And in a blink of an eye, that was October done! With the day starting with blue sky’s and a lighter wind, there were the first hints of Wood Pigeon migration over the harbour with small flocks of 20-50 going over for an hour or so. The next few weeks will see numbers build but will rely on another crystal clear morning for the really big numbers to depart, however looking at the current forecast, that may not be for quite some while!!

Elsewhere around the harbour there was the welcome sight of 2 White-tailed Eagles again in the Wareham Channel, having been absent for several days. At Lytchett Bay, the Yellow-browed Warbler was calling again next to the new Rock Lea viewpoint and 2 Marsh Harrier  were seen from there too. At South beach and Middle Beach an excellent count of 12 Firecrest and 17 Chiffchaff, but sadly not the hoped for Pallas’s or Yellow-browed. Also 2 Brambling over there too. In Holes Bay Wigeon numbers hit 1138 with a Spotted Redshank in the Holes Bay NE sector. There was also a Spotted Redshank in Brands Bay and still 2 Curlew Sandpiper at Lytchett Fields. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen in the Middlebere Channel and on Friday an adult male Hen Harrier was photographed at Swineham. Other bits and pieces included a Common Sandpiper at Holes Bay NE, 2 Common Scoter and 2 Black-necked Grebe off Middle Beach with 3 Ring-necked Parakeets in the trees at South Beach. Merlin were logged at Greenlands Farm, Hartland and Middlebere, 36 Spoonbill were on Brownsea, a Red Kite was over Arne and a flock of 50 Fieldfare were near Corfe Castle in the Corfe River Valley.

Adult male Hen Harrier – Swineham (Friday last week) – @NaturehawkPhoto (Twitter)