The on/off down pours made it difficult to get out birding today for long periods but there were several highlights including a very late juv Common Tern which was flying around the Brownsea Quay. If both the Arctic Tern from the last few days and this Common Tern hang around for a few days more, then there’s the ridiculous possibility of having 3 tern species (possibly 4 if the Forster’s Tern is still about) still present in the harbour into November as there were also 5 Sandwich Tern in Poole Park this morning. Also on Brownsea was 1 winter plumage Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 17 Greenshank, 35 Grey Plover and 12 Knot, with a Brambling there yesterday too. The Red-throated Diver flew into the harbour early doors and an amazing 18 Marsh Harrier left the west harbour roost. A Ringtail Hen Harrier was over the mouth of the River Piddle in the Wareham Channel and 4 Cattle Egret were with 6 Little Egret up at Holmebridge. Finally, there were 5 Spoonbill in the mouth of Wytch Mouth this evening.

Spoonbill – Wytch Lake

There are some nice totals building in the harbour as autumn progresses with more and more winter birds arriving. A high tide count on the Brownsea Lagoon this morning produced a whopping 19 Greenshank, along with 440 Dunlin, 32 Grey Plover, 281 Avocet, 138 Redshank, 21 Bar-tailed Godwit and 25 Spoonbill also logged. In the Wareham Channel this evening, yesterdays Arctic Tern was still around, hunting in the mouth of the River Frome and a ringtail Hen Harrier was active in the mouth of the River Piddle. The White-tailed Eagle pair were chilling out on the edge of the Wareham Channel this evening in the dimming light. Off Jerry’s Point the Common Scoter was still present and there were 19 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Red-breasted Merganser. In Lytchett Bay this morning 6 Little Grebe were across the bay, 6 Lesser Redpoll flew over and a Marsh Harrier was over Otter Island. In Middlebere 2 Great White Egret were feeding on the high tide, a Merlin was on Hartland and the Red-throated Diver was seen flying into the harbour at dawn.

Double Rainbow over Wareham Channel from Slepe Heath

There was a real wintery vibe across the harbour today, especially from our Low-Tide Cruise this afternoon. And although the tide didn’t drop as much as predicted due to the low pressure, there was still plenty to enjoy. There was 1 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Common Scoter off Jerry’s Point with 6 Great Crested Grebe. In Central Harbour 3 Eider were loafing with 7 Red-breasted Merganser and a Red-throated Diver was off the SW corner of Brownsea. A surprise, late Arctic Tern was in the Wareham Channel and 3 Marsh Harrier were at Swineham in the mouth of the Frome where there were also 3 Greenshank, 1 Ruff and 11 Lapwing. The Brownsea Lagoon had 17 Spoonbill, 3 Rock Pipit, 1 Kingfisher and a large gull roost this evening. Across the low tide in the harbour there was a typical late October total of common waders and wildfowl with moderate numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatcher and dark-bellied Brent Geese. The rising tide in Lytchett Bay tonight saw 1 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 7 Little Grebe, 200 Dunlin and 160 Redshank and a Water Pipit was logged at Lytchett Fields. This morning in the PCW Drain, behind KFC there were still 7 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 2 Firecrest, 1 Kingfisher and 4 Goldcrest. A Spotted Redshank was in Middlebere, the White-tailed Eagle pair were on Brownsea this morning and a ringtail Hen Harrier was also at Middlebere. An (over-wintering?) Common Sandpiper was on the Brownsea north shore.

Arctic Tern – Wareham Channel, from Low-Tide Cruise – Harry McBride

The rain soon gave way this morning leaving a really calm day ahead. Off Old Harry this morning a Goshawk, a White-tailed Eagle, 3 Brambling, 112 Swallow, 2 Sand Martin, a mega late Tree Pipit, 6 Chiffchaff and 5 Firecrest. Sunnyside was flooded out and as a result attracted in 1 Greenshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper and best of all, a Sunnyside tick in the form of a Spotted Redshank. At Holes Bay a Red Kite drifted through and a Wheatear was still along the cycle path. There were at least 3 Ring Ouzel still in the Ulwell Gap and a Spotted Redshank was at Lytchett Fields. There was a minor arrival of Redwing after the rain stopped, but the next few days look like it could deliver more, and by the looks of things further east, we could even have Waxwings by Christmas!

Red Kite – Holes Bay – Rene Goad

Birdguides map highlighting the latest Waxwing sightings from today across the country. next stop…Poole!

Another grey day today in the harbour but the Ring Ouzel are still passing through with 7 being seen at Ulwell Gap. Curlew Sandpiper have also been spotted in the harbour today with 1 at Middlebere and 2 on the Brownsea Lagoon, mixed in with flocks of Dunlin as well as 24 Spoonbill on the Lagoon. Also in the Middlebere Channel were c320 Avocet, 6 Spotted Redshank and 1 female Merlin. On Hartland Moor 1 male Merlin was chasing Meadow Pipit in the late afternoon. In Lytchett Bay there were 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 Pintail, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine. Holes Bay saw 1300+ Jackdaw leave the roost from Pergins Island this morning as well as 1 Cattle Egret, 6 Avocet, 260+ Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Pintail being present in the bay.

Male Pintail with Eurasian Teal – Holes Bay – Tony Furnell

The high tides in the harbour continued today pushing water and birds up into every bay and inlet. At Lytchett Fields 1 juvenile Little Gull was seen before flying off north-east. Also present were 1 Peregrine, 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Snipe and 1 Marsh Harrier as well as, from Rock Lea View, 1 Spotted Redshank and 5 Greenshank. The high tides brought the male White-tailed Eagle G463 into view where it was seen from the Ham Common Viewpoint around the Gull Islands, then flying over Arne and another White-tailed Eagle probably G466 was seen over Middlebere. In the Middlebere Channel there were 70 Avocet, 4 Spotted Redshank, 3 Knot, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Pintail, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Great White Egret and 1 Marsh Harrier. 2 Ring Ouzels were still at Godlingston Hill, feeding in the hawthorn bushes and 1 Peregrine was seen in Poole Town Centre.

Curlew Sandpiper – Middlebere Channel – @jeremymcclemen1 on Twitter

White-tailed Eagle probably G466 – Middlebere Channel –  @jeremymcclemen1 on Twitter

Today’s most notable sighting came in the form of 3 Corn Bunting over Stoborough: an unusually scarce species for Poole Harbour! A few late summer migrants were also on the move including 15 Swallow and 1 Wheatear at Ballard Down. There appears to have been another small arrival of Brent Geese with 25 seen from Sandbanks and another 20 off Middle Beach at Studland. At Jerry’s Point there were 15 Turnstone, 5 Oystercatcher, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Sanderling, 20 Dunlin. Highlights from Lytchett Bay were 1 Cattle Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier, 4 Avocet, 10 Bearded Tit and 15 Redwing. And in the Wareham Channel both White-tailed Eagles were present, with one actively hunting Black-headed Gulls.

Common Redshank – Rock Lea View, Lytchett Bay – Pete Corbin

The drizzle lifted this morning for our Autumn Safari Cruise, starting off the trip well with a Great White Egret flying over Poole Quay. A second Great White Egret was also in the Wareham Channel, as well as 1 White-tailed Eagle on the Arne shoreline. Near the mouth of the River Frome, 2 Marsh Harrier and 1 Peregrine were active, and we watched 6 Bearded Tit lift high out of the reed bed before heading north. On Brownsea Lagoon during the late morning were 35 Spoonbill, c.100 Avocet, 200 Dunlin, 300 Black-tailed Godwit and 30 Grey Plover. Reported from the Middlebere Channel today were 5 Spotted Redshank, 1 Great White Egret, 2 Marsh Harrier and 1 ringtail Hen Harrier. There was 1 Great White Egret, 11 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 85 Wigeon, 1 Red-Breasted Merganser, 4 Grey Plover, 14 Lapwing, 98 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Greenshank in Brands Bay also this morning. An impressive count of 11 Ring Ouzels were feeding at Godlingston Gully early in the morning. The Glossy Ibis was seen again over Arne Moors this evening.

Ring Ouzel – Godlingston – Garry Hayman

The harbour was a tale of two halves this morning with low visibility and fog across the north of the harbour but the south basking in glorious sunshine. Another effort was made to log visible migration at a select few sites including Ballard Down and Challow Hill. The light WNW got a few finches moving, but there were certainly plenty of grounded birds along Ballard during the course of the morning feeding in the warm morning sun. Highlights along the top of the ridge included 7 Ring Ouzel, 36 Common Chiffchaff, 103 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Woodlark, 2 Firecrest, 5 Redwing, 1 Blackcap, 2 Yellowhammer and 8 Reed Bunting. In Studland Bay the first 2 Black-necked Grebe of the winter were just off Knoll Beach along with 1 Razorbill and 36 dark-bellied Brent Geese with another Black-necked Grebe off Jerry’s Point mid-morning. Out over Studland Bay 2 Great White Egret were seen heading west over Ballard Down and another was in Brands Bay. This afternoon it was a raptor-fest in the Wareham Channel with 2 Red Kite passing over mid-afternoon, an Osprey was fishing in the Wareham Channel and later in Lytchett Bay, 6+ Marsh Harrier were around Swineham and Keysworth, the White-tailed Eagle pair were over the Wareham Channel and 3+ Sparrowhawk were hunting along the Holton Shore. A fly over Glossy Ibis was logged over the Wareham Channel, seen heading towards Swineham and a Yellow-browed Warbler was in and around the RSPB Arne car park. At Lytchett Fields the first Water Pipit of the winter was colour-ringed by Stour Ringing Group and released on site and there was a Spotted Redshank on site.

Sunny Ballard Down and Foggy Poole this morning

A very wintery picture is emerging across the harbour with a nice range of species now settling back for the latter colder and darker period of the year. What seemed to be a juvenile male Hen Harrier was active in the Wareham Channel along the Keysworth shoreline, viewed from our Autumn Safari Cruise this AM, along with 5-6 Marsh Harrier seen around the Swineham area and a Merlin dashed over Arne Moors towards Swineham Point. Around c20 dark-bellied Brent Geese are back with 6 at Shipstal, 8 at Newton Bay and 6 in Brands Bay. A Red-breasted Merganser was out in central harbour with another 3 in Brands Bay/South Deep. The first set of Spoonbill have de-camped to Shipstal Point with 6 on there this morning whilst 25 remained on the Brownsea Lagoon. The lagoon was also busy with waders on the high tide and included 1 winter plumage Curlew Sandpiper, c100 Avocet, c300 Black-tailed Godwit, c200 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, c10 Grey Plover, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit and 4 Turnstone. At Lytchett Fields there was still a Great White Egret, also 1 Spotted Redshank, 1 adult Marsh Harrier, c30 Swallow , 5 Spoonbill and a drake Pochard (only the 2nd Lytchett Bay record this year). There were a handful of finches on the move up on Ballard, but not very many due to the strong southerly wind, but a sea watch from there produced 1 Red-throated Diver, 8 Kittiwake and 6 Common Scoter off Old Harry. Finally, the first Yellow-browed Warbler for the Poole harbour recording area this autumn was in Parkstone cemetery in a roving tit flock.

Red-breasted Merganser – Central Harbour – Alison Copland

Spoonbill – Brownsea Lagoon – Alison Copland