This morning’s Poole Harbour Osprey Project Tour boat trip departed Poole Quay into an ominous mist at 9AM, with Brownsea Island shrouded from view and the recent rainfall having only eased in the last 30 minutes. As the conurbation disappeared into the murky, visibility began to improve to the west and it wasn’t long until the active Marsh Harriers put on a show, quartering over Gigger’s Island and the Keysworth shoreline for the duration of the trip, regularly flushing the breeding Lapwing and Redshank. A Hobby flew right over the top of the boat towards the Arne peninsula, Sandwich Terns offered wonderfully close views from all angles of the boat, and a slow meander up the River Frome produced a small flurry of Swallow set to a backdrop of constant Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting and Skylark song. By the return journey, the sun was beginning to fight through the cloud cover, the mist had well and truly lifted and the ideal conditions quickly welcomed the appearance of an Osprey, likely CJ7! First appearing at close range from the Arne peninsula, the bird tracked west very quickly and was soon distant over the mouth of the River Frome and Piddle, swooping down but pulling out last minute on several fishing attempts en route.

Poole Peregrine update – Unfortunately, it is with great sadness we have to report that one of the juvenile Poole Peregrines was found dead yesterday morning having had a collision with a building. A great shame. Hopefully the remaining two will survive.

~ Joe

Marsh Harrier – Keysworth Shoreline (photographed from Osprey Project Tour) – Alison Copland