Blimey, the temperature certainly ‘dipped’ today. It felt like we were all needing to moult into our own winter plumage this morning. The harbour though was flat calm and pristine and picture perfect in every way. Another Yellow-browed Warbler was logged today, this time at RSPB Arne near the Shipstal Hide. This is the harbours 3rd already this October and we’re not even half way through yet. In the Wareham Channel the White-tailed Eagle pair were loafing around all day and up to 3 Marsh Harrier were milling around Swineham Point where there were also 10+ Bearded Tit in the reed beds. The sinensis Cormorant flock is now up to around c400 individuals, but the flock seems to be split up currently with one group favouring the Wareham Channel and the other the southern shores. There also seems to be a lot of Jays around currently, and although it doesn’t quite seem like an irruption year, it will be worth keeping an eye out high on clear, cold mornings, especially with winds from the north. In autumn 2010 there was a great influx of Jays with flocks of 15+ (even up to 30) arriving in high from the north in the latter part of October. On Brownsea 47 Spoonbill were roosting this morning. There was a good vis-mig passage of birds across the mouths of both the River Piddle and Frome as multiple small flocks of between 20-40 Linnet, Siskin and Meadow Pipit, as well as smaller numbers of Skylark, Rock Pipit headed north. A Kingfisher was on the steps of one of the Poole Quay marina ladders and there are still up to 30 Sandwich Tern spread across the harbour, some even still feeding young which are in tow. A Redwing passed over an Upton garden this AM.

Avocet – Middlebere – Kate Plater