Meadow Pipit – Alan Crockard

All the news comes from Stanpit and, mostly, from the morning. The only wader reports were of 10 Knot and 31 Black-tailed Godwit; a Yellow Wagtail, 3 Wheatear and 50 Meadow Pipit were on Crouch Hill; a female Marsh Harrier was about; and small flocks of Swallow pulsed through.

Female Willow Emerald Damselfly – Peter Boardman

News is light today, although a Grey Phalarope was briefly settled off the Long Groyne at around 09:00 – before leaving west. Otherwise, it’s just a few bits and pieces from Stanpit, namely: 10 Yellow Wagtail – six with the ponies, one settled on Crouch Hill with a dozen Wheatear and three over; plus, a constant noise of Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper and around 20 Black-tailed Godwit. At the time of writing, there is a roost ringing session targeting Yellow Wagtail happening, so an update will follow tomorrow.

No Yellow Wagtail were caught.

Osprey – David Faulkner

Marsh Harrier – Dave Miller

Kingfisher in Mother Siller’s Channel – Alan Crockard

The highlights all concern big birds at Stanpit: Osprey visited at 08:40, that individual seeming to pass south, and then, at 10:00, the photographed bird; a couple of Great White Egret were around for a while, before presumably joining the Avon Valley congregation; a female Marsh Harrier patrolled Priory Marsh; and the young Buzzard was again about the North Scrubs. Meanwhile, Crouch Hill hosted 3 Yellow Wagtail and 6 Wheatear; with nearby waders including: 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper and 15 Black-tailed Godwit. Over on Wick, a Spotted Flycatcher was by the Wooden Bridge, 5 Yellow Wagtail passed over and 7 Chiffchaff were settled.

Painted Lady – Peter Boardman

Small Heath – Peter Boardman

The last couple of days have, once again, seen a feeding flock amass off the sandspit and, this morning, a dark, juvenile Arctic Skua was attracted in. Meanwhile, a passage of southbound Swallow was noted, but the only number put in is around fifty over Wick; where 5 Yellow Wagtail were on the Water Meadows and 8 Chiffchaff were spread. The news from Stanpit involves: 3 Yellow Wagtail and 5 Wheatear; 6 Sanderling, 8 Knot, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and 25 Black-tailed Godwit; a Mediterranean Gull; and the first dark-bellied Brent Goose of the winter. Mammal-wise, a Weasel was seen on Crouch Hill.

After a surprising blank during last week’s storm, there was a Grey Phalarope at 07:50 this morning off Mudeford Quay – seen initially on the sea, before heading west. Then, at 08:30, it or a further bird, but only seen well enough to record as a phalarope spp. was at Stanpit. Early on, 45 Siskin and 450 Swallow headed south in steady pulses, while 11 Chiffchaff were returned from Wick. During the afternoon, a couple of Firecrest were at the end of the head; with 3 Greenshank and a Common Sandpiper in Barn Bight, and 3 Tufted Duck towards the Main Channel. As dusk approached, over 150 Jackdaw were pre-roosting around Stanpit Bight. Of mammal interest, 2 Muntjac were seen on Wick.

After first being recorded last season, but only as males, it was really good to see a female Willow Emerald Damselfly on Hengistbury today – Peter Boardman

…and one of three, accompanying males – Peter Boardman

Shoveler over Stanpit Bight – Jackie Smith

Starting with the latter part of the day, when Stanpit hosted: a Curlew Sandpiper, as well as the autumn’s first, in-harbour Grey Plover, 7 Knot, 6 Sanderling and 18 Black-tailed Godwit, amongst decent numbers of Ringed Plover and Dunlin; 7 Shoveler in the usual motley selection of late-summer plumages; an adult Common Gull and 2 Mediterranean Gull – an adult and a 2cy; and 52 Sandwich Tern. Otherwise, it’s just 7 Wheater to mention, all but one on Crouch Hill, at least 3 Yellow Wagtail about the marsh, 18 Chiffchaff on Wick, 50 Swallow through the south – likewise a female-type Marsh Harrier – and a Kingfisher in Holloway’s Dock.

Juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit with Oystercatcher – Scott Usher

Little Egret – Barrie Taylor

It was the first WeBS survey of the season; but the low variety of waders in comparison to the previous few days is no doubt the result of the equinoctial high tides, which made things very difficult indeed for the counting team. The only eight species logged being: 6 Sanderling, 92 Ringed Plover, 89 Dunlin, 98 Redshank, 49 Oystercatcher, 26 Turnstone, 13 Curlew and 7 Lapwing; all the small waders presumably from the fenced roost on the sandspit. The other counts included: 165 Coot, 127 Wigeon and 28 Little Egret. Later in the day, the photographed Bar-tailed Godwit was around; but earlier, an Osprey visited at 08:50 and a Marsh Harrier was about, while a Grey Wagtail, 30 Meadow Pipit and 400 Swallow passed over.

News just in from the morning at the Beach Huts: 3 Purple Sandpiper and 52 Sandwich Tern, those all in a 20-minute burst, headed west, with a drake Common Scoter also being seen. Meanwhile, a Firecrest was by the Lily Pond.

Sparrowhawk – Alan Crockard

Whinchat – Jackie Smith

Yellow Wagtail – Alan Crockard

All the news is from Stanpit, where a Yellow Wagtail, a Whinchat and 9 Wheatear were on Crouch Hill. The best in the bight, for the date that is, were 3 Common Tern – all adults. We’ve been expecting to see Common Gull for a few days now and two duly obliged – an adult and a 1cy, already in first-winter outfit; also, two adult Mediterranean Gull in the gathering. Wader-wise, Knot again featured – up to nineteen – plus 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and four airborne Snipe. An eclipse drake Tufted Duck was amongst 127 Wigeon and 160 Coot – the latter reckoned to be a good number for this stage of the season.

It was another morning of plenty of birds. Overhead, 750 Meadow Pipit, 4 Grey Wagtail, over 20 Skylark, 145 Siskin, 50 Linnet, 5 Reed Bunting, 230 Swallow and 80 House Martin, were all recorded from Hengistbury and moving to the west. Meanwhile, the head and Wick hosted: a Spotted Flycatcher, 95 Chiffchaff, 50 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, 3 Goldcrest and 4 Wheatear; with Crouch Hill, Stanpit, contributing at least ten further Wheatear and 4 Yellow Wagtail. The sandspit was also reported to be holding ‘good numbers’ of Wheatear. Osprey visits came at 08:30, 14:15, 14:40 and 17:00 – certainly involving two birds – and an adult female Marsh Harrier was about Stanpit in the afternoon. Finishing with waders: a Curlew Sandpiper was seen from Mudeford Quay; while 4 Knot and a Bar-tailed Godwit is all there is from Stanpit.

Osprey with catch – David Faulkner

Small Copper – Peter Boardman

Comma – Peter Boardman

Throughout a calm and largely sunny day, passerines featured nicely: 4 Spotted Flycatcher were returned – three from near the Viewing Platform on Wick – as well as 20 Yellow Wagtail, a Whinchat and 6 Wheatear on Crouch Hill; with site-wide totals of others being: 75+ Chiffchaff, 50+ Blackcap, 12 Whitethroat, 4 Willow Warbler, 4 Goldcrest, a Firecrest and a Sedge Warbler. Meanwhile, mainly east, there was an overhead movement of: 3 Grey Wagtail, 200 Meadow Pipit, 40 Siskin, 30 Linnet, 5 Chaffinch, 8 Reed Bunting, 5 House Martin and 20 Swallow. Another attempt at the sea yielded just a handful of Gannet and Sandwich Tern, but also an Osprey that attempted to fish offshore and 24 Knot arriving from the east. A further Osprey was successful inside the harbour during its one-hour stay, from 10:00, even landing on Blackberry Point for a while; and a Buzzard was mobbed by corvids in the strange location of the North Scrubs. The only reports of settled waders are a Greenshank in Barn Bight and 2 Bar-tailed Godwit on the Flats.

Despite some hopeful looking at the sea – autumn after autumn have, during a south-westerly blow, proven we are just too far east to enjoy some real action. That said, 2 Storm Petrel from Mudeford Quay was a real bonus; but, otherwise, it’s just a Common Scoter, 89 Gannet and 33 Sandwich Tern to report from the Beach Huts this morning. Later, an hour from the quay produced, literally, 2 Sandwich Tern and 3 Cormorant! The only other news is of 3 Greenshank in Barn Bight.

In stormy conditions, the sea was watched from the Beach Huts this morning for around ninety minutes; but produced just a Common Scoter, 12 Sandwich Tern, 11 Gannet, 12 Swallow and a Sanderling. Otherwise, the best for the post was a Hobby south over the Nursery.

Snipe – Matthew Barfield

On what is a slow-news day, the only returns are: up to 10 Yellow Wagtail and 4 Wheatear on Crouch Hill; plus a Common Sandpiper, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Black-tailed Godwit about Stanpit Bight.

Yellow Wagtail – Scott Usher

Cattle Egret – Matthew Barfield

…and a 2cy Mediterranean Gull – Scott Usher

From around 10:00, until early afternoon, conditions were quite awful – heavy rain in an easterly breeze. Beforehand, however, a small, eastbound passage of Siskin – just shy of fifty birds – was noticed, as well as 30 or so Swallow, nine settled Chiffchaff and 16 Cattle Egret breakfasting at Stanpit, after leaving the roost. Later, when the precipitation abated, the marsh produced: a Ruff, a Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 22 Black-tailed Godwit; a 2cy Mediterranean Gull; and 8 Yellow Wagtail with 4 Wheatear. The Glossy Ibis left the roost at 06:27 and returned at 19:29.

Knot – Matthew Barfield

Snipe and Water Rail surprising each other in Parky Meade Rail – Adrian Simmons

Cormorant and Common Sandpiper – Matthew Barfield (upper) & Henk Nieuwenhuis

All the news comes from the afternoon at Stanpit, where the best was a female-type Garganey, 2 Curlew Sandpiper and an Avocet. Meanwhile, Knot continue their good presence – twenty counted – as well as 4 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 6 Sanderling, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and 4 Black-tailed Godwit, plus reasonable numbers of Ringed Plover and Dunlin. To finish, a couple of Cattle Egret dropped in briefly, likewise 3 Teal, a Yellow Wagtail went over and 2 Wheatear were on Crouch Hill.

Cattle Egret at South Marsh this evening – Jackie Smith

Record shots of some Cattle Egret (top) and the Glossy Ibis flying to roost yesterday evening – Alan Hayden.

It was a mainly sunny day with a light easterly breeze, which meant a few birds were on the move at Hengistbury. Heading into the wind were 75 Meadow Pipit, 155 Siskin, 120 Swallow, 75 House Martin, 9 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Grey Wagtail and 16 Chaffinch, while a Common Tern and 5 Common Gull were off the headland. Also at Hengistbury, there was an influx of Goldcrest with 30 logged, as well as 2 Willow Warbler, 3 Firecrest, 2 Treecreeper and singles of Nuthatch and Garden Warbler. There was also one each of Whinchat and Wheatear at Whitepits. Moving to Stanpit, the Glossy Ibis was seen leaving the Hengistbury roost at 06:25 with 25 Cattle Egret. The Ibis lingered on Blackberry briefly before heading off north towards the Avon Valley. Wildfowl continue to increase with 120 Wigeon, 2 Pintail and a Tufted Duck, andsettled wader totals were 16 Knot, 43 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 3 Snipe and 3 Turnstone. Three Avocet arrived from the east and circled the harbour several times but probably did not land. Three Wheatear were around Crouch Hill and 12 Chiffchaff in North Scrubs. On the Odonata front, up to four Willow Emerald dragonfly are frequenting the Lily Pond at Hengistbury, but so far only males have been seen. The Cattle Egret tally going to roost this evening increased to 28, with the Glossy Ibis joining them at 19:37.

Please refer back to yesterday for some late news.

Curlew Sandpiper near the train terminal at Hengistbury this morning – Chris Chapleo

Early risers managed to see the Glossy Ibis and at least 8 Cattle Egret leaving the Hengistbury roost this morning before some patchy mist rolled in off the sea reducing visibility temporarily until it was burned off by the sun. There were a further 16 Cattle Egret off the tip of South Marsh, so 24 in total. The other main news of the day was of a Spotted Crakeseen briefly crossing the main track near the Bailey Bridge at Stanpit, having presumably been flushed out of nearby reeds by the rising tide. This is the first harbour record for nearly 10 years. Also, an Osprey fished the harbour, only to drop its catch when mobbed by gulls, and the Curlew Sandpiper was again on the inner harbour shore near the train terminal on Mudeford Sandspit. Despite the virtually still conditions, there was some overhead passage with 370 Swallow, 95 House Martin, 15 Sand Martin, 235 Meadow Pipit, 11 Tree Pipit and 8 Yellow Wagtail moving south, while another Yellow Wagtail, a Whinchat and 3 Wheatear were on Crouch Hill. Also around the Marsh were a Redstart, 12 Sedge Warbler, 23 Chiffchaff and 17 Reed Bunting. A Tufted Duck and 5 Shoveler were present, together with 4 Knot, 5 Common Sandpiper, 26 Snipe and a Greenshank, while 48 Black-tailed Godwit arrived from the north and 2 Whimbrel flew west through the harbour.

Late news: A Hobby and 2 Peregrine were at Stanpit this evening, and additional waders included 21 Knot, 5 Sanderling, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 6 Greenshank. The Glossy Ibis went to roost at 19:30, together with a total of 26 Cattle Egret and 37 Little Egret.

The flock of Pale-bellied Brent Goose leaving Stanpit yesterday evening – David Faulkner

One of the Wheatear on the top of Hengistbury this morning – Leo Pyke

The sun finally broke through the overcast skies in late morning, but the fresh north-easterly breeze made it feel decidedly cooler than of late, especially early on. Overhead passage at Hengistbury produced the autumn’s best counts so far of Meadow Pipit and Siskin with 935 and 220 respectively moving east. Also travelling in the same direction were 42 Yellow Wagtail, 8 Grey Wagtail, 14 Tree Pipit, 425 Swallow and a single Lesser Redpoll. Wheatear were also arriving, with a total of 33, mostly on top of the headland, plus six more at Stanpit. Two Sanderling were on the Sandspit and 7 Snipe flew over, while at sea 45 Gannet, a Common Scoter were noted, and 12 Sandwich Tern moved west. Migrants on the ground included 3 Whinchat, 9 Whitethroat, 15 Blackcap and 25 Chiffchaff. On the other side of the harbour, a flock of 18 Greylag Goose arrived at Stanpit, where the waders included 8 Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Turnstone and 3 Greenshank, with a fourth bird on Salt Hurns at Hengistbury. A young Marsh Harrier was seen from both sides of the harbour, as were a Peregrine, 2 Raven and a total of 6 Cattle Egret. Late news this evening: a Glossy Ibis and 13 Cattle Egret flew over the Marsh to roost at Hengistbury, 38 Knot were in Stanpit Bight and a Curlew Sandpiper was again near the Train Terminal on the Sandspit.

A cloudy and fairly still morning gave way to a pleasant, sunny afternoon with a south-westerly breeze. At Hengistbury, 14 Cattle Egret left the roost early morning, 3 Wheatear were in the fenced-off area of the Sandspit and 15 Turnstone were on the inner harbour shore. At Stanpit, the Wigeon increased to 55, and a single Tufted Duck was present, while waders included 12 Knot, 2 Greenshank, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 25 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Common Sandpiper. The Dunlin and Ringed Plover flock was not counted but contained 5 Sanderling in the afternoon. There were 2 White Wagtail at Crouch Hill, together with 4 Yellow Wagtail and a further 9 Wheatear. North Scrubs held 12 Chiffchaff and a single Willow Warbler, and a juvenile Peregrine visited the Marsh. There were also a number of Brent Goose sightings during the day – probably all involving the Pale-bellied race. A flock of at about 45 birds flew east through the harbour this afternoon and, though fairly distant, a number were Pale-bellied so, given the time of year, it’s likely the whole flock was of this sub-species. Whether these birds returned is unclear, but an hour or so later, a similar number of birds were settled around Blackberry Point and were all Pale-bellied. They lingered until late afternoon. Then, this evening, a flock of 35 birds arrived from the west and landed briefly before continuing east.

It was a sunny day with a variable amount of cloud, and a light, refreshing south-westerly breeze kept temperatures a little lower than of late. Starting with wildfowl, 3 Egyptian Geese, 2 Shoveler and 32 Wigeon were at Stanpit, and 3 Tufted Duck were on the Quarry Pond at Hengistbury, where the young Little Grebe was still present. An Osprey visited the harbour and caught a fish before flying high inland, while the best of the waders was a Curlew Sandpiper on South Marsh, with that or a second bird seen this afternoon near the train terminal at Hengistbury. Also about the Marsh were 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Knot, 2 Common Sandpiper, a Greenshank and 2 Common Sandpiper. Crouch Hill hosted a pristine White Wagtail, 7 Wheatear and at least a couple of Yellow Wagtail. Moving across to Hengistbury, a light overhead easterly movement involved 276 Swallow, 8 House Martin, 2 Sand Martin, 136 Meadow Pipit, 11 Siskin and 4 each of Grey and Yellow Wagtails. Grounded migrants over Hengistbury and Wick totalled 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 2 Whinchat, 9 Blackcap, 21 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler and a further 10 Wheatear. A Nuthatch was in the Wood, together with 2 Treecreeper, a Firecrest, 2 Goldcrest and Coal Tit. Finally, 14 Cattle Egret were counted going into roost at Hengistbury this evening.

Spoonbill dropping onto South Marsh – Adrian Simmons

There was a good deal more rain than forecast this morning and it left some humidity with it. Early on, a couple of Spoonbill were on the tip of South Marsh, when a total of 20 Cattle Egret – eighteen in one flock – left the roost. Meanwhile, 2 Wood Sandpiper left Priory Marsh and headed to Wick; with others around Stanpit Bight including: 7 Knot, 5 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Black-tailed Godwit and 23 Snipe. Later on, a Common Sandpiper was also in Holloway’s Dock. The other feature of the morning was an easterly movement of Swallow and passerines – 1085 of the former east, until 10:40, on a broad front, so certainly many more – with the latter comprising: 2 Tree Pipit, 45 Meadow Pipit, 39 Yellow Wagtail and 11 Siskin. The pick of the commoner, settled migrants, although, they are nowadays perhaps not so, was a Spotted Flycatcher at Stanpit; the Wigeon now number fifty-six and were joined by a Pintail; and a juvenile Shag rested on a sandspit groyne.

On what was being talked-up as the hottest day of the year, it may well have been! News is relatively sparse and, other than a Peregrine on the western face of the Priory, all from Stanpit. The waders there included: 4 Knot, at least one Common Sandpiper, a juvenile Black-tailed Godwit and decent numbers of, but distant, Ringed Plover and Dunlin. Crouch Hill again hosted interest – a White Wagtail briefly, 10 Yellow Wagtail and several Wheatear – while a Spotted Flycatcher was in the North Scrubs. To finish, 3 Tufted Duck and a Kingfisher were logged.

Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit – Scott Usher

Starting with waders: this morning, a Curlew Sandpiper was seen leaving with a Greenshank, also a Green Sandpiper and fourteen, westbound Knot then; the evening at Stanpit produced 2 Ruff and six, settled Knot; with incidentals during the day coming from: 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Sanderling, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 130 Ringed Plover, 58 Dunlin and 15 Snipe. There isn’t much passerine news, but 4 Firecrest – two of them in song – were on Hengistbury, with 9 Grey Wagtail east over there, and around ten each of Yellow Wagtail and Wheatear – one of the latter an adult – were on Crouch Hill. The Wigeon crept up to thirty-five; 2 Treecreeper – always an enigmatic species in the area – were in the Wood; and a Kingfisher was by the Wooden Bridge.

Weasel – Samuel Levy

On a largely windless, scorching day, a raft of 18 Balearic Shearwater, previously unseen, was flushed by a boat off the Long Groyne and headed towards the Solent. There was also a spectacular movement of hirundines and passerines moving east, into what little breeze there was, in quantity order: 4000 Swallow, 1100 House Martin, 200 Sand Martin, 45 Meadow Pipit, 27 Yellow Wagtail, 26 Siskin, 2 Tree Pipit and a Grey Wagtail. Phyllosc-wise, Chiffchaff are now becoming dominant – twenty-four versus 2 Willow Warbler – on Hengistbury, where a Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Firecrest and 13 Wheatear were also logged. In fact, all the news is from the head, with the rest comprising: 4 Greenshank and 2 Common Sandpiper, plus 6 Snipe east; 5 Common Scoter east at sea; and 3 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 19 Wigeon and 4 Teal.

It’s seeming to be a good season for Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail – sixteen of the former over Stanpit this morning and, again, plenty of the latter – those mostly on Crouch Hill, where there were twenty each of Wheatear and Reed Bunting, plus a couple of Sedge Warbler in the gorse. Also around the marsh – a Pied Flycatcher in Ashtree Meadow, a Lesser Whitethroat and an obvious influx of over 20 Goldcrest. Meanwhile, the area around the Wooden Bridge on Wick was again productive, with 2 Redstart, 5 Spotted Flycatcher and 16 Yellow Wagtail being in the immediate locale, and 5 Siskin over. On the morning low, Stanpit Creek hosted a Ruff, a Green Sandpiper and 3 Greenshank, while 4 Common Sandpiper and 17 Snipe were about. The early Cattle Egret flight was seventeen birds, with eleven seen this evening, when 2 Rook, always a good on-the-ground record, were on Crouch Hill. To finish, 3 Tufted Duck make the post.

Yellow Wagtail on Crouch Hill – Scott Usher

Spotted Flycatcher – Scott Usher

A Wryneck was seen briefly between Solent Meads golf course and Rolls Drive late in the morning, but despite some searching couldn’t be relocated. Earlier, there had been an easterly movement of birds over Hengistbury, including: 1236 Swallow, between 08:00 and 10:00, 263 House Martin, 33 Sand Martin, 3 Siskin, 34 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Meadow Pipit. Meanwhile, settled on the head were Lesser Whitethroat on the Long Field and a Whinchat at Whitepits; with Stanpit hosting a couple of Spotted Flycatcher in the North Scrubs, plus 25 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Whinchat and 8 Wheatear on Crouch Hill. In-harbour waders were headed by 4 Knot, a Greenshank, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Sanderling, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and at least 30 Black-tailed Godwit; some of these only seen as the result of an Osprey flush from an individual that came from the north and then headed towards the Solent. Mediterranean Gull haven’t been recorded for over a week now, so two moulting adults at Stanpit were nice; a Cattle Egret came out of the roost; a Little Grebe remains on the Ironstone Quarry; and 31 Little Egret, 10 Wigeon and a Kingfisher were on site.

Three Snipe arriving at Stanpit – Jackie Smith

Willow Emerald Damselfly – Ray Scott

…and a couple of Sanderling with a Ringed Plover, all juveniles – Dave Miller

On what was a really hot day – the start of at least a week’s Indian Summer, hopefully – a Turtle Dove was seen fleetingly in Ashtree Meadow early on, with a Grasshopper Warbler and 5 Spotted Flycatcher also briefly encountered around the northern part of the recording area. Meanwhile, a minimum of 21 Yellow Wagtail and 9 Wheatear were on Crouch Hill, and a couple of Chiffchaff sang on Wick. Later in the day, as the heat subsided, numbers of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat, plus 5 Wheatear, emerged from the shade of the vegetation. The pick of the waders was a Ruff at Stanpit, where a Knot, a Greenshank, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and around 10 Black-tailed Godwit were present, along with a decent amount of Ringed Plover and Dunlin – the latter a real mix of plumages and sizes; while 3 Sanderling were on the tip of the sandspit. To finish, a Garganey was on Priory Marsh and 9 Wigeon were settled.

Male (upper) and female Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly, a live harbour first. Previously only recorded as exuviae, lastly in 1983 – Barrie Taylor

After the big odonata news, described in the photos, there was another amazing event – a Nightingale briefly sat on a fence alongside a Whitethroat on Hengistbury. Meanwhile, more expected, were: a Pied Flycatcher and 2 Spotted Flycatcher by the Wooden Bridge; a Whinchat and a 10 Wheatear on Crouch Hill; 6 Yellow Wagtail and 4 Willow Warbler. Swallow again moved through, with a small number of Siskin – this attracting a Hobby. Finishing with waders, Stanpit held: 2 Greenshank, the same number of Common Sandpiper, 5 Knot, 8 Sanderling and 33 Black-tailed Godwit.

Juvenile Ruff – Scott Usher

The feature of the day was hirundines – birds passing over on a broad front throughout, so impossible to entertain a number – in the main Swallow, but also House Martin and Sand Martin. Early-September Siskin are perhaps indicative of an irruption season – at least 50 east over Hengistbury this morning. Also from that side of the area: a Redstart by the Wooden Bridge, 2 Lesser Whitethroat on the Long Field and a Firecrest by the Lily Pond; while Stanpit hosted: 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 15 Wheatear and a constant sound of Yellow Wagtail from the vegetation. During the morning, waders and wildfowl were watched arriving, including: 2 Avocet, 3 Black-tailed Godwit and 7 Ringed Plover; and 9 Wigeon with 11 Gadwall. More settled, however, around Stanpit Bight, were: a Curlew Sandpiper, a Ruff, a Greenshank, 2 Knot, 4 Sanderling, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 13 Black-tailed Godwit, a 150-strong mix of Ringed Plover and Dunlin – perhaps a 60:40 split – and a really good, in-harbour total of 22 Turnstone; as well as 3 Wigeon and 7 Teal. To finish, at least 2 Kingfisher and 3 Peregrine were about.

A thank you to all who came along for the members’ day event – a really good turnout; and a message from our Ringing Secretary – a colour-ringed Great White Egret was in the area last week, if anyone managed to get details of the ring could you forward them on please?

Ringed Plover – on the sandspit – Dave Miller (above) & Alan Crockard

Juvenile Dunlin – Dave Miller

This evening, 22 Cattle Egret went to roost; while, earlier, Osprey visited at 10:50 and 12:50. Passerines were few, but a Redstart was in the Stunted Oaks, and a Whinchat and a Spotted Flycatcher were also on the head; with 10 Wheatear spread. Meanwhile, there was a hint of House Martin movement – seventy-five over Wick at one point. The quantity wader news comes from Mudeford Quay, looking over to fenced area on the sandspit – 5 Sanderling, 96 Ringed Plover, 67 Dunlin, and 7 Turnstone – and a Curlew Sandpiper, a Ruff, 2 Knot and a Greenshank at Stanpit. Rounding up, 4 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall and a Kingfisher were about the marsh.