Despite the early light rain, there was plenty of good birding to be had from the off. At Lytchett Bay this morning a Hawfinch flew over Rock Lea View with 3 Chaffinch. This is our 5th or 6th record of the autumn already and it seems there are plenty around in surrounding counties, so is this the beginning of a mini irruption for Hawfinch again like we saw in 2017/18? Or is it just a decent better than normal autumn which will soon fizzle out? Also at Lytchett Bay this morn ing a female Merlin dashed across the bay and a Barnacle Goose arrived in with c500 Canada Geese. Yesterday morning c1200 Jackdaw left the Holes Bay roost and flew in land over Lytchett Bay. It was good to see Brownsea get in on the Yellow-browed Warbler action with one in woodland adjacent to the lagoon. It was also good to hear a Peregrine was active on the lagoon today as they’ve been notable in their absence during October. The Poole Pegs have been on the Asda building all month but there have been very few reports from elsewhere around the harbour. A Great White Egret flew down the Frome Valley and settled at Holmebridge, 54 Spoonbill were on the Brownsea Lagoon, a Spotted Redshank was on Lytchett Fields, 1 Black-necked Grebe was in Studland Bay and a small number of Redwing and Song Thrush were moving/arriving at dawn in the gloom. The Osprey continues to be present and was seen catching a fish this morning in the Wytch Channel.

Avocets – Middlebere – John Thorp