It felt ‘proper’ autumn today with a perfect autumnal chill in the air this morning, enough to finally need to wear a 2nd layer (or two). The NW breeze got some vis-mig underway with a good initial count of 712 Siskin up on Ballard and 319 over South Haven, Studland to start the vis-mig season, plus a decent movement of Meadow Pipit. There were some good birds to be had from our first Autumn Safari of the season with White-tailed Eagle G466 sat on Gold Point at RSPB Arne, 2-3 Osprey in the Wareham Channel, 2 Ruff, 2 Egyptian Geese, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 8 Wigeon and 5 Shoveler on the ‘Stilt Pool’ at Swineham and 51 Spoonbill (56 counted later), 1 dark-bellied Brent Goose, 2 Curlew Sandpiper (5 counted later), 41 Ringed Plover, c50 Dunlin, 3 Avocet and 4 Greenshank (13 counted later) on the Brownsea Lagoon. Earlier in the morning a White-tailed Eagle had also been on the Brownsea Lagoon but departed by 8:57am and later in the day there were 4 Knot and a single Ruff on the lagoon. On Lytchett Fields this evening there were 172 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Knot, 3 Ringed Plover, 7 Dunlin, 5 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 8 Greenshank and 120 Common Redshank with 2 Spotted Redshank there earlier today. There were 2-3 Osprey present in the Lytchett Bay area throughout the day, a small number of Wheatear were around with 2 on Brownsea, 2 on Arne Moors and 1 at Baiter. Kingfisher are now appearing at harbour edge locations with 2 at Poole Quay, 1 on the Brownsea Quay and 1 at North Haven.

Female White-tailed Eagle G466 – from Autumn Safari Cruise this AM – Mark Wright (Twitter @markwright12002)

It was good to finally see a bit of rain today which seemed to deliver a few extra goodies in the form of a Garganey on the Brownsea Lagoon and a decent count of 14 Curlew Sandpiper also on the Brownsea Lagoon. An early watch of the Wareham Channel also produced a Glossy Ibis arriving, before it soon departed east towards RSPB Arne. There were also 48 Spoonbill on the lagoon and with the 7 in Middlebere that equals the recent high count of 55, although we’re not sure if any more were lurking anywhere? In Middlebere there were 3 different Osprey during the afternoon with 2 different adults and a juvenile which landed in the dead trees with a fish. Also in Middlebere were 2 Green Sandpiper, a fresh juvenile Marsh Harrier and 1 Hobby. There were 2-3 Osprey in Lytchett Bay during the course of the day. The Forster’s Tern was on Shipstal Beach again. Small numbers of Wigeon are now popping up at all traditional over-wintering spots but Pintail are still pretty limited with just a few in Holes Bay. The Chiffchaff rush looks like it’s about to begin with numbers now well exceeding sightings of Willow Warbler, most of which have now passed through. Chiffchaff numbers build and build as they pass through all the way through September and into October with them soon fast becoming the most prominent migrating passerine. There were still small numbers of Yellow Wagtail around Hartland, Middlebere and Arne, 2 Whinchat were on Hartland, a Redstart was at Greenlands Farm and 5 Spotted Flycatcher were up on Ballard.

Juvenile Common Ringed Plover – Studland – Mark Wright

Hottest day of the year so far! It didn’t seem like there was much birding going on today. There were 55 Spoonbill and 4 Curlew Sandpiper on the Brownsea Lagoon, on Lytchett Fields a decent count of 485 Teal are already present along with 3 Wigeon in the bay, plus a Whinchat was in the approach fields and 2 Osprey were hunting in the bay mid-morning. The Forster’s Tern re-appeared on Shipstal Beach, RSPB Arne and 2 Osprey were logged in Middlebere. The over-summering Barnacle Goose was still at Holme lane GP, Greenlands Farm there were 2 Whinchat and 4 Wheatear.

Barnacle Goose – Holme Lane GP – Garry Hayman

So, so hot still! It seems the Osprey’s might think they’re already in Africa as they seem quite happy staying put, despite perfect migrating conditions. There were a minimum of 4 today spread between Lytchett Bay, the Wareham Channel and Middlebere. A White-tailed Eagle was over Coombe Heath and was later seen in the Wareham Channel and this morning 4 Great White Egret flew over Coombe Heath. This morning a Cattle Egret was at Lytchett Fields and this evening 7 flew down the Frome Valley. In Middlebere there was 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Spotted Redshank, 13 Knot and 1 Ringed Plover. There was also a Curlew Sandpiper on the Brownsea Lagoon.

Swallows gathering on hedgerows in Middlebere

This mornings intense heat gave way to some welcome cloud cover by mid-afternoon, but the dawn did deliver more migrants. There was a good mix of birds around the fringes of Sunnyside which included 2 Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Common Whitethroat, 10+ Stonechat, 5+ Chiffchaff, 5+ Blackcap and 10+ Meadow Pipit. There are still a minimum of 4 Osprey in the harbour, but could be up to 6 with records coming from Lytchett Bay (4), Brands Bay (1), Middlebere (3) and the Wareham Channel (2). Wildfowl numbers in Holes Bay continue to grow with 58 Wigeon, 9 Shovelers, 5 Pintail and 4 Gadwall in the northern bays. On the rising tide this evening Middlebere saw 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 11 Knot, 4 Dunlin, 187 Black tailed Godwits and 53 Redshank.

Sand Lizard – Coombe Heath, RSPB Arne – Alison Copland

On the same day where we’re sweltering in 30 degrees of heat, the first Pink-footed Geese of the autumn/winter arrived in Scotland, which was a stark reminder that we’re likley on borrowed time and that colder days really aren’t too far away. But….until then, we’ll continue to enjoy this Indian Summer and the birds that this warmth brings. Ospreys were once again still here in good force, with 2 in Lytchett Bay and 2-3 in the Wareham Channel with male Osprey 022 seen near the nest site briefly. On the Brownsea Lagoon an extra 10 Spoonbill arrived, bringing the total to 54 now. This is a decent early September total. Surely we can hit 100 this year? Also on the Brownsea Lagoon were 81 Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Knot, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 101 Redshank, 7 Greenshank, 129 Dunlin and 6 Sanderling. At Lytchett Fields a Whinchat was in the Approach Fields with 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Whitethroat. At Holes Bay wildfowl numbers are building steadily with 49 Teal, 36 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 9 Shoveler, and 2 Gadwall. A ringing session in the Piddle Valley actually returned a reasonable number of birds including 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 3 Stonechat and 4 Reed Bunting. There was another big passage of Swallow today too with many, many hundreds (likely thousands) passing over, often incredibly high, with a decent gathering at Ballard. Along the Holes Bay cycle path there were 2 Wheatear.

Migrant adult female Osprey – Lytchett Bay – Alison Copland

Despite the weather conditions being good for migration today, there was still plenty of Osprey activity, with 2-3 seen this morning over Lytchett Bay and the Wareham Channel. Also seen from Hyde’s Heath at RSPB Arne were 2 Hobby and 1 Peregrine and 1 White-tailed Eagle. On the low tide in Holes Bay this morning were 225 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Curlew, 30 Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher and 1 Knot. In addition to the Osprey, Lytchett Bay produced a count of 1 Whimbrel, 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Curlew, 100 Redshank and 2 Dunlin. On Lytchett Fields were also 200 Teal, 8 Greenshank, 6 Redshank, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin and 1 Lapwing.