It was good to finally see a bit of rain today which seemed to deliver a few extra goodies in the form of a Garganey on the Brownsea Lagoon and a decent count of 14 Curlew Sandpiper also on the Brownsea Lagoon. An early watch of the Wareham Channel also produced a Glossy Ibis arriving, before it soon departed east towards RSPB Arne. There were also 48 Spoonbill on the lagoon and with the 7 in Middlebere that equals the recent high count of 55, although we’re not sure if any more were lurking anywhere? In Middlebere there were 3 different Osprey during the afternoon with 2 different adults and a juvenile which landed in the dead trees with a fish. Also in Middlebere were 2 Green Sandpiper, a fresh juvenile Marsh Harrier and 1 Hobby. There were 2-3 Osprey in Lytchett Bay during the course of the day. The Forster’s Tern was on Shipstal Beach again. Small numbers of Wigeon are now popping up at all traditional over-wintering spots but Pintail are still pretty limited with just a few in Holes Bay. The Chiffchaff rush looks like it’s about to begin with numbers now well exceeding sightings of Willow Warbler, most of which have now passed through. Chiffchaff numbers build and build as they pass through all the way through September and into October with them soon fast becoming the most prominent migrating passerine. There were still small numbers of Yellow Wagtail around Hartland, Middlebere and Arne, 2 Whinchat were on Hartland, a Redstart was at Greenlands Farm and 5 Spotted Flycatcher were up on Ballard.

Juvenile Common Ringed Plover – Studland – Mark Wright

Hottest day of the year so far! It didn’t seem like there was much birding going on today. There were 55 Spoonbill and 4 Curlew Sandpiper on the Brownsea Lagoon, on Lytchett Fields a decent count of 485 Teal are already present along with 3 Wigeon in the bay, plus a Whinchat was in the approach fields and 2 Osprey were hunting in the bay mid-morning. The Forster’s Tern re-appeared on Shipstal Beach, RSPB Arne and 2 Osprey were logged in Middlebere. The over-summering Barnacle Goose was still at Holme lane GP, Greenlands Farm there were 2 Whinchat and 4 Wheatear.

Barnacle Goose – Holme Lane GP – Garry Hayman

So, so hot still! It seems the Osprey’s might think they’re already in Africa as they seem quite happy staying put, despite perfect migrating conditions. There were a minimum of 4 today spread between Lytchett Bay, the Wareham Channel and Middlebere. A White-tailed Eagle was over Coombe Heath and was later seen in the Wareham Channel and this morning 4 Great White Egret flew over Coombe Heath. This morning a Cattle Egret was at Lytchett Fields and this evening 7 flew down the Frome Valley. In Middlebere there was 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Spotted Redshank, 13 Knot and 1 Ringed Plover. There was also a Curlew Sandpiper on the Brownsea Lagoon.

Swallows gathering on hedgerows in Middlebere

This mornings intense heat gave way to some welcome cloud cover by mid-afternoon, but the dawn did deliver more migrants. There was a good mix of birds around the fringes of Sunnyside which included 2 Redstart, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Common Whitethroat, 10+ Stonechat, 5+ Chiffchaff, 5+ Blackcap and 10+ Meadow Pipit. There are still a minimum of 4 Osprey in the harbour, but could be up to 6 with records coming from Lytchett Bay (4), Brands Bay (1), Middlebere (3) and the Wareham Channel (2). Wildfowl numbers in Holes Bay continue to grow with 58 Wigeon, 9 Shovelers, 5 Pintail and 4 Gadwall in the northern bays. On the rising tide this evening Middlebere saw 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 5 Spotted Redshank, 4 Greenshank, 11 Knot, 4 Dunlin, 187 Black tailed Godwits and 53 Redshank.

Sand Lizard – Coombe Heath, RSPB Arne – Alison Copland

On the same day where we’re sweltering in 30 degrees of heat, the first Pink-footed Geese of the autumn/winter arrived in Scotland, which was a stark reminder that we’re likley on borrowed time and that colder days really aren’t too far away. But….until then, we’ll continue to enjoy this Indian Summer and the birds that this warmth brings. Ospreys were once again still here in good force, with 2 in Lytchett Bay and 2-3 in the Wareham Channel with male Osprey 022 seen near the nest site briefly. On the Brownsea Lagoon an extra 10 Spoonbill arrived, bringing the total to 54 now. This is a decent early September total. Surely we can hit 100 this year? Also on the Brownsea Lagoon were 81 Ringed Plover, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Knot, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 101 Redshank, 7 Greenshank, 129 Dunlin and 6 Sanderling. At Lytchett Fields a Whinchat was in the Approach Fields with 1 Spotted Flycatcher and 1 Whitethroat. At Holes Bay wildfowl numbers are building steadily with 49 Teal, 36 Wigeon, 2 Pintail, 9 Shoveler, and 2 Gadwall. A ringing session in the Piddle Valley actually returned a reasonable number of birds including 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 3 Stonechat and 4 Reed Bunting. There was another big passage of Swallow today too with many, many hundreds (likely thousands) passing over, often incredibly high, with a decent gathering at Ballard. Along the Holes Bay cycle path there were 2 Wheatear.

Migrant adult female Osprey – Lytchett Bay – Alison Copland

Despite the weather conditions being good for migration today, there was still plenty of Osprey activity, with 2-3 seen this morning over Lytchett Bay and the Wareham Channel. Also seen from Hyde’s Heath at RSPB Arne were 2 Hobby and 1 Peregrine and 1 White-tailed Eagle. On the low tide in Holes Bay this morning were 225 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Curlew, 30 Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher and 1 Knot. In addition to the Osprey, Lytchett Bay produced a count of 1 Whimbrel, 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Curlew, 100 Redshank and 2 Dunlin. On Lytchett Fields were also 200 Teal, 8 Greenshank, 6 Redshank, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin and 1 Lapwing.

Wow, summer (re)-landed today with a sweltering heat rippling across the harbour. As a result it seemed there was a big clear out of some birds, including some Osprey by mid-afternoon. Our final two Osprey Cruises of the season yielded good Osprey numbers this AM with 5-6 dotted around the Wareham Channel, Lytchett Bay and Middlebere area, including what seemed like a new arrival coming down the Frome Valley. This afternoon the White-tailed Eagle pair arrived in from high west, before then settling on the edge of the Wareham Channel, but we only connected 3 Osprey distantly over RSPB Arne and Lytchett Bay. It’s worth saying at this point that by the end of todays cruise we’ve taken out over 1900 people on boat trips over the last 2 weeks to see Ospreys, many of which have traveled from outside Dorset specifically to come on to the boat trips. For everyone thats booked on and joined us over the last few weeks, thank you so much. It’s been an honour and thrill to share so many exciting moments with you all, and we hope this events have expanded the opportunity to put Dorset on the map as an eco-tourism hotspot to visit in the future. Other species seen today included a single Ruff, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 3 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler and c100 Black-tailed Godwit on the ‘Stilt Pools’ at Swineham plus 2 Marsh Harrier, 3 Hobby and a Peregrine in the Wareham Channel. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 44 Spoonbill, 21 Knot, 7 Sanderling, 28 Avocet, 4 Curlew Sandpiper, c30 Ringed Plover, c100 Dunlin, 8 Bar-tailed Godwit, c400 Oystercatcher and 11 Turnstone. At Holes Bay an Osprey flew over with a large fish, but most noteworthy were the first 9 Wigeon and 1st Pintail of the autumn arriving in along with 430 Black-tailed Godwit, 170 Redshank and 2 Dunlin. Up on Hartland Yellow Wagtail flocks are moving between various cattle herds and along the Middlebere track 2 Redstart and a Whinchat were logged. The Forster’s Tern was seen at both Shipstal Beach, RSPB Arne and briefly on the Brownsea Lagoon.

Yellow Wagtail – Hartland – Peter Moore

The harbour returned to form again today after yesterdays soggy interruption. Despite a few minor short showers there were decent birds to be had across the area today, which amazingly consisted of the reappearance of female Osprey CJ7 who hasn’t been seen in the harbour since the afternoon of August 28th. We thought she’d left when the chicks left at roughly the same time, but perhaps she wasn’t quite ready to say goodbye to Poole Harbour yet and ventured back? Another amazing moment was this afternoon when boarding our guests for the 2pm Osprey Cruise, when the local gulls started alarm calling and low and behold an Osprey flew in over the boat, high from the NE, over the quay and headed towards the Wareham Channel. This was an obvious new arrival but we’re not sure if it stopped or just carried on starlight through? In the Wareham Channel there were 4-5 Osprey present again, moving between Lytchett Bay and Middlebere and numerous Hobby were active over RSPB Arne, Swineham and Keysworth. Other highlights from the day included excellent displays from the White-tailed Eagle pair which were sat out on Gold Point, RSPB Arne (opposite Hamworthy Park), before taking off and drifting off towards Middlebere before then taking to the air mid afternoon and displaying/interacting over the Wareham Channel. There was a Cattle Egret in the Wareham Channel this afternnon, 4 Yellow Wagtail with cattle at Swineham and the scrapes held 150+ Black-tailed Godwit. The Brownsea Lagoon hosted the Forster’s Tern today due to this mornings incredibly high tide which covered it’s favoured spot at Shipstal. Also on Brownsea were 40 Spoonbill, 4 Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Knot, 1 Grey Plover, c40 Ringed Plover, c100 Dunlin, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 10 Avocet, dark-bellied Brent Goose and 1 Wheatear. At Lytchett Fields 2 Spotted Redshank, 12 Greenshank, 1 Whimbrel and 8 Common Sandpiper were on the fields and in Brands Bay 6 Grey Plover, 8 Bar-tailed Godwit and 1 Greenshank.

White-tailed Eagle pair G466 (left) & G463 (right) on Gold Point, RSPB Arne from Osprey Cruise this AM – Twitter – @twamers