period. 

Great White Egret – Wytch Lake 

Brent Goose – Southern shores, near Wytch Lake

For most of the morning and early afternoon there was a strong passage of Meadow Pipit passing overhead, all passing on a broad front across the entire harbour along with a strong hirundine movement with many thousands of Swallow and to a lesser extent Sand Martin and House Martin moving WSW. The Spoonbill flock in Middlebere was 22 with 5 on the Brownsea Lagoon and 1 on Lytchett Fields. Ospreys were seen over the Wareham Channel and 1 in Brands Bay. 1-3 Marsh Harrier are currently present with birds moving about the Wareham Channel, Middlebere area.  The Baird’s Sandpiper was again on the Brownsea Lagoon and the Great White Egret was reported in Middlebere and then over the mouth of the Frome, Wareham Channel. Wheatears, Whitethroat and Whinchat were seen along Soldiers Road and 4 Yellow Wagtail were at Hartland Stud. Migration through the Ballard area was strong with 84 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, 43 Blackcap, 3 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 5 Whitethroat and 53 Sand Martin ringed. At Greenlands Farm there were 3 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Wheatear, 28 Chiffchaff and 6 Blackcap at Brands Bay a single Osprey and at Manor Farm, Studland the Hooded Crow was still present. At dusk we also headed out into the Lower Frome Valley to try our first lamping session of the autumn/winter to assess whether any early Jack Snipe had arrived in. None were seen but 7 Common Snipe were flushed and the only bird ringed was in fact a Wheatear!

Wheatear ringed during lamping session – Lower Frome Valley

With all these American waders turning up in Dorset it would be nice if the Brownsea  Baird’s Sandpiper hooked up with a familiar friend but so far its not to be. At Lytchett Fields a Wood Sandpiper was still present along with 18 Green Sandpiper, 1 Spoonbill, 165 Dunlin, 12 Ringed Plover, 8 Greenshank, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap and lots of Chiffchaff. Marsh Harriers were noted at Swineham, Middlebere and Shipstal, Arne. Migration through Ballard was reasonable again with 55 Chiffchaff and 34 Blackcap ringed along with 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 5 Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warbler and 1 Willow Warbler. 

The highlight from today was when a Tawny Pipit flew low across the Brownsea Quay having arrived in from the south by the looks of things, heading into the northerly wind. It carried on north traveling along the Brownsea sea wall, heading towards Baiter.  This coincided with a small flurry of Meadow Pipit and 2 Wheatear following the same flight line north. The lagoon its self still had the Baird’s Sandpiper, 7 Spoonbill and Garganey on it and a Peregrine sat watching and waiting for almost the entire day. At dawn 3 Merlin zipped around Poole Harbour west with one in transit heading up the Frome Valley and 2 around the Slepe Heath area. At Lytchett Fields there was a single Curlew Sandpiper amongst the 100+ Dunlin, 1 Spoonbill, 1 Whinchat but no sign of the Wood Sand. The cold WNW wind kept much at bay but out on Whitley Lake 38 Sandwich Tern and a single Arctic Tern hunkered down on the low tide whilst up on Ballard just singles of Redstart, Wheatear, Whinchat and Common Whitethroat were noted. At Sunnyside Farm passerine numbers were low with just a Whinchat and several Chiffchaff seen. At Middlebere there were 675 Black-tailed Godwit, 100+ Dunlin, 30 Avocet, 4 Greenshank and 1 Knot. An Osprey was out in the Wareham Channel at dawn too.

We mentioned yesterday that Brownsea hosted a large total of 360 Great Black-backed Gulls coming in to roost which is a larger than normal amount. Knowing and learning where these birds are coming from poses an interesting question which we’d like to learn more about. Back in 2008 Nick Hopper carried a ‘Gulls of Poole Harbour’ study which gives an excellent account and insight as to where all our gulls are roosting and how far they’ve travelled to get here. You can read the full report here – Gulls of Poole Harbour

 Baird’s Sandpiper and Redshank – Brownsea Lagoon – Olly Slessor

Again Brownsea saw the lion’s share of sightings as the Baird’s Sandpiper continued to show nicely from the Mac Hide, the Garganey from the Lower Hide and the Black Tern commuting between the two! Two Black Tern were also feeding out in the tidal race of the SE Brownsea shore. An Osprey also drifted over, Crossbill, Firecrest, Wheatear and Tawny Owl were recorded from terrestrial sites around the island and on the lagoon 2 Curlew Sandpiper, Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, Sandwich, Common and an Arctic Tern, 2 Kingfisher, Spoonbill, Peregrine, 1 Whimbrel and Avocet were all recorded too with a decent total of 360 Greater Black-backed Gull coming into roost. On Lytchett Fields there was 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper and c15 Ringed Plover and in Holes Bay NE there was a single Spotted Redshank. A Branksome sea watch produced 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Red-throated Diver, 3 Arctic Tern, 15 Common Scoter, c10 Gannet and numerous Common and Sandwich Tern.

Black Tern – Brownsea Lagoon – Ian Ballam

Today Brownsea remained on good form with the Baird’s Sandpiper, 1 Black Tern, 1 Garganey, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 juv Sanderling, 25 Greenshank, 4 Spotted Redshank, 25 Avocet, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Wheatear and 200+ Teal along with 8 Wigeon, 17 Shoveler and 20+ Gadwall. At Lytchett Fields the Wood Sandpiper remained but the fields were really flooded so most birds had moved off. At Middlebere there were 32 Spoonbill, the Scottish ringed Osprey and a nice selection of migrants along the access track including Hobby, Whinchat, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap, Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat. In the harbour mouth a single Arctic Tern fed briefly. Migration through Ballard included 47 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 6 Sedge Warbler, 6 Grasshopper Warbler, 25 Blackcap and 1 Spotted Flycatcher. Our daily PM check on this summers translocated Osprey juv’s revealed that two more have now gone leaving just LS6 here all on his lonesome. LS0 left some time during Monday and LS2 left some time today. This was slightly surprising as the weather wasn’t exactly ‘departure friendly’ but at least it was a SW wind meaning any birds moving south across the English Channel would be blown over mainland Europe rather than out over the Bay of Biscay. 

Spotted Flycatcher – Ballard Down – Olly Slessor

Kingfisher – Brownsea Lagoon – Paul Morton

Juvenile Swallow – Brownsea Lagoon – Paul Morton