This week marks the start of our Osprey Cruise schedule meaning the open areas of the harbour will receive some good coverage over the coming days. Today the weather held firm and we were treated to a nice mix of birds with 3-4 Osprey seen, although some distantly but stunning views of a freshly arrived juv Marsh Harrier which cruised in over the Brownsea Lagoon. Along the fringes of the Wareham Channel and Brownsea good numbers of Common Sandpiper were feeding (13 in total) as were 2 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel and c100 newly arrived sinensis Cormorant were feeding together.

Studland South Beach/Ballard Down saw 2 Parakeets, 9 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap and 1 Sparrowhawk. At Old Harry 2 more Chiffchaff, 7 Whitethroat, 50+ Linnet, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Raven and 1 Buzzard.

Middlebere totals; 1 Osprey, 13 Little Egret, 10 Greenshank and 3 Whimbrel

The Brownsea Lagoon was busy with 8 Spoonbill, c150 Dunlin, c50 Ringed Plover, 8 Greenshank, 1 Little Stint, 11 Avocet, c40 Common Redshank, 3 Sanderling and 3 Wheatear.

Lytchett Fields saw 1 Marsh Harrier, 7 Little Egret, 15 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 25 Lapwing, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Greenshank, 3 Redshank, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Wood Sandpiper & 1 Ruff with 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Wheatear also around the site. At South Haven migrants were logged too with 1 Whinchat, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Tree Pipit, 2 Wheatear and 6 Willow Warbler. Holes Bay north saw c800 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Marsh Harrier and at Upton CP a Spotted Flycatcher and 6 Willow Warbler were in and around the SANG. At Middlebere an un-ringed Osprey was observed via our trail camera carrying a stick to (or away from) the Middlebere nest platform…very interesting!

Northern Wheatear – Brownsea Lagoon – Joe Parker

Legs of Mystery Osprey bringing stick to the Middlebere nest