It was back to the balmy weather again today with plenty butterflies and dragonflies on the wing, including loads of Red Admirals. This attracted in several juv Hobby that started hunting over the Piddle and Frome Valley, Hartland and Middlebere. The first Hen Harrier (a ringtail) of the autumn was seen over Hydes Heath this morning heading west, and what could have been the same individual was briefly seen at Swineham yesterday too. The Forster’s Tern was putting on a good show in Middlebere where there was also an adult male Scottish Osprey, ring number ‘511’. This has been reported to the Scottish ringers and info has come back that it was ringed as a chick in the Black Isle, Northern Scotland in July 2021. At Lytchett Fields there were 3 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 2 Spotted Redshank and 3 Crossbill passed over. On the Brownsea Lagoon an arrival of some waders was evident with 13 new Grey Plover, 9 Knot and 8 Ringed Plover all present, all of which were absent on Wednesday. Other highlights on the lagoon were 58 Avocet, 19 Greenshank and 405 Teal. In Brands Bay there was another Ruff, 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Knot also an increase to 20 Pintail, plus 1 Osprey and 1 Peregrine over. The White-tailed Eagle pair were moving about, first sighted high over the Frome Vally, then low over the Piddle Valley, heading towards the harbour.
It was a stunning start to the day, with a cold, crisp (and dare we say it) Christmassy…
Find out moreHighlight of todays sightings was a Ruff present at Lytchett Fields amongst 268 Lapwing, as well as 1…
Find out more© 2024 Birds of Poole Harbour Registered Charity No. 1152615