Well, thats September done, and what a great way to end with a couple of season ‘firsts’ and the return of an old friend. This morning didn’t see hoards of displaced sea birds like we’d thought may happen….not even a Grey Phalarope (bit early still), but there were 7 early Red-breasted Merganser logged flying in to the harbour through the harbour mouth this AM. Then, a really strange (but great) record of a Short-eared Owl hunting along the sea wall of the Brownsea Lagoon, watched by the Brownsea Wardens where there were still c60 Spoonbill. Then, out of nowhere, this afternoon the Forster’s Tern thats been dropping in and out of Poole Harbour since April 2023 re-appeared in Holes Bay NW where it was mostly sat on the mud, but was also feeding occasionally. This is now this individuals 4th visit to Poole Harbour in the last 2-years, having first appeared in Lytchett Bay in April 2023 before dissapearing for the summer. It then reappeared and settled back in the harbour during July, Aug and Sept, Oct and early Nov 2023, mostly at RSPB Arne before heading off for the winter where it was found to be over-wintering on the NW coast of France. Then, this spring it was seen again in Poole Harbour for a few weeks where it mostly favoured Middlebere again before moving off somewhere new. Then, later in the summer photos emerged online of a Forster’s Tern in NE Ireland at a site called Soldiers Point in Louth. Expert photo analysis by bird ID guru Killian Mullarney highlighted (due to feather wear and pattern) that the Ireland bird was in fact the same individual as ours. Quite amazing! It didn’t seem to stay there too long before venturing off for the rest of the summer, not to be seen again. Until today, where it was quite happily resting in Holes Bay. Last winter it stayed well into November, so it could be around for a while yet! In fact, there was another returning bird today, in the shape of adult Scottish adult Osprey ‘511’. This particular individual actually staged here in the harbour at roughly the same time last year, so he obviously likes it here. Another Osprey was also reported over the Brownsea Lagoon today. Elsewhere today, 3 Spotted Redshank were in Lytchett Bay along with a juv Common Tern, 2 Marsh Harrier and 4 Goosander flew over Lytchett Fields. Holes Bay NW was teeming with birds, mainly Black-tailed Godwit, Teal and Redshank, but it was good to see 6 Pintail also.

Forster’s Tern – Holes Bay NW

                                           

Forster’s Tern – Holes Bay NW