An incredible Poole Harbour tour today on the RSPB bird boat, with flat calm waters and perfect light conditions we knew we were in for a good one. Paul Morton conducted the commentary from local publishing company The Sound Approach, who talked to the 50 lucky voyagers as the boat cruised around idyllic scenery. This very first bird noted was a Great Northern Diver just off Poole Quay, starting off an impressive tally for the day. As the boat approached Brownsea Island, Red-breasted Merganser, Sandwich Tern, Razorbill, Cormorant and Shag were all observed at close range. Part of the tour was a two-hour stop off on Brownsea Island, and of course it didn’t let us down. 400+ Avocet, 80+ Grey Plover, 300+ Dunlin, 200+ Oystercatcher, 30+ Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Spotted Redshank, 10+ Greenshank not to mention the many Redshank, Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall and Shelduck. Although the real star of the show was a female Merlin that spent the whole time chasing flocks of birds back and forth across the lagoon giving fantastic views. In the woodland Bullfinch, Siskin and 7 Red Squirrel were a real treat. Back to the quayside on Brownsea for the rest of the tour but not before spotting 2 more Great Northern Diver just off the quay, again being ever so obliging. Back on the boat and 5 Black-necked Grebe, 20+ Goldeneye, 50+ Great Crested Grebe, a Common Scoter and many many more Red-breasted Merganser were observed diving and rising time after time. As we headed for Arne a gathering of White blobs appeared on Shipstal point which eventually turned into 12 Spoonbill and at one magical moment a ringtail Hen Harrier decided to fly right over the boat as it was mobbed by Raven allowing a great view of all three species of bird in one binocular view! If that wasn’t enough, just as we started to head back a Common Seal decided to pop it’s head up just off the side of the boat bidding us farewell and hoping to see us again soon…au revoir everybody….au revoir Mr Seal!

A particular focus was on Poole Park this morning as a report of a Yellow-browed Warbler was submitted to the Dorset Bird Club yesterday. The bird was found and confirmed as a Yellow-browed at around 8:45am this morning just near the concrete bridge that the child’s railway line runs over. It was feeding in a small Willow with a Chiffchaff and several Blue Tit’s. It then flew off towards the back gardens of the houses that run adjacent to the large pond. Other species in the area included a decent flock of Siskin moving about the Alder, Grey Wagtail, 26 Tufted Duck, Reed Bunting and Little Egret.

Another windy day out on the water today with a school bird boat leaving the quay first thing. A huge high tide made birding difficult with almost all marsh areas totally submerged. Again the focus was mainly on the Brownsea Lagoon with 8 Spoonbill, 400+ Avocet, 400+ Black-tailed Godwit, 200+ Oystercatcher, 14 Greenshank plus many Redshank, Dunlin, Wigeon, Shoveler and Little egret. Brent Geese were few and far between with only a handful of birds in Brands Bay and over the harbour mouth. Out on the water Great Crested Grebe were the only diving species of any note while a Seal put in an appearance off Shipstal Beach. In the west of the harbour, the Wareham Channel area saw a male ringtail Hen Harrier as well as Sparrowhawk, Peregrine and Merlin all trying to take advantage of the abundance of waders. 4 Marsh Harrier were seen going into a roost.

A strong south westerly wind had picked up by mid morning making harbour watching difficult. An RSPB school bird boat went out this morning and saw good numbers of birds on the Brownsea Lagoon. Totals included 18 Spoonbill, 4 Knot , 13 Spotted Redshank , 40+ Curlew , 4 Brent Geese, 400 Avocet, 5 Greenshank, 700 Black-tailed Godwit, 300 Oystercatcher, plus many Teal, Wigeon, Shoveler, Redshank and Cormorant. Very quiet out on the water with just 1 Red-breasted Merganser and 3 Great Crested Grebe with at least another 15 Brent Geese in and around the marshes at Arne. A report of a 1st Winter Caspian Gull came in from Holes Bay mid afternoon, but despite much searching late afternoon/early evening couldn’t be relocated.

South Haven and just inside the harbour mouth was the main focus this morning. A great variety of mid autumn birds with a few winter species back in the harbour. The morning started of at 05:45 in the hope of a decent thrush movement over South Haven, but all I could muster was one Redwing and two Song Thrush. ‘Vis Mig’ was pretty poor with only 50 each of Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail passing over head along with 12 Siskins, a Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a few Reed Bunting crossing the harbour mouth. 75 Brent Geese are now present at Knoll Beach Studland, where there were also two Firecrest and a handful of Chiffchaff. Within the harbour Brands Bay seemed to be the main focus for birds as three Common Scoter (two males and a female), an early(ish) Black-necked Grebe, 20+ Great Crested Grebe and three Red-breasted Merganser were all settled, but no sign of yesterday Red-throated Diver. 8 Turnstone and 6 Dunlin were also present on the beach at Brands Bay. Shore Road also had two Red-breasted Merganser and a fly-over Redwing.

A short wet trip down to the harbour mouth produced some nice birds in half an hour. A Red-throated Diver flew in and landed in Shell Bay for around 30 seconds before taking off again and headed into the harbour towards Brownsea. 5 Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew in high from the east over the harbour mouth and down toward Arne. 5 Sandwich Tern were still feeding off the sea wall at North Haven, and a Sparrowhawk made an unusual sea voyage flying low across the water from South Haven to North Haven. On the way back a quick stop off at Shore Road produced 8 Turnstaone on the beach, 1 each of Oystercatcher and Redshank and 2 Stonechat on one of the 4 gorse bushes! Poole Park had at least 30 House Martins and Swallows hawking over with 1 Sand Martin.

With a stiff south westerly breeze kicking in about 9am it made for tough harbour watching out on the water. The Brownsea Lagoon saw most action with 13 Spoonbill, 200+ Avocet, 300+ Black-tailed Godwit, 13 Spotted Redshank, 500+ Oystercatcher plus Greenshank, Turnstone, Dunlin, Shoveler, Teal Wigeon, Little Egret and a Wheatear on the sea wall. From Arne another 200+ Oystercatcher were out on the Shipstal spit along with 70 Cormorant and a few Redshank. Out on the water there was very little to report with just one Great Crested Grebe. The captain on one of the Brownsea Island ferries reported an Arctic Skua in the harbour mouth yesterday getting harassed by gulls.

On Wednesday 26th of September the first RSPB/Sound Approach School Birdboat launched with 75 lively children form Winton Primary School. Starting the trips earlier than usual means we’re hopefully going to be able to paint an accurate picture as to when certain species arrive back in the harbour during the autumn and winter. Our first trip certainly didn’t disappoint with an Osprey flying over Arne RSPB reserve before heading off down the Middlebere Channel. The Brownsea Lagoon was full with birds with 11 Spoonbill, 200+ Avocet, 600+ Black-tailed Godwit, plus many Redshank, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Teal, Shoveler and even a lonely Wheatear on the sea wall. At least 10 Sandwich Tern were seen still fishing out in the harbour mouth whilst the first returning Great Crested Grebes could be spotted in the sheltered bays around Brownsea and Furzey.