With the wind swinging north this morning and clear sky’s it was always possible that the last weeks build up of Ospreys may push south today, and by mid-morning it was evident that quite a few had departed. We still managed several individuals from our 2 Osprey cruises today, including the long staying individual with the missing primary tips on the left wing, plus what looked like a juvenile Osprey catching a fish from this afternoons boat. However, the northerly wind also delivered another White-tailed Eagle, although he, and ever-present female G801 stayed elusive until later this afternoon when both were seen over Lytchett Bay. G801 was seen out over the EWareham Channel this morning though from this mornings Osprey cruise. Also logged from todays boat trips were a single Spoonbill roosting with c25 Little egret and c50 sinensis Cormorant on the Keysworth shoreline, a single Marsh Harrier, with 2 Hobby hunting (one catching a Swallow) and a Wheatear almost landing on the boat. Other Osprey sightings were logged in Holes Bay south, Lytchett Bay and Middlebere and male 022 was logged on a different harbour platform at 8:30am, but it wouldn’t surprise us if CJ7 and perhaps even 5H1 departed today . Elsewhere the autumns first Curlew Sandpiper was off Redhorn Quay near Brands Bay with 3 juvenile Sanderling. In Holes Bay, ‘winter birds’ are building with 1 Pintail, 9 Wigeon, c80 Teal with a Common Sandpiper too. On Hartland yesterday afternoon there were 4 Wheatear, 3 Whinchat, 5 Willow Warbler, singles of Whitethroat and Spotted Flycatcher, at least 15 Stonechat as well as two Woodlark. Middlebere had a flock of 8 Avocet, also 2 Pintail and a Marsh Harrier. This evening a Cattle Egret was in the approach field at Lytchett Fields and an Osprey/White-tailed Eagle battle commenced with the eagle chasing an Osprey for it’s fish, which it dropped and neither bird returned to pick it up!

Curlew Sandpiper – Redhorn Quay, Brands Bay – OTBT Birder (Twitter @BirderOtbt)

Arrival of Wigeon at Holes Bay – Martin Adams

Cattle Egret – Lytchett Fields – Mark Wright

Osprey and White-tailed Eagle – Lytchett Bay – Mark Wright