Yep, It’s over! Summer has officially finished. Ok, a bit drastic but this morning we saw the first returning Green Sandpipers of the autumn with 3 on Lytchett Fields first thing this AM. ‘Green Sands’ are always one of the first to begin passing through south, often followed by juvenile Little Ringed Plovers by the end of June. With the still, mild weather over the last week Nightjar watching has been at its prime with reports coming in from many different heathland sites across the harbour. A watch on Slepe Heath saw no less than 6 birds active at dusk along wit 2 Hobby, 1 Cuckoo and 2 Tawny Owl. At Holton Lee 2 Woodlark were along one of the heathland tracks and there are now several fresh juv Great Spotted Woodpeckers using the feeders at the feeder hide. At Fleets Corner (PC World drain) there are plenty of newly fledged Blackcap and Chiffchaff, continuing the evidence that this site is an important oasis for some breeding birds in the middle of town. At Arne an Osprey was seen near Shipstal and after an absence of a few months it seems a Peregrine Falcon is now back using the tall part of the Asda building near Holes Bay as a roosting spot. If it hangs around for a few more weeks we’ll try and arrange and set up an event inviting the public to come and see these amazing birds. 

Peregrine Falcon – Asda Building, Poole