Dark Crimson Underwing – a UK BAP species and the first harbour record. One of 160+ moth species trapped at Hengistbury last night – Robin Harley

Some of fifteen Six-belted Clearwing moth, which were attracted to a pheromone lure, within thirty seconds, on Barn Field. This species feeds on Bird’s-foot Trefoil and does not come to light traps – Robin Harley

…and four, adult Black-tailed Godwit, freshly returned from Iceland – Alan Crockard

Yesterday evening provided a fantastic spectacle of gulls – mainly Black-headed, but also a number of Mediterranean Gull – feasting on an ant hatch on Hengistbury. The two videos are well worth watching – courtesy of Chris Chapleo
Video 1…
Video 2…

Early on, 4 Cattle Egret headed north over Wick Fields, while Stanpit hosted: a Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 4 Black-tailed Godwit and 25 Dunlin. It was also nice to get a Sparrowhawk record from the marsh, a female, where a few Swallow passed through.

Coal Tit – Alan Crockard

Swift – Steven Baxter

The most remarkable event of the day was a flock of at least 20 Coal Tit making its way through Stanpit, this morning! Meanwhile, other birds passing through or over the marsh, but on longer journeys, included: a Garden Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 10 Blackcap, 9 Willow Warbler, 17 Sedge Warbler, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 95 Sand Martin, 75 Swallow and 32 Swift. Wader reports were sparse – just 3 Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Dunlin to mention – but a nice total of 24 Mediterranean Gull was returned, mostly west and including a flock of eight juveniles travelling together. A Sparrowhawk from Wick was welcome, where a Hobby hunted the water meadows early on, and a Peregrine toured. To wrap up, a Bullfinch was also on Wick.

The four Ringed Plover eggs hatched today – unfortunately, one chick has already been predated by a Crow – Susie Daley

These six British White heifers, recently acquired by BCP, have just been turned out onto Priory Marsh; where it is hoped they will make significant habitat improvement – Robin Harley

A Spoonbill passed high to the west this morning, when 12 Common Tern and 11 Mediterranean Gull – all but two of those juveniles – travelled in the same direction, but much lower. Meanwhile, a Sanderling, a Greenshank, a Black-tailed Godwit and 15 Dunlin were settled at Stanpit; then, later, a possible further Greenshank was in Holloway’s Dock.

At least one Great White Egret seemed to depart to the south this morning – initially, a bird settled on South Marsh, picked up and left over Hengistbury; but, just over an hour later, it or another was thermalling over the Recreation Ground. Other signs of departure from our shores, meanwhile, included a Yellow Wagtail, plus several Swift and Sand Martin moving purposefully, all from Stanpit. Those from breeding activity elsewhere, however, included 5 Whimbrel and 5 Black-tailed Godwit; while a Common Sandpiper and 9 Mediterranean Gull could have been anywhere.

Common Sandpiper – Scott Usher

Reed Warbler – Scott Usher

The waders at Stanpit continue to increase in variety – couple of Green Sandpiper over being the best, but also: 2 Common Sandpiper, 7 Whimbrel, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Dunlin and a Snipe, all settled. Westward terns and gulls travelling through the harbour, included 25 Common Tern and 43 Mediterranean Gull; while at least 165 juvenile, large gulls, by default nearly all Herring Gull, rested up around Stanpit Bight. The roof tops of greater Christchurch seem to be good habitat for this species, which is declining in its traditional sea-cliff habitat. An Osprey visited around 14:30, but a number of other sightings from immediately adjacent areas suggest there could be multiple birds about. To finish, 2 Swift, a Swallow and 2 Peregrine were logged.

Again, all the news is from Stanpit and all from Jimmy’s Point. The best being 4 Yellow Wagtail and a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, but also a Greenshank, 5 Whimbrel, a couple of Snipe and 3 Common Tern.

Again, there is a paucity of news and all from Stanpit, where the best were 3 Whimbrel and a Common Tern in the bight there.

Ruddy Darter on the Lily Pond – only the area’s third record since the 1990s – Peter Boardman

Other than the photograph, no wildlife reports have been received for the day.

For reasons unknown, Sparrowhawk have been pretty much absent from the area since the early part of the year, at least. So, news of a male, perhaps two, about Hengistbury was very welcome. Meanwhile, inside the harbour, there were 2 Whimbrel, a Black-tailed Godwit, just one Curlew and a Mediterranean Gull. Otherwise, a gathering of 100 or so juvenile Swallow and Sand Martin over the HHC, late in the afternoon, is the only other piece for the post.

The only news for the day is of a Roseate Tern moving west through the harbour.

Two juvenile Kestrel at dawn – Scott Usher

Whimbrel – Clinton Whale

Juvenile Sedge Warbler – Scott Usher

As would be expected, the Sedge Warbler migration is now underway – at least eight birds around the Bailey Bridge early on; when 22 Little Egret were fishing as a co-operative around Lobs Hole. Slightly later, a Little Gull was settled on East Marsh; while the Mediterranean Gull return for the day is four. Moving to waders, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel and 10 Black-tailed Godwit were the best, all from Stanpit. Finishing with mammals, a Roe Deer was encountered on the Salt Hurns and a Grey Seal was, yesterday, inside the harbour. Finally for the post, thank you to Richard Cordery for organising today’s outdoor meeting at Wild Woodbury – what can happen in such a short period of re-wilding was an inspiration to hear about!

A Sedge Warbler in near full song on Crouch Hill, this afternoon, was a bit of a surprise; when a Whimbrel, a Ringed Plover and 3 Dunlin were around Stanpit Bight; and, of at least 9 Mediterranean Gull inside the harbour, six were juveniles. Earlier, a Greenshank had been on the water meadows on Wick, where a Peregrine passed over.

After some slight suspicions, it’s now confirmed the Ringed Plover pair on the sandspit are second-brooding. Thanks to the guardian Beach Hut owners and the BCP Countryside (East) team, the anti-predator cage has again been deployed – Jamie Palmer

There was a southbound Willow Warbler on Hengistbury this afternoon, when an Osprey passed east through the harbour. Otherwise, it’s just a Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel and 2 Common Tern at Stanpit to mention.

Meadow Brown – Peter Boardman

Emerald Damselfly – Barrie Taylor

Waders, as expected, are coming through now – the biggest numbers coming from 40 Redshank and 24 Curlew, one of those being colour-ringed but too distant for detail. Also, a Common Sandpiper and 5 Whimbrel. All those at Stanpit, while 2 Little Grebe chicks were seen on the Ironstone Quarry.

There were an unprecedented 10 Silver-studded Blue butterflies on the eastern section of Hengistbury today – Peter Boardman

The first session of the autumn ringing resulted in a juvenile Redstart – a not-often-encountered plumage in the area. Meanwhile, Stanpit was also rather fruitful – a Sanderling, the 2 Greenshank, 3 Dunlin, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 6 Gadwall being the pick.

The only news is of 2 Greenshank at Stanpit.

During a rare moment of clear sky, Kestrel at Stanpit – David Faulkner

As the photo caption suggests, it was a near wash-out. In fact, the only news for the day is of 3 Swallow and 2 Peregrine over Wick. We’ve previously rarely featured sound items, but this audio of a Water Rail by the Bailey Bridge bucks the trend.

Over the weekend, an unprecedented 66 Pyramidal Orchid were recorded at the far west of Hengistbury, in an area that BCP are specifically managing to encourage spread – Robin Harley

Harebell Carpenter Bee – the ninety-third bee species to be recorded in the area – Robin Harley

Firstly, if you didn’t see Countryfile tonight, it’s well worth digging it out on iPlayer. If you’re a regular visitor to the Christchurch Harbour area, it’s shamefully easy to forget how beautiful it is. Now the days news, all from Stanpit, where: 2 Whimbrel were with 17 Curlew; a Common Sandpiper and a couple of Mediterranean Gull were on South Marsh; and a juvenile Peregrine went over Fisherman’ Bank. For obvious reasons, no further news is being accepted. Let’s hope it comes home!

Female Emperor dragonfly – Janet Panter

Male Gatekeeper butterfly – Peter Boardman

…and one of the four juvenile Shelduck still about the area – Janet Panter

Two Siskin, which landed briefly on the saltmarsh habitat of South Marsh, before heading west, were definitely the surprise record of the day. Meanwhile, Black-headed Gull continued their dispersal from areas east of here – over one hundred through the harbour this morning, all of them aged as juveniles – with 6 Mediterranean Gull, a juvenile, a 2cy and four adults, settled. Wrapping up, 26 Black-tailed Godwit were moved on by one the day’s 2 Peregrine and a juvenile Water Rail was just north of the Bailey Bridge.

Formerly Two Riversmeet golf course, Riversmeet Meadow is now an area of wild-growing vegetation, criss-crossed by easy-to-walk, mown paths, as well as an accessible, peripheral gravel path. It’s well worth a visit, this afternoon there was an abundance of butterflies; including at least one Marbled White – David Taylor

There was evidence of migration at Stanpit this afternoon, when 8 Swallow headed through, a steady flow of high-flying gulls, mainly Black-headed Gull, passed west – likewise an adult Mediterranean Gull – and 2 Whimbrel teamed up with the same number of Curlew. Meanwhile, a Lesser Whitethroat was about Crouch Hill.

On what is a completely unexpected date, a Honey Buzzard passed low through Wick this morning. Meanwhile, Stanpit held 4 Whimbrel and at least 2 Kestrel fledged from somewhere around Riversmeet Meadow.

Brown Hawker – Simon Coupe

Southern Hawker – Simon Coupe

…and Black-headed Gull resting in Holloway’s Dock – Barrie Taylor

No news has been received for the day.

Eider – Leo Pyke

A Storm Petrel was seen a couple of times this morning – initially heading south along the sandspit and veering into Christchurch Bay, then later moving west past the Long Groyne. Meanwhile, a young drake Eider drifted slowly around the end of the head, with other bits and pieces offshore coming from: 4 Little Tern, 8 Common Tern, 9 Mediterranean Gull, 32 Common Scoter – including a 22-strong flock towards the Solent, a Whimbrel and 5 Curlew – the latter two species westbound. Inside the harbour, the best was 2 Common Sandpiper and 8 Dunlin; while a Peregrine passed over Wick.

What is likely the largest flock of Little Ringed Plover recorded in the area – seven birds – was at a variously described location at Stanpit this morning. From the account heard of the plumages, the gathering would seem to have been a mixture of adults and juveniles, but in a ratio unaccounted. Meanwhile, the Ringed Plover family – two adults, one juvenile – remain at the end of the sandspit. Moving back to the marsh, there were also a Grey Plover, a Whimbrel and 6 Black-tailed Godwit. The first juveniles of Common Tern and Mediterranean Gull were about, amongst adults numbering fifteen and four respectively; while a Hobby was presumably attracted to Hengistbury by the young Sand Martin now on the wing. Moving back to yesterday and it’s now known the colour-ringed Curlew was processed in May this year as an adult female at Holmhill Bog in the New Forest.

There are now plenty of juvenile Black-headed Gull around the site – Scott Usher

Curlew – with the ring combination and apparent radio tag, likely to be from the New Forest, but confirmation being sought – Jackie Smith

There is news from the sea for the first time in a while – all from Mudeford Quay – and involving an Eider, 6 Common Scoter to the west, 8 Little Tern and 7 Common Tern. Meanwhile, 16 Black-tailed Godwit passed over Wick, at least eight Mediterranean Gull, all adults, rested at Stanpit and a juvenile Peregrine toured the area.

Common Sandpiper – Scott Usher

Juvenile Reed Warbler – Scott Usher

Common Tern – Scott Usher

An unseasonably cold early morning saw 4 Common Sandpiper at the southern end of Smuggler’s Ditch; with 2 Common Tern and the first juvenile Sandwich Tern of the season also at Stanpit.

The near-constant drizzle discouraged summer-themed field activity – hence, nothing to report for this post.

The only news for the day is of 2 Little Grebe chicks on the Ironstone Quarry.

Ling Runner moth – a nationally scarce species, found only where heathland meets sand dunes – Robin Harley

Inside the harbour, there were 2 Black-tailed Godwit, while the swan herd counted at 362. It’s also reported that juvenile Black-headed Gull are now about the area.

Wool Carder Bee – the 78th species of solitary bee, of around 250 occurring in the UK, to be recorded in an area of less than nine square kilometres – Robin Harley

Purple Hairstreak – normally a canopy-loving butterfly, on the Long Field – Peter Boardman

Comma – Clinton Whale

A Bullfinch was returned from Wick, where there was renewed burst of Chiffchaff song – at least five in action.

In addition to a Little Gull high to the north over Stanpit, the marsh saw some return wader passage, including: a Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Curlew and 11 Redshank. Also, about the area, a Cattle Egret and a Peregrine.