Apologies, for our website being down due to IT issues and any inconvenience this has caused. It is now back up and running, so here are yesterday’s belated sightings.

The surprisingly mild weather for November continued yesterday, alongside the overcast conditions. A single Hawfinch was found in a Yew Tree in the south-east corner of the Lytchett Matravers recreation ground. Hopefully the first of many to stick around during this ‘irruption’, so keep checking those yew trees and listening out for them overhead!

Osprey ‘511’ was still hanging around the Middlebere area and still favouring a flatfish diet. At least 1 Great White Egret was also present in Middlebere, alongside the growing flock of Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit. 1 Great White Egret was  also in Lytchett Bay, along with the first Fieldfare for the site this winter with 21 flying over. Also present were 8 Greenshank, 4 Marsh Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Merlin and 1 late Sandwich Tern. The 1 Barnacle Goose was still frequenting the Swineham area with the Canada Goose flock. Also present were 3 Ruff in Stilt Pools, 1 Great White Egret, 1 Cattle Egret, 4 Marsh Harrier and in the Lower Piddle Flood, 5 Spotted Redshank and 1 Ruff. In the Wareham Channel, both White-tailed Eagles were present during parts of the day along with 3 Greenshank and 15 Grey Plover flying over

Barnacle Goose with Canada Goose – Swineham Bestwall Floods – Clive Hargrave

Osprey ‘511’ with Flatfish – Middlebere Channel – John Thorpe

Another really grey day with the sun apparently not due to re-appear for several days yet. So we start November in a typically grey, wintery manner. What wasn’t so typical though was the setting of mist and murk surrounding Corfe Castle with an Osprey flying past, which was a scene captured perfectly by local photographer Alison Copland. There were 2 Black-necked Grebe in the harbour mouth this morning, and this evening the ‘Harrier Watchers’ logged 14 Marsh Harrier entering the west harbour roost. At Swineham 2 Ruff were still on the Stilt Pools, plus 35 Cattle Egret and 1 Great White Egret. The lone Golden Plover was seen again over Swineham with the Lapwing flock.

Osprey flying past a wintery Corfe Castle – Middlebere – Alison Copland

We were wondering whether it would happen, but today it did with the current long-staying male Osprey ‘511’ residing in the harbour into November. He was first seen hunting in the Wareham Channel, and was later in Middlebere eating a fish. This is an incredibly rare occurrence, although this same individual did something similar last year, but ended up leaving on October 28th. It was odd he didn’t leave over last weekend as the weather was stunning, and perfect for him to disperse. Maybe we’re just about to see the first UK over-wintering Osprey ever? Probably not, as he’ll have an established over-wintering site somewhere, but you never know?! Yesterday’s Barnacle Goose that was in Brands Bay arrived in to Swineham with it’s Canada Goose chums this morning where there were also 2 Ruff, 3 Great White Egret, c40 Cattle Egret on Keysworth, a Peregrine over Gigger’s, 3-4 Marsh Harrier at Swineham, 5 Black-necked Grebe in the Wareham Channel and a Golden Plover went over with c50 Lapwing. There were 21 Red-breasted Merganser in South Deep, the White-tailed Eagle pair were in the SE of the harbour in and around Brands Bay/Goathorn and then later over Middlebere and 3 Kingfisher were along Poole Quay. In Lytchett Bay a Common Sandpiper and a Spotted Redshank were logged.

Osprey ‘511’ – Middlebere – Kate Plater