Well that was a mighty Fine August…thanks everyone for submitting sightings and providing us with data. It’s been a great month with a really stunning mix of classic autumn Poole Harbour migrants. And the best bit is, there’s still 2 months left!! Today rounded off the month nicely with a calm, still day producing yet more autumn goodies. Lytchett Fields was the wader hot spot with 1 Little Stint, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, 1 Spotted Redshank, 3 Knot, 10 Snipe, 7 Ringed Plover, 9 Greenshank and 50+ Redshank, not to mention the 3-4 Osprey, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Whinchat and several Yellow Wagtails. At Middlebere there were 11 Spoonbill this evening, plus throughout the day Osprey were seen pretty much on and off from sunrise to sunset with a minimum of 4 in that part of the harbour, including a blue left leg ringed adult. Winter is certainly creeping into the harbour day by day with only 4 Wigeon in Holes Bay yesterday but 24 today including 4 more in Lytchett Bay. Again, species such as Redstart, Wheatear, Common Whitethroat, Tree Pipit, Whinchat, Yellow Wagtail and Spotted Flycatcher were widely reported from heathland/scrubby areas of the harbour, certainly along the southern shores. Finally, an out of season (likely feral) Barnacle Goose was seen in Brands Bay and again at Little Sea, Studland. If you’re out in September you’ll notice a drop off in these species over the next two weeks and will begin seeing more Blackcap and Chiffchaff which tend to be later September migrants although we’re just beginning to see them coming through now. Meadow Pipit have just begun appearing again in good numbers having been absent since the end of the breeding season and again, their numbers will build dramatically through September and into October.
Redstart – Middlebere
Spotted Flycatcher – Slepe Heath
