What a beautiful October day. Certainly the calm before the storm. Once again there were plenty of good birds around with the Black Redstart on Brownsea Quay again this morning and another in the Millfield area of Poole, just north of Holes Bay. Also in Holes Bay was a high count of 101 Shoveler which were new in. An Osprey was in Middlebere this morning with one being seen over the Brownsea Lagoon, and then one (probably the same) over Middle Beach, Studland going south. Was this our final Osprey of the year departing? The Brownsea Lagoon had 55 Spoonbill, 344 Avocet, 19 Greenshank and 455 sinensis Cormorant. This morning 3 Red-breasted Merganser flew into the harbour, 2 Spotted Redshank were at Lytchett Fields, the Goshawk was sat in a dead tree again viewable from Coombe Heath and a Great White Egret was in Middlebere. A few Swallow were passing over Coombe Heath too and 2 Red Kite passed over there too.

Black Redstart – Brownsea Quay – Nicki Tutton

Osprey and Avocets – RSPB Arne – Mark Wright