Today we launched our trial student grant scheme, which you can learn more about HERE. But in a nutshell, we’re after reports of all sightings of Osprey from in Poole Harbour (including Wareham Forest) between now and October. Brittany Maxted, a student from Parkstone Grammar School will be compiling all data for this project and details of the information she requires and how to report your sightings can be found HERE. We would like to thank-you in advance for any support and information you can provide for this project.

I have today also published a study we commissioned back in the spring, which looks at the populations of Mediterranean and Black-headed Gulls in Poole Harbour. This census was due to be part of a larger breeding gull survey of the entire harbour but due to unforeseen natural circumstances the study didn’t quite provide us with the information we were hoping for. You can read Dave Chowns excellent write up of the census HERE.

Sightings today included another Osprey that was seen over the Arne peninsular and then watched fishing out in the Wareham Channel. A ringing session in the north of the harbour near Holes Bay produced the autumns first ringed Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler, as well as 9 juvenile Blackcap, bringing the total of juvenile Blackcap from that one site to 29 in just 4 ringing sessions. At RSPB Lytchett Fields a Common Sandpiper, 1 juv Little Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank, 7 Green Sandpiper and 18 Black-tailed Godwit were present.