Autumn tactics crept in today with a day of glorious sunshine, sandwiched in-between two days of wind and rain.  No two days are the same at the moment, but with this mornings northerly breeze and clear sky’s it seemed some passage could be on the cards. Despite a few decent sized groups of Wood Pigeon, the migration never picked up and a flock of 300 was the maximum over Lytchett Bay and South Haven.

A School Birdboat trip that left the quay at 10am were spoilt with a whole manner of decent birds. 26 Spoonbill are always an incredible sight, a Long-tailed Duck flew down passed Brownsea, settled on the water for a couple of seconds and then headed down towards Arne. Both Peregrine and a female Merlin were upsetting the Brownsea Lagoon regulars as 300+ Avocet, 200+ Black-tailed Godwit, 200+ Oystercatcher, Redshank, Dunlin, Knot, Grey Plover, a few Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank and Spotted Redshank all had to dive foe cover more than once. To complete the trip two Seals made an appearance off Shipstal point, Arne.

A ‘vis-mig’ session at South Haven, Studland produced 10 Crossbill, 23 Siskin, 6 Redpoll, 23 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 19 Goldfinch, 1 Linnet, 2 Bullfinch, 3 Meadow Pipit, 9 Reed Bunting, 4 Greenfinch, 9 Starling and 2 Fieldfare as-well as a stunning male Merlin and 300+ Wood Pigeon.

A short ringing session a Holton Lee produced 2 Marsh Tit. This species is becoming increasingly rare in the harbour and it now seems that Holton Lee and Slepe Copse are the only reliable places to see them. They’re not even regular at Arne any more. Also there a Barn Owl hunting over the marsh.