A few nice bits and pieces today including a Roseate Tern on the Brownsea Lagoon this morning and 3 Spoonbill were in Middlebere. A Hobby and an Osprey were over Hydes Heath, RSPB Arne and on Slepe Heath for our Nightjar walk we managed to log 8+ Nightjar, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Dartford Warbler and 4 Glow Worm. With news that the first Spotted Redshanks and Wood Sandpipers of the autumn have already been logged heading south on the east coast, it’s worth keeping an eye on traditional hot spots like Middlebere, Brownsea Lagoon and Lytchett Fields for jet black summer plumaged ‘Spot-Shanks’ which often tend to appear in Poole Harbour towards the latter part of June. A Goshawk was also seen carrying prey, and although nesting locations are never disclosed, it won’t be long before you should keep an eye out for dispersing juveniles as they start honing their hunting skills around the harbour during July and August.

Goshawk with prey getting harassed by Carrion Crow – Mark Wright

With settled weather now upon us, it was good to see some new arrivals today including a new colour-ringed Osprey, ring number 1H1 which settled on the Middlebere nest platform this afternoon. With a few quick phone calls we were able to trace this individual down as being a 2022 fledged female from the Manton Bay nest at Rutland Water. This is her first summer back in the UK and is likely to be touring around the country like all 2-year old Ospreys do, although should our 3-year old male ‘374’ suddenly make an appearance then things could get interesting. There was also an ‘intruder’ Osprey at the nest site this morning which could have been 1H1, or perhaps a different arrival? This afternoon there was a spectacular 3-way battle high above the Wareham Channel with a Common Buzzard and Osprey (male 022) tag teaming against one of the White-tailed Eagles before they all then lost interest and went their separate ways. There was also an Osprey fishing in Lytchett Bay this afternoon. Numbers of returning Curlew are starting to build with 17 out in the mouth of the Frome this afternoon, off Giggers Island. A Red Kite was high above Wareham.

A near perfect June day, which finally saw the blasting SW wind fade away. Some late news from late last week of 2 Eider off Pilots’ Point, Studland, just off the training bank. There were 2 young Eider that over-summered in the harbour last year too, which spent time both just inside the harbour and out in Shell Bay, so it could feasibly be the same two? Today the first 6 Redshank of the autumn returned to the Brownsea Lagoon and there was ‘an arrival’ of Tufted Duck on Swineham GP with 11 there. Both White-tailed Eagles were in the Wareham Channel and male Osprey 022 made several fishing trips to the Wareham Channel. Over Hydes Heath a Hobby was hassling a Common Buzzard and there was another Hobby over Holmebridge. Young waders are growing fast with the Poole Quay Oystercatchers almost doubling in size over the last week.

Oystercatcher chick – Poole Quay Marina Wall – Alison Copland

Wow…we’re already half way through June, meaning autumn migration will soon be picking up as the first juv Little Ringed Plovers will start appearing soon and numbers of Green Sandpipers will increase and start passing through. We’ve already begun seeing the first roving Long-tailed Tit flocks moving about which contained the first juv Chiffchaffs of the year, and give it another 2-3 weeks, the flocks will also start containing fresh lemon yellow, juvenile Willow Warblers. It felt far from summery today though as strong SW winds whipped across the area and frequent rain showers still made it feel like mid-October rather than mid-June, but it got a few seabirds moving with a few Manx Shearwater logged off Old Harry and a small passage of terns (failed breeders?) heading west out at sea. There was an unusual June record of an Avocet in Lytchett Bay and the White-tailed Eagle pair were still just chilling out in the Wareham Channel area for most of the day with male Osprey 022 seen in Lytchett Bay and the Wareham Channel during numerous fishing trips.

Sandwich Tern – Brands Bay – Mark Wright

Our Summer Safari Cruise this morning gave views of Osprey 022 hunting in the Wareham Channel, as well as female White-tailed Eagle G466. 1 Spoonbill was present on Brownsea Lagoon early this morning, as well as 3 Avocet and 30 Bar-tailed Godwit also reported from the lagoon. The unseasonal Red-throated Diver was still present in Studland Bay today. 1 Hobby was active over Careys Secret Garden this afternoon.

Red-throated Diver – Studland Bay – Aidan Brown (@aidanjb118 on Twitter)

Star bird of the day goes to a very unseasonal Red-throated Diver off Studland beach, a great June record! The 2 White-tailed Eagles were in the Wareham Channel again from our Summer Safari Cruise this morning. There were 32 Bar-tailed Godwit in Brands Bay on the rising tide along with 2 Dunlin. Impressive numbers of Swift over Sunnyside/Swineham area with over 200+ counted this morning.

Red-throated Diver – Studland Beach – Aidan Brown on X