Things have certainly picked up since returning from a weekend away. I was welcomed back to a whole email inbox full of great sightings. Autumn migration is now in full swing with millions of birds right across the whole country starting (or finishing) their journey south. From now right the way through to October we will hopefully be treated to many different species passing through the harbour starting with waders and various chat and warbler species through august and september, then pipits, wagtails and thrushes through September to October.

Waders continue to dominate the list with a lovely run of birds from various locations. Totals on the Brownsea lagoon include 155 Redshank, 5 Spotted Redshank, 8 Greenshank, 13 Dunlin, 3 Sanderling, 11 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Knot, 18 Curlew, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Common Sandpiper, 40+ Black-tailed Godwit, 120+ Oystercatcher as-well as 1 Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Med Gulls.  Speaking of Yellow-legged Gulls, a Poole Harbour birder recently commented on the lack of this species so far this August. Historically over the last ten to fifteen years large flocks containing anything from 100 to 300 birds could be recorded in Holes Bay, with slightly smaller flocks in places like Lytchett bay, Middlebere and Swineham. The Lytchett Bay max so far this august is three!

Highlights from Lytchett Bay over the last few days include 10+ Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank,  2 Whimbrel, 12 Snipe, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 80+ Sedge Warbler, 15+ Willow Warbler, 4 Kingfisher, 1 Hobby lots of Common Gulls now arriving. 

In the last 24 hours other parts of Dorset have had their first Whitethroats, Garden Warblers, Pied and Spotted Flycatchers and decent falls of Willow Warbler