It was blowing like crazy today, especially this morning, but that didn’t stop 20+ Marsh Harriers coming out of the West Harbour roost this morning. Also a very flooded Middlebere this saw 1 Kingfisher, 5 Spotted Redshanks, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier and 2 late Swallows past the hide. This afternoon was one of our winter low-tide cruises which seemed a bit extreme to begin with, however after 15 mins we were in more sheltered areas and well into the birds with more than enough on show. There were multiple highlights but 8+ Marsh Harrier flying around Swineham in almost constant view was a real treat. Out in central harbour a juv Eider was bobbing around on its own and there were 2 Red-throated Diver and 2 Great Northern Diver along with only 7 Red-breasted Merganser and 5+ Great Crested Grebe. Up on the Swineham floods/scrapes there were c200 Canada and Greylag Geese with 2 Egyptian Geese mixed in as well as a few Shoveler and Gadwall. In the Wareham Channel 4 Spoonbill were feeding in the sheltered bay off Arne and on the Brownsea Lagoon 1000’s of Herring Gulls were coming into roost along with 100’s of Common, Great Black-backed and Black Headed Gull as we passed by. A Great White Egret was on Swineham GP and a second flew over the Wareham Channel heading towards Keysworth. On the Brownsea Lagoon c250 Avocet were feeding and there’s been a definite arrival of dark-bellied Brent Geese with c200 in the Newton/Ower Bay area. A Barn Owl was hunting in the approach field at Lytchett Fields this evening and a ringtail Hen Harrier flew past the Middlebere hide this afternoon too. We also forgot to add that on Saturday there was an excellent November record of a Whinchat on Hartland Moor mid-morning.

Finally, news broke today that a Waxwing has already made it to Dorset (Overcombe, Weymouth), so if you know of any Rowan or berry laden trees/shrubs in your local area then keep a close eye on them over the next few weeks. And most importantly, learn their call, as you often hear them before you see them. Below is a recording we made back in February 2017 of 3 individuals sat in a small tree next to a main road in Corfe Mullen.

This morning was shaping up nicely to be a Wood Pigeon morning, and in a way it was, but just without the intensity of previous years. The duration of the migration is what was spectacular about this mornings movement, with passage often drying up by 10:30am. However, today long lines of Wood Pigeon continued to arrive in high over Poole Harbour airspace, from the east, over Sandbanks, over Brownsea and then out over Nine Barrow Down. In total, our 7am – 1pm watch logged 29,989 Wood Pigeon, far short of the Dorset record count of 140k+ in November 2010. But hey, it was still great to watch and experience and a whole range of other species were logged. The count was carried out from near the Sea View viewpoint in North Poole, looking out south across the harbour where 3 Hawfinch, 1 Brambling, 129 Redwing, 27 Skylark, 52 Siskin, 7 Fieldfare, 1 Golden Plover, 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 9 different Sparrowhawk sightings and 3 different Peregrine sightings were also logged, as well as smaller totals of other passage migrants such as Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Pied Wagtails and Greenfinch. Also logged was what we think is a Poole Harbour record count of 928 Cormorant which moved across the harbour at dawn from the Wareham Channel area towards Whitley Lake, Sandbanks. Migration was evident elsewhere around the harbour with another Hawfinch logged over Stoborough with 2 Woodlark, 2 Brambling, 163 Redwing, 48 Fieldfare, 1 Red Kite, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 White-tailed Eagle also counted. At Lytchett fields another Golden Plover went over and a Marsh Tit was in Chads Copse, Lytchett Bay next to Lytchett Bay viewpoint. A Water Pipit was also right in front of the new screen at Rock Lea view. Off the Sandbanks Quay and north Haven there was a single Red-throated Diver and 2 Black-necked Grebe in Shell Bay. There were 2 White-tailed Eagles over Middlebere including 4 year old G318, a female we hope sticks around as she’ll soon be thinking about potential breeding sites and mates! There was also 1 Curlew Sandpiper at Lytchett Fields and a minimum of 50 Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon. A vis-mig session at South Haven, Studland produced 1 late Swallow, 5 Brambling, 18 Lesser Redpoll and 120 Chaffinch. 

Wood Pigeons Migrating over Poole Harbour

On the falling tide at Lytchett Fields this morning, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 1 Grey Plover and 1 Spotted Redshank were present. The highest count of Avocet in Lytchett Bay so far this season was logged this morning with 41 present, as well as 18 Brent Geese. 2 Black-necked Grebe were reported today, one visible in Brands Bay, and another between Goathorn and Brownsea Island.

With the mixed weather today it’s been a quiet day for sightings, though we anticipate tomorrow to be a more interesting morning, with clear skies and conditions that look ideal for strong Wood Pigeon movement. With movements of 62,000+ logged further along the Purbeck coastline yesterday, they are definitely on the move. We recommend an early start tomorrow, positioning yourself at key spots like Baiter Point or Evening Hill will hopefully prove fruitful in awaiting the large flocks of the pigeons passing through – keep your eyes on the skies!

Rock Lea Viewpoint – Lytchett Bay – Liz Woodford

Although fleeting, clearer skies in the morning saw a minor movement of Wood Pigeon across the harbour with 200 shifted over Stoborough. Further along the Purbeck coastline witnessed 62,000+(!). Impressive numbers considering the conditions were more suitable for a seawatch. And a stint from Branksome Chine beach huts doing exactly that produced a group of 7 Kittiwake, 1 Common Scoter, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Gannet. Over at Lytchett Bay, French’s Island logged Curlew Sandpiper and Mediterranean Gull while the Ruff occupied Sherford Pools. Poole Park featured 150+ Cormorants again this morning, accompanied by 7 Sandwich Tern, 7 Greylag, a single Little Grebe and 35 Oystercatcher, with 70 more of the latter on Baiter.

Marsh Harrier – Wareham Channel – Steve’s Wildlife Moments @hopefulseb

Various deluges today hampered any serious birding attempts, especially in between the violent thunder claps and flashes of lightening. Although when the sun did peak out, the warmth did return….briefly.

A watch from Rock Lea viewpoint produced 2 Marsh Harrier and Lytchett Fields still had 2 Curlew Sandpiper, with 1 Spotted Redshank and 1 Jack Snipe was flushed along the approach path to the viewpoints. There were also 2 Cattle Egret in with the cows on Lytchett Fields. A ringtail Hen Harrier was at Middlebere, where 3 Spotted Redshank were feeding. A White-tailed Eagle was seen briefly in the Wareham Channel.

Cormorant flock – Poole Park – Martin Adams

And in a blink of an eye, that was October done! With the day starting with blue sky’s and a lighter wind, there were the first hints of Wood Pigeon migration over the harbour with small flocks of 20-50 going over for an hour or so. The next few weeks will see numbers build but will rely on another crystal clear morning for the really big numbers to depart, however looking at the current forecast, that may not be for quite some while!!

Elsewhere around the harbour there was the welcome sight of 2 White-tailed Eagles again in the Wareham Channel, having been absent for several days. At Lytchett Bay, the Yellow-browed Warbler was calling again next to the new Rock Lea viewpoint and 2 Marsh Harrier  were seen from there too. At South beach and Middle Beach an excellent count of 12 Firecrest and 17 Chiffchaff, but sadly not the hoped for Pallas’s or Yellow-browed. Also 2 Brambling over there too. In Holes Bay Wigeon numbers hit 1138 with a Spotted Redshank in the Holes Bay NE sector. There was also a Spotted Redshank in Brands Bay and still 2 Curlew Sandpiper at Lytchett Fields. A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen in the Middlebere Channel and on Friday an adult male Hen Harrier was photographed at Swineham. Other bits and pieces included a Common Sandpiper at Holes Bay NE, 2 Common Scoter and 2 Black-necked Grebe off Middle Beach with 3 Ring-necked Parakeets in the trees at South Beach. Merlin were logged at Greenlands Farm, Hartland and Middlebere, 36 Spoonbill were on Brownsea, a Red Kite was over Arne and a flock of 50 Fieldfare were near Corfe Castle in the Corfe River Valley.

Adult male Hen Harrier – Swineham (Friday last week) – @NaturehawkPhoto (Twitter)

This morning welcomed our final Autumn Safari Cruise of the season! It certainly felt autumnal with intermittent showers and a growing cast of winter visitors, but our perseverance certainly paid off, enjoying views of a Merlin carrying prey, abundant Marsh Harrier action (including the striking adult male), a flyby Peregrine and a hunting Sandwich Tern as we explored the Wareham Channel. Continuing up the River Frome added good numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Teal and Shoveler all from the recently flooded Wareham Water Meadows and a couple of passes of the Brownsea Lagoon to conclude the cruise revealed 47 Spoonbill, small carpets of Dunlin and Ringed Plover, as well as a slight increase numbers of Greenshank, Grey Plover, Avocet and Black-tailed Godwit. Merlin action was as logged at Greenland’s Farm and Hartland Moor while Lytchett Bay received good coverage logging 2 Firecrest along the new path to Rock Lea View. Counts from the new watchpoint totalling 568 Wigeon, 2 Golden Plover and a vocal Yellow-browed Warbler while the Fields continued to hold the 2 Curlew Sandpiper in with 331 Dunlin and a Spotted Redshank.

Birding Brownsea Lagoon – from Autumn Safari Cruise

Rainbow over Poole – from Autumn Safari Cruise – Mark Wright