With the howling south-easterly wind that had built by mid-afternoon it made birding a tad tricky however Osprey continue to be seen at several sites. It really has been one of the best Osprey autumns on record with a likely three different birds still in the harbour with 2 juveniles in and around the Holes Bay area/Lytchett Bay area and an adult at Middlebere. Spoonbill seem to be multiplying by the day with 42 now in the harbour with the entire flock feeding out in the Wareham Channel on the low tide this morning. Also out in the Wareham Channel were c50 Wigeon, 4 Pintail, 8 Knot and a huge number of gulls also 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine. At Swineham the Cattle Egret was again in the fields behind Curlews Cottage. At Holton Lee 2 Spotted Flycatcher were out on the heath with another 2 at the PCW Drain. At Lytchett Fields 2 Ruff, 8 Dunlin and 2 Greenshank were feeding. From the ‘Stone Bench’ at Upton CP 503 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Teal, 4 Shovelerand 2 Pintail were counted.  Just outside the harbour a White Stork was reported flying over Sturminster Marshall.

Adult Osprey – Middlebere – Simon Kidner

Migrant Osprey continue to frequent the Harbour with an unringed juvenile observed over Lytchett Bay, Holes Bay and Brownsea Island by the afternoon. Holes Bay NE bird activity continues to build on the low tides day on day with c500 Black-tailed Godwit present surrounded by 203 Wigeon, 2 Knot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow-legged Gull and a surprisingly low Redshank count of only 8 individuals logged. Singles of Kingfisher and Wheatear were also recorded within the Bay. Other passage migrants found across the Harbour include Whinchat and Wheatear on Nine Barrow Down.

A Marsh Harrier was seen quartering over Lytchett Fields this morning, flushing the waders and gulls present. Pintail are slowly building in numbers too, with 11 eclipse males recorded over Middlebere Channel this morning and a Great White Egret was located in Bramble Bush Bay early morning, before flying over to Brownsea Island north shore.

Pintail – Middlebere – Simon Kidner

Migrant Osprey continue to frequent the Harbour with an un-ringed juvenile observed over Lytchett Bay, Holes Bay and Brownsea Island by the afternoon. Holes Bay NE bird activity continues to build on the low tides day on day with c500 Black-tailed Godwit present surrounded by 203 Wigeon, 2 Knot, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Yellow-legged Gull and a surprisingly low Redshank count of only 8 individuals logged. Singles of Kingfisher and Wheatear were also recorded within the Bay. Other passage migrants found across the Harbour include Whinchat and Wheatear on Nine Barrow Down.

A Marsh Harrier was seen quartering over Lytchett Fields this morning, flushing the waders and gulls present. Pintail are slowly building in numbers too, with 11 eclipse males recorded over Middlebere Channel this morning and a Great White Egret was located in Bramble Bush Bay early morning, before flying over to Brownsea Island north shore.

Pintail – Middlebere – Simon Kidner

There was no sign of yesterday’s Common Crane at Keysworth today. However, a single Cattle Egret was with a herd on Arne Moors and 22 Spoonbill were observed in the channel early morning. West Poole Harbour also produced 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Osprey and 2 Hobby – a fine morning for birds of prey. Osprey were also logged several times over Lytchett Bay and Holes Bay today with 2 individuals recorded in the morning and an additional sighting in the afternoon.

PC World Drain contained a splattering of passage migrants including several Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Spotted Flycatcher. Large Black-tailed Godwit movement was seen moving from Wareham Channel direction towards Holes Bay totalling 800+ birds. Godlington Heath picked up a single Hobby hunting and Red Kite passing over while over on Brownsea Island 2 Curlew Sandpiper were observed late morning.

Spotted Flycatcher – PC World Drain – Ian Ballam

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There was no sign of yesterday’s Common Crane at Keysworth today. However, a single Cattle Egret was with a herd on Arne Moors and 22 Spoonbill were observed in the channel early morning. West Poole Harbour also produced 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Osprey and 2 Hobby – a fine morning for birds of prey. Osprey were also logged several times over Lytchett Bay and Holes Bay today with 2 individuals recorded in the morning and an additional sighting in the afternoon.

PC World Drain contained a splattering of passage migrants including several Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Spotted Flycatcher. Large Black-tailed Godwit movement was seen moving from Wareham Channel direction towards Holes Bay totalling 800+ birds. Godlington Heath picked up a single Hobby hunting and Red Kitepassing over while over on Brownsea Island 2 Curlew Sandpiper were observed late morning.

Spotted Flycatcher – PC World Drain – Ian Ballam

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Keysworth shoreline, Wareham Channel this morning produced a welcome vagrant to the Harbour – Common Crane. One individual was observed mid-morning along with trios of both Marsh Harrier and Hobby. With populations increasing in Eastern and Central-Southern England it’s no surprise we’re seeing more records of Common Crane in the harbour in recent years. The previous record was earlier in the year (January 8^th – 29^th) with the bird commuting regularly between Middlebere and Hartland Moor.

There was no sign of the recent Little Ringed Plover or Little Stint at Lytchett Fields today, but the 2 Ruff remained present. A brief visit to Holes Bay NE on a rising tide this morning produced 124 Wigeon accompanied by c800 Black-tailed Godwit and singles of Kingfisher and adult Yellow-legged Gull. A nice mixture of migrants also frequented Baiter Beach with 2 Wheatear, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Ringed Plover and c30 Turnstone all logged this morning.

Brownsea Lagoon harboured 5 Avocet, 15 Dunlin, 5 Shelduck, 10 Shoveler, 63 Cormorant, 36 Spoonbill, 5 Little Egret, 11 Greenshank and 5 Redshank. Migrant Osprey were also observed over Greenslands, Studland and Lytchett Bay.

Holton Lee Pools; 1 Little Egret, 2 Black Tailed Godwit & an Osprey over the bay.

Middlebere;58 Avocets, 272 Black tailed Godwits, 1 Hobby, 1 Curlew & a heavy passage of Swallows & House Martins.

Wytch Channel; 36 Mallard, 8 Black-tailed Godwits & more Swallows & House Martins.

In the field between Middlebere Farm & Wytch Channel; 9 Stonechats, 2 Meadow Pipits, 2 Whinchats & a flyover Yellow Wagtail.

Keysworth shoreline, Wareham Channel this morning produced a welcome vagrant to the Harbour – Common Crane. One individual was observed mid-morning along with trios of both Marsh Harrier and Hobby. With populations increasing in Eastern and Central-Southern England it’s no surprise we’re seeing more records of Common Crane in the harbour in recent years. The previous record was earlier in the year (January 8^th – 29^th) with the bird commuting regularly between Middlebere and Hartland Moor.

There was no sign of the recent Little Ringed Plover or Little Stint at Lytchett Fields today, but the 2 Ruffremained present. A brief visit to Holes Bay NE on a rising tide this morning produced 124 Wigeonaccompanied by c800 Black-tailed Godwit and singles of Kingfisher and adult Yellow-legged Gull. A nice mixture of migrants also frequented Baiter Beach with 2 Wheatear, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Ringed Ploverand c30 Turnstone all logged this morning.

Brownsea Lagoon harboured 5 Avocet, 15 Dunlin, 5 Shelduck, 10 Shoveler, 63 Cormorant, 36 Spoonbill, 5 Little Egret, 11 Greenshank and 5 Redshank. Migrant Osprey were also observed over Greenslands, Studland and Lytchett Bay.

It looked as if it could have been a good ‘fall’ morning with low cloud cover and a light northerly wind but sadly it wasn’t to be. There was still a nice variety of species logged from across the harbour. At Little Sea, Studland a Great White Egret was seen leaving the heron roost. At Lytchett Bay 2 Osprey circled together around lunch time and another was seen in Middlebere. There were 2 Hobby seen in Middlebere with 1 Marsh Harrier and c60 Avocet and another Hobby seeing off a Buzzard in the Piddle Valley where a Green Sandpiper was on the river. On the Brownsea Lagoon it was reported that up to 38 Spoonbill were present. In the PCW Drain 1 Whitethroat and numerous Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were feeding in the blackberry bushes. At Lytchett Fields the Little Stint was still present along with 2 Ruff and the Little Ringed Plover also a decent count of 56 Yellow Wagtail. On Poole Quay the first Kingfisher of the autumn was present on the quay front, hopefully several more will join it over the coming weeks.

It looked as if it could have been a good ‘fall’ morning with low cloud cover and a light northerly wind but sadly it wasn’t to be. There was still a nice variety of species logged from across the harbour. At Little Sea, Studland a Great White Egret was seen leaving the heron roost. At Lytchett Bay 2 Osprey circled together around lunch time and another was seen in Middlebere. There were 2 Hobby seen in Middlebere with 1 Marsh Harrier and c60 Avocet and another Hobby seeing off a Buzzard in the Piddle Valley where a Green Sandpiper was on the river. On the Brownsea Lagoon it was reported that up to 38 Spoonbill were present. In the PCW Drain 1 Whitethroat and numerous Chiffchaff and a Blackcap were feeding in the blackberry bushes. At Lytchett Fields the Little Stint was still present along with 2 Ruff and the Little Ringed Plover also a decent count of 56 Yellow Wagtail. On Poole Quay the first Kingfisher of the autumn was present on the quay front, hopefully several more will join it over the coming weeks.

Another great day for birds of prey in the Harbour following the Goshawk sighting two days ago. A total of 3 migrant Osprey were observed enjoying varied success fishing. Towards Arne Moors 3 Marsh Harrier were logged while 3 Hobby (including 2 juveniles) were seen on the wing over Slepe Heath. A Peregrine Falcon was also located perching on the ASDA supermarket overlooking Holes Bay. Holes Bay is beginning to bustle with activity day on day featuring a minimum of 500 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Great White Egret, 4 Knot, 17 Little Egret, and c78 Wigeon along lower numbers of Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, Redshank, Dunlin, Curlew, Pintail, Shoveler, Teal, Cormorant, Common Gull, Kingfisher and a flock of 16 Goldcrest.

Although fewer hirundines were observed today compared to the previous few days, the recent passage continued throughout the day with good numbers of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin recorded over the River Piddle near Swineham.

Lytchett Fields logged several species of passage passerine including Wheatear, Whinchat, Whitethroat and several Spotted Flycatcher. The first Wigeon have returned to Lytchett Bay with a flock of 10 arriving today, accompanying the 2 Ruff still present. Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit are also beginning to return to the Harbour in numbers for the winter with at least 50 and 110 individuals observed respectively at Arne today.