No eagle today, but a harbour rarity was still to be found when Ian Ballam found a Pectoral Sandpiper at Lytchett Fields which was only on view briefly before disappearing into some of the thicker grass at the back of Sherford Pools. It’s possible it could still be around tomorrow, so worth checking again on the rising tide. In the Piddle Valley a Woodlark was in full song and a Lesser Redpoll passed over. A Red Kite was high over South Beach and up around Ballard no less than c35 Stonechat were along the coast path with several groups of Linnet and Goldfinch still on the move by late afternoon. In Brands Bay there were 17 Brent Geese, 6 Red-breasted Merganser and 62 Great Crested Grebe. Off Knoll Beach there were singles of Guillemot and Razorbill and Marsh Harrier were again really active in the Wareham Channel. In Holes Bay there were 1077 Black-tailed Godwit, 14 Redshank and a Lapwing Holes Bay North (scarce here), 472 Wigeon, 31 Teal, 11 each of Pintail and Shoveler, 246 Canadas and 1 Kingfisher.

Stonechats – Ballard/Glebelands

Yesterdays White-tailed Eagle, male G461 which is one of the reintroduced birds from the Isle of Wight was seen again in the Wareham Channel briefly this morning but not seen since. Hopefully he’s still around and explores the south and west of the harbour a bit more over the next few weeks. There were also plenty of other birds of prey in the Wareham Channel area including a Red Kite over, 1 female Merlin zipping over Arne Moors, 1 Peregrine at Swineham and masses of Marsh Harrier activity with a minimum of 5 (but possibly up to 8) around the mouth of the Piddle/Frome, plus several tussles high above Keysworth, as well as individuals around Middlebere and Lytchett Bay. There were also still several pulses of Swallow and House Martin high above the Wareham Channel and a decent passage of Meadow Pipit was going on all day. In Middlebere there were 2 Great White Egret and another in Brands Bay.

Little Egret – Middlebere – Alison Copland

Well, an old friend (who is actually a new friend) White-tailed Eagle G461 returned to the harbour this morning having been away for a couple of weeks. He was first seen heading along the Wareham Channel at dawn and was seen again a few times this afternoon around the Middlebere/Wytch Lake area, where he was photographed. This is the third period he’s returned to the harbour/Purbeck area, so certainly seems to like the general area. Being a 2020 bird, he’s still got plenty of scouting about to do over the next year or two, but it would be great if he decided to settle in South Dorset for this coming winter period. There were also 58 Spoonbill logged today on the Brownsea Lagoon with 7 seen arriving in through the harbour mouth, and there were 3 Great White Egret in Brands Bay. Some vis-mig across the harbour mouth included 445 Goldfinch, 105 Siskin, 1 Woodlark, 2 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Crossbill.

White-tailed Eagle (G461) – Wytch/Middlebere area – Mark Wright (@markwright12002)

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A foggy start to the day had things feeling a bit more autumnal. Yesterday morning, 2 of the first Redwing over Wimborne were reported meaning that the major autumn thrush passage will soon be underway over Poole Harbour. From Middlebere this morning, there was a count of 297 Avocet, 30+ Black-tailed Godwit, 20+ Lapwing, c.50 Wigeon, 20 Pintail, 2 Great White Egret and 1 Marsh Harrier. A new high total of Spoonbill for the year were counted on Brownsea Lagoon today with 58 present, 45 of which were also seen from the Shipstal hide at Arne this morning. Over at Baiter, 4 Wheatear, 28 Ringed Plover, 30 Turnstone and 15 Oystercatchers were present this AM. Also, still a juvenile Hobby on a heath in the south of the harbour.

Wheatear – Baiter – Martin Adams

Another mild autumn day that had us puffing getting set up for our early morning ringing demo at Lytchett Bay in 17 degrees of morning warmth. It certainly doesn’t feel very autumnal at the moment but with northerly winds kicking in next week, that may be about to change. At dawn we hosted another Bearded Tit ringing demo in partnership with Stour Ringing Group and with thanks to Dorset Wildlife trust for access. In the end it was a productive session with 4 Bearded Tit, 1 Water Rail, 1 late Sedge Warbler, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 3 Stonechat, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting including a British control, 1 Dunnock and Wren. At Lytchett Fields another Jack Snipe was seen and at Little Sea, Studland this evening 3 Great White Egret entered the roost. The loan Barnacle Goose thats been following/present with some of the local Canada Geese around this year was in Holes Bay this AM and at Hartland a female Merlin was active as was a semi-late Hobby. Yesterday an Osprey was photographed in Brands Bay, and this evening the number of Great Crested Grebe in the evening roost rose to 85! where there were also 2 Great White Egret. At Greenlands Farm there were 2 Firecrest and a single Wheatear and in Holes Bay around 450 Wigeon are still present. Finally, there’s definitely something going on with Jay’s currently with lots moving around different areas. A Flock of 6 flew over Lytchett Bay togther, but 11 were seen in total, and a drive from Wareham to Poole counted no less than 15 moving over suggesting that there could be a big push of Jays on the way, unless its already underway? The next clear bright morning could be really interesting for Jay passage.

Bearded Tit – Lytchett Bay 

After last nights hat-trick of Jack Snipe last night at Sunnyside, another was logged today, this time during daylight hours, seen flying over Lytchett Bay where there were also 2 Marsh Harrier and c50 Meadow Pipit. In Holes Bay a Great White Egret landed briefly another in Middlebere. Also in Middlebere were c30 Pintail, 2 Spoonbill, c50 Avocet and 2 Marsh Harrier. In Poole Park a Firecrest was singing briefly and in Holes Bay there were 475 Wigeon. At Baiter there was a hardy Wheatear also a Rock Pipit, several Swallow over and c10 Turnstone. Also, some more autumn firsts this evening with 2 Red-breasted Merganser back in Brands Bay along with 6 Brent Geese and 79 Great Crested Grebe. Plus, the first Redwing of the autumn flew over Brownsea too this morning.

Marsh Harrier sequence from Middlebere yesterday – pennhillman

An interesting mix today with a definite sense of arrival. A Short-eared Owl was seen coming in off the sea at Ballard Down and it seems more crests are arriving with decent numbers of Goldcrest and Firecrest appearing at different locations. Then, this evening at Sunnyside during what we thought was going to be a fairly uneventful first lamping session of the ‘winter’ resulted in 3 Jack Snipe! This is way earlier than we’ve encountered them before, but then again, we rarely start lamping until mid-late October. Also, members of SRG (Stour Ringing Group) checked this same area only a couple of days ago, and there were no Jack Snipe then, so these are literally just fresh in. It’s likely these are passage/staging Jack Snipe, being so early in their migratory season which will push on further south, with ‘our’ over-winter regulars probably not arriving for another couple of weeks yet. Also today (conflicting) reports of either 30 or 50 Spoonbill on Shipstal Point, Arne. We are now approaching peak season for Spoonbill (normally around Oct 10th – 15th) so 50 wouldn’t be unusual at this time of year. It would be great to beat the record count of 80 though. Could we ever see 100??? Elsewhere there were 2 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Wheatear at Holton Lee and Lytchett Fields. In Middlebere there were 2 Great White Egret and 2-3 different Marsh Harrier, including a couple of fighting individuals. Plus, the first Black-necked Grebe of the winter was off Jerry’s Point, Studland and there was a Red-throated Diver in Brands Bay with 41 Great Crested Grebe in the same area.

Firecrests – Lower Piddle Valley 

Newly arrived Jack Snipe – Sunnyside

Strong gusts continue to linger for another day, until conditions make way and set up for an exciting week ahead. The remaining hirundines continue to slowly filter through, with 2 Sand Martin logged over Lytchett Fields today, while the Ruff  continues its residence in Pool Field alongside 35 Wigeon, numerous Black-tailed Godwit, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail and at least 2 Yellow Wagtail. The adjacent Arable Field was bustling with activity, featuring 1 Whinchat among the 8 Stonechat, as well as a mobile flock of c60 Linnet, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting and a hunting Kestrel. Over at the Holes Bay ASDA superstore, both adult Peregrines showed well on the highrise building again.

Yellow Wagtail – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Things should start getting really interesting by the end of this week as the winds swing back north-easterly. The night sky should hopefully draw in the first Redwings of the autumn and perhaps the odd Ring Ouzel or two along the headlands and farm fields of Ballard or Greenlands. Until then we’ll need to make do with the persistent SW breeze and occasional showers which is still currently delivering a decent flow of Meadow Pipit and the last few remaining House Martin and Swallows. As October progresses Goldcrest and Firecrest become more numerous and today singles of Firecrest were logged at Holton Lee, Middlebere and Little Sea, Studland. There was a Great White Egret in Middlebere and a Cattle Egret flew over Swineham. October is the month for Bearded Tit and good numbers are now in the reedbeds around Swineham and Lytchett Bay.

Bearded Tit – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam

The clearing sky last night obviously got some birds moving again after yesterdays deluge with a ringing session in Lytchett Bay seeing a decent catch of Chiffchaff, Blackcap and still 3 Sedge Warbler, which for October is pretty rare. Also 17+ Bearded Tit were logged in the reedbeds in the bay and on Lytchett Fields the Ruff was still around with a Great White Egret over there too and a Marsh Harrier and Peregrine present. Kingfisher are now beginning to be seen around the harbour with 3 in Holes Bay north, 1 back in Poole Park, one seen on Poole Quay and another near the harbour mouth. In Holes Bay north there was a Common Sandpiper (a possible over-winterer) and in Poole Park 3 Sandwich Tern with another 15 on the jetty at Parkstone Yacht Club. In Brands Bay there were small numbers of waders with Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Sanderling.

Ringed Plover – Brands bay – Garry Hayman

Kingfisher – Poole Park – Clare Slade