What another brilliantly beautiful day with lots on offer. There were two classic mid-September species in the harbour today, firstly with the Red-backed Shrike still present at Lytchett Fields for it’s 3rd day, then this afternoon a Wryneck was in the Godlingston Gap, on Godlingston Heath, Studland. A new White-tailed Eagle also arrived today in the shape of one of this years translocated individuals from the Isle of Wight project, this one named ‘G603’. It was hanging around in the SE of the harbour for a while before venturing off high heading off NE. There was a small but building passage of Meadow Pipit and Swallow total with 226 Meadow Pipit logged over Lytchett Fields by early afternoon, and Swallows pulsing through on a broad front all day. There were at least 3 different Osprey in the harbour today moving between Middlebere and the Wareham Channel. There were a few Northern Wheatear knocking about with 2 in Holes Bay, 4 on Hartland and 2 in Middlebere. Amazing the Grasshopper Warbler passage continues with another 6 ringed at the Carey Secret Garden ringing station this AM, bringing the autumn total so far to 241 ringed at that site!!

Northern Wheatear – Holes Bay – Rene Goad

Transiting juvenile White-tailed Eagle G603 – Brands Bay – Mark Wright

Red-backed Shrike – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam