With some strong winds arriving for the weekend it was worth trying to get some birding done today and tomorrow. At dawn, it looked as if an Osprey (probably CJ7) was sat on the Middlebere platform briefly, although frustratingly it didn’t trigger the camera. Post-breeding flocks of Mistle Thrush are building nicely with a flock of c20 at Arne and in the Piddle Valley. At Lytchett Bay, 4 Crossbill passed over the heath and on the fields were 4 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 64 Black-tailed Godwit, 32 Redshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Marsh Harrier, 17 Teal and 3 Oystercatcher. A newly arrived Common Sandpiper was also on the Brownsea Lagoon. In Holes Bay there were 27 Curlew, 6 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron and still c150 Canada Geese. The Holme Lane GP saw 13 Egyptian Geese, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Peregrine and 5 Little Grebe with 2 chicks. The autumns first juvenile Common Whitethroat was ringed in Lytchett Bay, which suggests it being a migrant as they don’t breed in the area, along with 2 new Cetti’s Warbler. Finally, non-avian but an amazing scene this evening when a Muntjac Deer was seen on a town road in north Wareham!

That’s it now, we can forget all about Covid:19 as autumn is officially here! What better distraction than the magic autumn of migration. We, know, we’re always banging on about how early autumn starts, and to get out and start looking etc etc, but it really and truthfully is the most exciting period of the birding calendar, and the best part is, is that it extends for four and a half months! Starting with the first early passage waders in July such as Little Ringed Plover, Spotted Redshank and Common Sandpiper. Then as July moves on the first Willow Warblers, Garden Warblers and Grasshopper Warblers begin to appear before things really kick off in August as a whole suit of other passerines build in numbers such as Common and Lesser Whitethroat, Redstarts, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchats, Yellow Wagtail and of course building numbers of Swallow and House Martin. August and September also see the passage of exciting waders like Little Stint, Ruff, Curlew and Wood Sandpiper. Then, as September grows old and gives way to October the finch, pipit, wagtail, bunting and thrush passage begin with coastal headlands being the best places visit as huge numbers can pass over these areas on a cold October morning. Then, by the end of October and early November big numbers of winter thrushes pass over, normally peaking in the first week of November. And of course….we can’t forget about the mass Woodpigeon migration which normally takes place between Nov 5^th and 15^th over the harbour, depending on the weather patterns. So, if there was ever a time to re-focus and remind our selves of the richness of our local area when it comes to our birds, now is most definitely the time.

Today, at Lytchett Fields there was an increase in Little Ringed Plover as a new migrant adult joined the family group, so 3 adults and 2 juveniles were present, so was the Spotted Redshank again, 29 Common Redshank, c60 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 6 Lapwing, 1 Marsh Harrier and c15 Teal. On Slepe Heath there were c6 Nightjar churring, also a Hobby was calling at dusk and a Green Sandpiper flew over calling just after sunset. On the Brownsea Lagoon the new Avocet family with 4 chicks seem to be doing well, keeping away from the Great Black-backed Gulls.

Nightjar – Slepe Heath

This year is going just too fast…..April only seemed like last week, May only seemed yesterday and now it’s practically July! This is good news as it means we wane away from the doldrums period and can expect migrants to begin appearing week on week from now on until the end of October….hoorah! The latter part of July usually sees the first returning Willow Warbler head south along with the first few Garden Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler. Waders will certainly increase as the month progresses and Lytchett Fields is already beginning to show that with 4 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Green Sandpiper and 33 Black-tailed Godwit today along with 1 Hobby and 1 Yellow-legged Gull. On the Brownsea Lagoon there was more exciting news that another pair of Avocet had hatched young, this time with 4 chicks, meaning there are currently 5 fresh Avocet chicks on the lagoon at present, with everyone keeping their fingers crossed for successful fledging. In Brands Bay there was a likely Whimbrel with c30 Curlew. So, with June ending on a bit of a wet note, but with July starting tomorrow, lets make Autumn 2020 a season to remember, it begins now!

Lapwing ‘chick’ – Southern harbour wetland