More Redwing were arriving this morning after what seemed like another semi-decent night passage. At least another several hundred passed over at dawn, but passage soon fizzled out by 8am. Hopefully more on the way tonight before the big low pressure system arrives this weekend. The first Hen Harrier of the autumn/winter appeared this evening in the Lower Frome Valley, a young male buzzing around chasing Meadow Pipits. Also 2 Swallow over Swineham and a Little Stint, 1 Green Sandpiper and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was on the Swineham Scrape. At Shipstal there were 51 Spoonbill with the rest likely on the Brownsea Lagoon. Wigeon totals are creeping up with 852 in Holes Bay….will we hit 1000 by the end of October? Another good record for Holes Bay was a Dartford Warbler along the cycle track giving a nice example of local dispersal from (Upton?) Heath. A Scaup off Jerry’s Point gave a distinctly wintery feel with a Red-throated Diver in the Brownsea Channel too along with 20 Brent Geese and 10 Red-breasted Merganser in Brands Bay. There are also still between 4-6 Marsh Harrier present, moving around the harbour.

Siskin – Brownsea – Martin Adams