Perfect conditions meant for a fantastic Osprey Cruise this morning, starting with 2 White-tailed Eagle feeding on the RSPB Arne shoreline and juvenile Osprey 5H5 perched on a dead tree nearby. 2 further Osprey were seen over the Wareham Channel during the course of the morning, along with 2 Hobby hunting migrating Swallows as they passed over the boat. Brownsea Lagoon proved productive with 29 Spoonbill, c.50 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, 12 Avocet, 2 Greenshank and 40+ Redshank. On the low tide this morning in Brands Bay were 56 Teal, 11 Grey Plover, 32 Ringed PLover, 116 Black-tailed Godwit, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit, 103 Dunlin and 16 Knot. 3 Wood Sandpiper were present on the pools at Bestwall meadows near Swineham. There were around 640 Black-tailed Godwit in the Wareham Channel on the remaining exposed mudflat in the afternoon, and 2 Marsh Harrier active over the reedbeds at Swineham. 1 Little Ringed Plover was present on Sunnyside Scrapes this afternoon. Lytchett Bay proved successful for raptors this PM, with 1 White-tailed Eagle, 2 Osprey and 1 Marsh Harrier reported. The Forster’s Tern was also present again at Shipstal Point and 1 Ruff was reported from Middlebere.

White-tailed Eagle – RSPB Arne Shoreline from Wareham Channel – John Dadds

Plenty going on in the harbour today, with clear blue skies adding to the enjoyment of today’s boat trips. A summer-plumage Great White Egret was present on the Arne shoreline of the Wareham Channel on the low-tide this morning, as well as 1 Cattle Egret up at Swineham. Feeding on the exposed mud were c.800 Black-tailed Godwit, as well as 6 Greenshank and 1 Spotted Redshank. Around 5 Osprey were active over the channel through the morning, with 2 Marsh Harrier patrolling the reedbeds. Similar Osprey activity in the Wareham Channel through the afternoon, with a persistent juvenile attempting to hunt near Gigger’s Island, along with two adults. There was a high count of 24 Spoonbill on Brownsea Lagoon today, with 5 Avocet, 50 Dunlin and 40 Ringed Plover. 3 Osprey were hunting over Lytchett Bay this morning, and 1 was also seen over Holes Bay just after midday. Also at Holes Bay today were 2 Wigeon, 22 Teal, 250+ Black-tailed Godwit and 100+ Redshank. Highlights at Sunnyside included 1 Redstart and 1 Green Sandpiper. At Swineham in the early evening another Green Sandpiper was present, along with 9 Yellow Wagtail moving through. The Forster’s Tern was reported again at from Shipstal at RSPB Arne, along with 3 Black Tern.

Osprey CJ7 with freshly caught fish – Wareham Channel – Robin Morrison

As is standard during this phase in August, and especially with this afternoons clear conditions, there were more Osprey arrivals today with the seasons first juvenile arriving into the harbour from elsewhere in the form of an un-ringed individual in Lytchett Bay this afternoon. From our Osprey Cruise this afternoon (and this morning) there was a period of about an hour (3pm-4pm) when there seemed to be Osprey over each shoreline of the Wareham Channel with CJ7 catching a fish mid-channel, followed by the arrival of 2 down the Piddle Valley (including one of our juvs from the local nest) followed by another 2, one of which then caught a fish off Arne as the other drifted off over Shipstal. It’s hard to say how many were present across the harbour today but a minimum of 8 or 9 wouldn’t be a bad guess with other sightings logged in Middlebere and at Lytchett Fields. From both trips today the White-tailed Eagles were active in the Wareham Channel and this morning 2 un-ringed adult Osprey and CJ7 gave close fly by’s. There were 3 Hobby active over Arne, 3 migrant Knot flew over Swineham Point and c500 Black-tailed Godwit were feeding across the Wareham Channel. On the Swineham Scrapes this evening 2 Wood Sandpiper were back, this time with a Green Sandpiper and Common Sandpiper and 3 Yellow Wagtail were with the cattle there. On the Brownsea Lagoon today 31 Spoonbill were still on the Tamrisk Island, along with c30 Ringed Plover, 4 Sanderling, 5 Avocet, 3 Greenshank and c50 Dunlin. The Forster’s Tern was seen from Shipstal Point, Arne today and there were 3 different Marsh Harrier logged at Swineham including a new adult male. Great White Egrets were seen (possibly relating to the same individual) in the Wareham Channel, Swineham and Lytchett Fields. Finally, huge thanks to Sue Ketteridge, a guest on this AM’s Osprey Cruise, for sharing some of her photos from this mornings trip, giving a great insight into the types of views we’re currently experiencing. The photo’s below show female Osprey CJ7 having just caught a fish, and 2 different adult Osprey that flew past close to the boat. There are still spaces on next weeks trips so to book CLICK HERE:

Female Osprey CJ7 having just caught her breakfast – Sue Ketteridge

Female Osprey CJ7 sorting out her catch – Sue Ketteridge

Female Osprey CJ7 heading back to the nest site – Sue Ketteridge

Adult un-ringed Osprey gives a close fly past – Sue Ketteridge

A second adult un-ringed Osprey gives a close fly past – Sue Ketteridge

Another fine August day, cool and autumnal to start with, ending with beautiful sunshine. There was lots going on once again across the harbour with highlights from our two Osprey Cruises today consisting of 6+ Osprey, 1 White-tailed Eagle, 1 Marsh Harrier, 7 Greenshank, c500 Black-tailed Godwit, 18 Lapwing and 4 Spoonbill in the Wareham Channel, a decent haul of 4 Wood Sandpiper on the ‘Stilt Pools’ at Swineham, the Forster’s Tern on Shipstal Beach at RSPB Arne, 32 Spoonbill, 2 Sanderling, c50 Ringed Plover, c30 Dunlin, 5 Avocet, 2 Turnstone and 2 Wheatear on the Brownsea Lagoon. There was an obvious (small) arrival of Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler with several small flocks arriving in from high over the Frome Valley at dawn. At Lytchett Bay, a ringing session logged 10 Sedge Warbler, 11 Reed Warbler, 6 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Redstart, 2 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap and 1 Tree Pipit. Also at Lytchett Bay a Cattle Egret flew over and a Spotted Flycatcher was at Lytchett Heath. At Holes Bay/Upton CP both a Pied Flycatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher were in ‘East Field’, just east of the main house and in the PCW Drain there were 2 Garden Warbler and a Whitethroat. 

Juvenile Tree Pipit – Lytchett Bay

Juvenile Common Redstart – Lytchett Bay

Juvenile Grasshopper Warbler – Lytchett Bay

With the weather settling down quite a bit, it made for some tolerable and comfortable birding today, especially from our 2 Osprey Cruises this morning and this afternoon. To Book CLICK HERE Combined highlights were 6+ Osprey in the Wareham Channel with a couple of spectacular fish catches close to the boat followed by some close fly by’s as they grappled with their fish. Both trips today got to see the Forster’s Tern off Shipstal Point, at RSPB Arne and the White-tailed Eagles in the Wareham Channel, with a new arrival (G486) high over Middlebere. We also lucked in on a Wood Sandpiper on the Swineham Scrapes where there were 2 Yellow-legged Gull, a latish Swift, and 2 Egyptian Geese. On the rising tide of this mornings boat 6 Spoonbill were in the mouth of the Frome and there were also 2 Common Sandpiper. All day c800 Black-tailed Godwit resided on the mud near the mouth of the Frome and there was a Spotted Redshank off Shipstal Beach with the Forster’s Tern. Sightings from elsewhere saw 4 Osprey and a White-tailed Eagle in Lytchett Bay/Fields along with 15 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 3 Tree Pipit, 1 Whinchat, 1 Marsh Harrier and a Cattle Egret. There was also a Cattle Egret in Brands Bay along with the over-summering dark-bellied Brent Goose (not too long until his mates come back now)!, 29 Teal, 7 Grey Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 27 Ringed Plover, 49 Black-tailed Godwit and 8 Bar-tailed Godwit. In Middlebere there were also sightings of 2+ Osprey, 2 Spoonbill and a Marsh Harrier. 

Wood Sandpiper – Swineham scrapes from Osprey Cruise this AM – Dorothy Widall

Female Osprey CJ7 in Wareham Channel from Osprey Cruise this AM – Clare Slade

Forster’s Tern at Shipstal Point from Osprey Cruise this PM – Alison Copland

An morning watch from Ham Common Lookout yielded views of 2 White-tailed Eagle in the Wareham Channel, with one catching a small prey item off the exposed mudflat. In Lytchett Bay, a pale-morph Honey Buzzard was reported mid-morning, along with 4 Osprey, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Hobby, 3 Greenshank and 1 Spotted Redshank. This AM’s Osprey Cruise was packed full of activity, with an estimated 6 Osprey seen in the Wareham Channel during the course of the morning. On the Brownsea Lagoon were also c.50 Ringed Plover, 2 Avocet and 34 Spoonbill. Our afternoon’s Osprey Cruise saw the 2 White-tailed Eagle return to the Wareham Channel over Holton Heath, with two successful Osprey hunts, both suspected to be 022! 2 Marsh Harrier were also seen near Swineham and 1 Spoonbill was roosting on the shoreline of the Wareham Channel.

Osprey being chased by a Great Black-backed Gull – Wareham Channel – Seb Haggett

Despite todays murky, dank conditions, our Osprey Cruises got off to a flying start with female Osprey CJ7 giving great views from this mornings boat and 022 giving a nice close hunting display from this afternoons. The wind and low cloud made things tricky, but additional sightings included a juvenile Cuckoo flying over the boat and Wareham Channel heading towards Lytchett Bay, another migrant Osprey caught a fish and settled on Arne before being dive bombed by 3 Hobby. In the mouth of the Frome 2 different Marsh Harrier were active with a juvenile female and an adult female. On the Brownsea Lagoon 28 Spoonbill were roosting and there were c50 Dunlin, c30 Ringed Plover, also 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Wheatear and 3 Whimbrel. The Forster’s Tern was seen at Arne again, a different Osprey was in Middlebere,

Female Osprey CJ7 – Osprey Cruise this AM – David Dunn

Osprey were seemingly everywhere today, which bodes well ahead of our Osprey Cruise series starting tomorrow. 6(!) Osprey were seen from Coombe Heath at RSPB Arne tomorrow, including 1 juvenile, with 5 flying around together at one time. At least one other Osprey active around Lytchett Bay, with one seen at Holton Heath, a second sighting over Lytchett Field this morning, and a third sighting of a hunting individual over the bay this afternoon. A further 2 individuals were seen fishing in Brands Bay, including ringed male 374. 1 final Osprey was seen perched on an electricity pylon at Mordon Bog this morning! If you want to make the most of all the activity, there are a couple of last minute places available on our first Osprey Cruise tomorrow morning in our otherwise sold out week, which you can find more information about here.

Other sightings from Coombe Heath this morning included 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Wheatear and 2 Spoonbill over the Middlebere Channel. One of the highlights from today was a juvenile Little Stint moving between the pools at Lytchett Fields, along with 1 Spotted Redshank. 753 Black-tailed Godwit were counted in Holes Bay from the Stone Bench this morning.

Osprey 374 – Brands Bay – Aidan Brown (@aidanjb118 on Twitter)

The day got off to a great start at our Pop-up Osprey Watch at the Ham Common Viewpoint, with a minimum 5 Osprey seen in the Wareham Channel, including one bird that caught a fish off the gull islands and carried it off to towards Lytchett Bay. One of the White-tailed Eagles also put in the briefest of appearances as it moved between trees along the Holton shoreline. Visitors to Middlebere were also treated to plenty of Osprey action with 4 birds reported, including this years eldest male juvenile 5H3. Other highlights from the area were Kingfisher and the Forster’s Tern. The latter was also seen on the Brownsea Lagoon earlier in the day, along with 23 Spoonbill. Elsewhere in Lytchett Bay there were at least 2 Osprey hunting in the bay, 6 Common Sandpiper, 5 Ringed Plover, 16 Greenshank on Sherford and French’s Pools, plus a couple of Whitethroat at Rock Lea View and Whinchat at both Lytchett Heath and the Fields.

Juvenile Osprey 5H3 – Middlebere – Mark Wright (@markwright12002 on Twitter)