A welcome return after four days away, and a nice list of Poole Harbour sightings had been reported to me. Highlights include likely return of the Semipalmated Sandpiper, which was seen on the Brownsea Lagoon on the 19^th and 23^rd, but with views being so distant it couldn’t be 100% confirmed. A Wryneck on Shipstal Point, Arne was the first for the reserve in quite a while. Other highlights in chronological order included….

Friday 20^th – At Lytchett Bay a Spotted Redshank, 300+ Teal, 6 Wigeon, 5 Sedge Warbler, 20+ Meadow Pipit and 4 Chiffchaff. At Swineham 1 juv Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 1 Snipe, 2 Water Rail, 1 Skylark, 1 Mistle Thrush, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Cetti’s Warbler and 8 Reed Bunting.

Saturday 21^th– Again some coverage at Lytchett Bay with 3 Green Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank, 1 Wheatear, 200 Teal and an adult Osprey. On the Brownsea Lagoon, 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 18 Greenshank, 8 Spotted Redshank, 120 Avocet, 9 Knot, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit, 190 Dunlin and 2 Ruff near the harbour entrance in the morning.  At Brands Bay 1 Brent Goose, 2 Pintail, 25 Wigeon, 40 Teal, 3 Greenshank and 1 Turnstone

Sunday 22^st – At Swineham 3 Marsh Harrier around in the afternoon plus 2 Bearded Tits, 3 Sandwich Tern and 6 Reed Bunting. A Wryneck was at Shipstal Point, Arne.

Monday 23^rd – Very little reported other than huge numbers of hirundines moving over the Dorset coast mainly Swallow with a few House Martin and Sand Martin mixed in. In some location exceeding 15,000 in one morning! Meadow Pipit have also been moving in big numbers over the last few days.

Tuesday 24^th – Again, little reported but 800+ Black-tailed Godwit, 200+ Redshank, 1 Whimbrel,1 Spotted Redshank, 50+ Wigeon, 1 Sandwich Tern, and 1 Common Gull were noted at Holes Bay.

There is a constant easterly flow over the next 4 days, so a really good chance of some ‘different’ birds turning up. Yellow-browed Warblers are tracking their way across the country and species like Barred and Melodious Warbler have been recorded at Portland in the last couple of days. Not to mention the first Redwings of the autumn that turned up at Spurn, Yorkshire and Central London today!