Drake Wigeon, in eclipse plumage, fresh-in from Scandinavia or beyond – Scott Usher

Returning wildfowl were represented by 2 Wigeon, 6 Shoveler and 16 Teal; while the pick of the waders came from 2 Green Sandpiper, an Avocet, with 6 Sanderling, on the tip of South Marsh and a Common Sandpiper in Stanpit Creek. The Crouch Hill Wheatear peaked at nine, while 3 Yellow Wagtail were about there, a Willow Warbler was in the North Scrubs and 30 Swallow went through. The Osprey came at around 09:15 and 3 Cattle Egret were with their namesake on Wick Fields.

There was a nice selection of passerine migrants across the area today. Up to 25 Wheatear were on Hengistbury, along with a Spotted Flycatcher and a Firecrest. Meanwhile, the ringers caught a Grasshopper Warbler, plus a good haul of Sedge Warbler and Willow Warbler. Nearby, a couple each of Lesser Whitethroat and Garden Warbler were logged, as well as several Whitethroat. At least a further 8 Wheatear were around Stanpit, with a Yellow Wagtail and 2 Willow Warbler. The best of the rest is certainly a Garganey that circled Hengistbury before going east; with the in-harbour waders including: a Greenshank and 22 Ringed Plover; and to finish, the Osprey visit came at 08:40.

Starting with two notables for the recording area – a Pochard in Stanpit Bight and a Nuthatch in the North Scrubs. The morning at Hengistbury and Wick produced: a Hobby out to sea; a juvenile Kittiwake on the Beach and 15 Mediterranean Gull – eleven 1cys and four adults; 3 Whinchat, 3 Wheatear, 14 Willow Warbler and a Whitethroat settled; plus 5 Tree Pipit, 15 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail and 4 Pied Wagtail over. Meanwhile, over at Stanpit, there were: 32 Yellow Wagtail, twenty-five around the ponies, early on, and 8 Grey Wagtail passing through; a couple more each of Whitethroat; a Greenshank, 5 Sanderling, a Whimbrel, 24 Ringed Plover and a Snipe; 5 Common Tern and six more Mediterranean Gull; a Shoveler; and, again, 2 Kingfisher by the Bailey Bridge. Almost there, and a count of 125 Sandwich Tern roosting around Stanpit Bight, with the final species to be mentioned all being former rarities to the area, or even the country: a Cattle Egret, 3 Great White Egret, an Osprey and a female-type Marsh Harrier.

Willow Emerald damsefly – a species first recorded in the area in 2022, now out and about for a third season – Peter Boardman

First-calendar-year Mediterranean Gull – moulting from juvenile to first-winter plumage – Scott Usher

There was a good selection of waders at Stanpit, mostly during the morning, including: a Spotted Redshank, a Curlew Sandpiper, a Green Sandpiper, a Knot, 2 Sanderling, 9 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper and 40 Ringed Plover, with 230 Black-tailed Godwit passing over to the west. Also heading west were 49 Common Tern, 200 Sandwich Tern, 3 Kittiwake – all juveniles – and 23 Mediterranean Gull; while a further 140 Sandwich Tern rested around Stanpit Bight. Moving to herons – a Spoonbill passed through and a Cattle Egret was around for the day; with wildfowl interest coming from 3 Garganey, briefly, 5 Shoveler sleeping and 33 Teal west. To finish with the travelling birds, 21 Swift, 170 Sand Martin and 420 Swallow headed east; and 7 Tree Pipit, 4 Grey Wagtail and 19 Yellow Wagtail were logged. Meanwhile, on the deck, there were 2 Whinchat, a Garden Warbler, 10 Willow Warbler and 10 Sedge Warbler. Keeping with tradition and the Kingfisher news – two together by the Bailey Bridge, this morning.

Normally when Wigeon return, the drakes are in eclipse plumage; so the first of the winter in more normal attire is worth noting – as is a healthy, in-harbour count of 145 Sandwich Tern, underlining the area plays a key part within the Solent SPA. Other decent records for the day, include 9 Cattle Egret on Wick meadows, this morning, and a Grey Wagtail heading south over Stanpit; with 4 Yellow Wagtail doing the same, mostly over Wick. Meanwhile, the marsh also hosted: 2 Greenshank, 4 Sanderling and a Whimbrel, as well as 2 Wheatear. The day’s Osprey visit came late, around 17:30, and a Kingfisher was on the harbour shore adjacent to the Stunted Oaks.

Whinchat on Central Marsh, Stanpit – Scott Usher

It was a fairly sunny day, after a cool, cloudy start, with a predominantly south-westerly breeze. Once again, Stanpit was well covered, but there seemed to be fewer migrants around. A Spotted Flycatcher was in Ashtree Meadow, a Whinchat was on Central Marsh and totals of 10 Tree Pipit, 8 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Grey Wagtail flew over west.  A Whitethroat and 2 Wheatear were on Crouch Hill, while 89 Sand Martin and 49 House Martin headed south. The flock of small waders comprised about 180 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin; other waders logged included 6 Snipe and a Whimbrel, together with a further 7 Whimbrel moving west through the harbour. Two Cattle Egret lingered on Central Marsh and 6 Teal remain in the area, as does what is presumed to be the same drake Wigeon. Kingfisher, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were also noted. Osprey visited twice today – at 09:37 and 17:42 –catching a fish on both trips. Wick hosted a further 4 Whitethroat, as well as 3 Chiffchaff and 6 Willow Warbler.

There’s a lot to write about in tonight’s post on a day of mixed sunshine and cloud, and a westerly breeze that strengthened as the morning went on. There were a few migrants on the move, with the best counts of the year so far for Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail of 18 and 42 respectively heading west over Stanpit. The former total, which included a flock of nine birds that appeared to fly up from Riversmeet Meadow, is particularly noteworthy as Tree Pipit have been very thin on the ground in the recording area. Also heading into the wind were 48 Sand Martin, 66 Swallow and a Swift. Settled migrants scattered around the Marsh and Wick were singles of Grasshopper Warbler, Redstart and Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 13 Blackcap, 6 Sedge Warbler and 5 Willow Warbler, while 5 Wheatear were on Crouch Hill. The 200-strong flock of Ringed Plover and Dunlin contained 3 Sanderling this morning, and five were on the Sandspit later. Also present were a Ruff, 3 Whimbrel and a Common Sandpiper, at least 65 Sandwich Tern, 2 Mediterranean Gull and 6 Teal, while a single Wigeon flew north. Just one Osprey was logged, at 10:00, leaving soon afterwards with a fish, a Sparrowhawk headed towards Wick and Marsh Harrier were seen on three or four occasions during the day, but it is difficult to know the number of individuals involved.

Although the rain was perhaps not as bad as expected, there was still more than enough to thwart prolonged visits outdoors. A Great White Egret and an Osprey visited Stanpit between the afternoon showers, while a 1cy Yellow-legged Gull was around Mudeford Quay.

This Osprey, at Stanpit today, carrying the blue ring, 1H1, was hatched a couple of years ago at Rutland water, but since then has generated a liking for Poole Harbour – Scott Usher

Starting with the surprise of the day – a Nightjar in flight around the Lily Pond, at 11:15! Meanwhile, the sea was watched from early, but the period prior to 10:30 yielded just 4 Swallow low over the water. Things changed just after that, however, when a Sooty Shearwater, 2 Arctic Tern – an adult and a juvenile, 16 Common Tern, 42 Sandwich Tern, 12 Mediterranean Gull and 3 Common Gull, all passed to the west. Over at Stanpit, there were again 2 Osprey – both successful in their quest – as well as: 2 Common Sandpiper, four incoming Whimbrel, 40 Ringed Plover and Dunlin; plus 3 Teal and 2 Shelduck. Moving to smaller birds, the Nursery held an incredible number of Nuthatch – three, which may be a site record(?) – and a Bullfinch, while the Linnet flock on Crouch Hill now numbers over forty; with long-distant migrants, mainly from Hengistbury, represented by: a Garden Warbler, a Lesser Whitethroat, 12 Willow Warbler, 2 Wheatear, a Tree Pipit and 5 Yellow Wagtail. To finish an eventful post, a Peregrine was around.

Juvenile Sanderling – Scott Usher

All the news comes from the morning, before the drizzle set in. As would be expected in the conditions, a decent south-westerly blow, the sea was given due attention – and came up with some goods. A total of 14 Balearic Shearwater, 5 Manx Shearwater and twenty-six unidentified ‘shears’ were the best, but also: two Common Gull – both juveniles – a plumage that is a bit of a treat here, three juvenile Kittiwake, 17 Mediterranean Gull – all but one also 1cy birds, 41 Common Tern, 96 Sandwich Tern, 12 Fulmar, 12 Common Scoter and a Great Crested Grebe; all west. Meanwhile, a further ‘great crest’ was inside the harbour. At the other end of the sandspit, roosting in the fenced area, there were 4 Sanderling, 60 Ringed Plover, a lone Dunlin and 8 Turnstone.

Natterjack toadlets at Whitepits – Robin Harley

This morning, the harbour hosted 2 Osprey for 15-20 minutes, from around 10:15 – both successful in their travails, and both heading towards the Avon Valley. Much earlier, at Stanpit, a Willow Warbler and 8 Yellow Wagtail were logged, as well as a Knot, 3 Common Sandpiper, a Black-tailed Godwit and 20 Ringed Plover, plus forty-two resting Sandwich Tern. A little later, in the same area, the following make the post: a Greenshank and a Whimbrel; 17 Mediterranean Gull to the west; and, a Grey Wagtail, 4 Teal, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Kingfisher. Meanwhile, a Sparrowhawk was soaring over Wick. Finishing up, at midday, a couple of Sanderling, 29 Ringed Plover, 32 Dunlin and a Wheatear enjoyed the sanctuary of the fenced area on the sandspit.

The only news for the day, but useful it is, involves at least 50 Sandwich Tern roosting on East Marsh, a couple of Sparrowhawk about the northern part of the area, 3 Wheatear on Crouch Hill and 4 Willow Warbler on Wick.

Great Green Bushcricket – around 70mm (7cm or 2.75″) in length – Mervyn Rochester

The morning saw a good showing of terns about Stanpit – at least seventy, settled Sandwich Tern, along with 4 Little Tern and 50 Common Tern logged there; also 20 Mediterranean Gull. Meanwhile, waders in the bight included: a very-brief Little Stint, 2 Green Sandpiper, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Knot, a Greenshank, an Avocet, 8 Black-tailed Godwit and a Turnstone. Turning to passerines, the bushes were quiet, but a couple of Tree Pipit and 4 Yellow Wagtail passed over. The wildfowl returnees today were 8 Shoveler, while a Great White Egret by the Wooden Bridge early on and an Osprey, around for ten minutes or so from 08:15, complete the post.

Nuthatch is a scarce bird in the area – Roger Edwards

Large Sharp-Tail Bee – Robin Harley

Kestrel – Joy Faulkner

A Wood Sandpiper was on North Marsh this morning and again seen in flight this afternoon, in the company of 2 Snipe. A good variety of waders around Stanpit also included: a Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Sandpiper, 4 Sanderling, 4 Whimbrel, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 54 Ringed Plover, 8 Dunlin and a further 4 Snipe. Meanwhile, a decent number of terns were inside the harbour – up to 40 Common Tern and at least 80 Sandwich Tern being the estimates. Mediterranean Gull have been scarce of late, so five today about the area is worth a mention; as are a Tufted Duck and 39 Teal. The best of the settled passerine migrants was a Spotted Flycatcher in the Stunted Oaks, but single figure of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler and Wheatear were also returned; with a Tree Pipit, 26 Yellow Wagtail, a House Martin and 2 Swallow over. Rounding up, the Osprey show came just before 16:00, but didn’t last long – mullet being easy prey; a 2 Sparrowhawk were together over Stanpit; a Cattle Egret was on the marsh; a Buzzard was on Wick; and 3 Kingfisher were reckoned.

Sandwich Tern numbers took a welcome jump today – Mark Taylor

Starling and pony – Mark Taylor

A Nightjar in the North Scrubs this morning was a real surprise, but it’s terns which make the more significant news. After a poor show, so far for the autumn passage, it was good to get a count of 132 Sandwich Tern around Stanpit Bight; where 6 Common Tern were also present and a juvenile Arctic Tern briefly paused. Migrant waders were again few and far between, although three juvenile Little Ringed Plover were on Speller’s Point, with 2 Common Sandpiper and a Sanderling elsewhere around the marsh. Meanwhile, 3 Swift, a Tree Pipit and 5 Yellow Wagtail passed over, and a Grasshopper Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 5 Willow Warbler, 16 Sedge Warbler and 4 Wheatear were in the vegetation.

Reed Bunting – Scott Usher

Wheatear – Scott Usher

The morning Osprey action was again short – for around ten minutes starting 09:15 – this bird an adept fisher. Meanwhile, the Stanpit Wheatear peak count was of seven, all on Crouch, with singles of Common Sandpiper and Whimbrel close by. From around sixty a week ago, the in-harbour Coot now number in the order of two hundred, with 44 Sandwich Tern also using the area to rest. A Kingfisher was again about Stanpit and a Buzzard entered the airspace.

Thanks for the Sparrowhawk records now coming in. All those aged, seem to be juveniles – Leo Pegram

Red Bartsia bee – a new species for the area and our ninety-fifth variety of solitary bee – Robin Harley

Once a real rarity in the area, Rook are becoming more frequent, but encountering a settled bird is still quite tricky – Scott Usher

The day started with some reasonable weather, but the afternoon was marred by more unexpected precipitation. Waders at Stanpit, during the morning, included: 18 Sanderling, 3 Whimbrel, 4 Common Sandpiper, 98 Ringed Plover – twenty of those straight through – and 25 Dunlin. Meanwhile, a female-type Marsh Harrier was logged from Wick and an Osprey arrived at 09:14, quickly caught its prey, and left less than ten minutes later. Rounding up at on the marsh: a Cattle Egret was on Central Marsh; a Wheatear was around Crouch Hill; and a Shoveler and 5 Teal were in the bight. Late this afternoon, a short look at the sea from Mudeford Quay produced 22 Gannet to the west.

Osprey – Scott Usher

Common Sandpiper – Janet Panter

Waders are certainly the dominant part of tonight’s post, with news coming from both Hengistbury and Stanpit. Those seen or heard in flight included: 3 Wood Sandpiper, 6 Green Sandpiper, 5 Greenshank – a flock of four being nice, 5 Knot and 32 Ringed Plover; while 8 Sanderling, a further 3 Knot, 16 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 87 Ringed Plover, 41 Dunlin, 3 Turnstone and 6 Snipe were more settled. Hirundines and Swift were on the move too – 350 Sand Martin, at least 50 House Martin and 70 Swift being the morning’s estimate. The Osprey came three hours ahead of yesterday’s suggested time, while a Marsh Harrier passed west and a Peregrine was about. Stanpit also saw some migrant passerines – 3 Tree Pipit and a Yellow Wagtail over – with a Wheatear, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Whitethroat and 6 Willow Warbler feeding up. To round things up: a Tufted Duck and 2 Teal were on site; a Cattle Egret headed inland; the winter’s first Kingfisher was seen; and around 100 Greenfinch were spread from Whitepits to the Long Field – a distance of around 600m.

Brown Argus butterfly on Hengistbury – although becoming more regular at Stanpit, there are very few records from the head – Peter Boardman

Juvenile Sparrowhawk – possibly the only photo of the species during 2024 – Scott Usher

Small Copper butterfly – Peter Boardman

…and yesterday’s fly-through Goosander – Scott Usher

A Wood Sandpiper was around again today – this time from the Wooden Bridge towards Stanpit, where 2 Green Sandpiper passed north over the Recreation Ground. Meanwhile, the other wader news involves a Common Sandpiper in Barn Bight, plus 8 Sanderling, a Whimbrel, 26 Ringed Plover and 30 Dunlin in Stanpit Bight; with 3 Shoveler and 6 Teal also present. A few Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat about Wick were the only hint of passerine migration; while resident bird notables were a Bullfinch there and a juvenile Dartford Warbler at Whitepits. The Osprey visit came at around 09:20, so the clever money is on around 10:00 tomorrow; and, of significant-for-the-area mammal interest, a Hedgehog was by the HHC, at dawn.

Common Blue butterfly – Peter Boardman

Juvenile Cattle Egret – Scott Usher

Jersey Tiger moth – Peter Boardman

There is a lot more to write about today – in approximate chronological order. Early on, at Stanpit, there were: a presumed family party of four Cattle Egret, a redhead Goosander out to sea, 14 Common Tern through to the west, 2 Mediterranean Gull, a Greenshank, a Wheatear on Crouch Hill and a Willow Warbler in subsong; meanwhile, a couple of Chiffchaff were in full song on Wick, where 8 House Martin fed over the water meadows. It’s moving into mullet hawk season – Osprey being logged at 11:00 and just before 13:00; as is the norm, the high-tide periods offering the best chance of an encounter. Into the afternoon and some Swift and House Martin movement over Hengistbury – around fifty and twenty-seven respectively. To finish the day’s news, at some point, a Wood Sandpiper went over Priory Marsh. Finally, a colour-ringing update: it’s now confirmed the recent Dunlin was fitted-out on September 1st last year, as a juvenile, near to Borth, South Wales.

A smart, juvenile Marsh Harrier touring the area this afternoon was a nice sight, when, in a two-hour period, a House Martin and a dozen or so Swallow passed through. The rest of the news is waders – a Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and a Turnstone were seen to arrive and join a Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel and a Black-tailed Godwit; while a Sanderling, plus fifteen each of Ringed Plover and Dunlin, logged in the early morning, had moved out on the flood tide. To finish, it was good to learn a colour-ringed Redshank, recorded in 2021 as a chick in the Lower Avon Valley, is still around and presumably intending to winter in the harbour, as it seems to have done so for at least those of 2021-22 and 2022-23.

One of nine adult Turnstone about the sandspit this morning – Scott Usher

Surely, things have to pick up soon! Other than the mentioned appearance of Turnstone, it’s just two 2cy Mediterranean Gull and 3 Sandwich Tern off the Long Groyne, and a single Whimbrel at Stanpit.

All the news is from Stanpit, where a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flew upriver and an Osprey passed high over – that at 10:30. Meanwhile, 5 Whimbrel were in the bight there and around 60 Coot were present. The latter may sound a fairly mundane piece of news, but the figure is orders of magnitude greater than last winter’s unexpectedly low presence – when there were just single figures against a normal 2-300.

Juvenile Starling, in the process of its first moult towards adulthood – Alan Crockard

An outstanding record for August was of a juvenile Merlin perching on posts around Crouch Hill, where it eventually caught a Linnet. Sticking with raptors, a Peregrine was seen to snatch a Black-headed Gull from the water in Stanpit Bight and a Sparrowhawk went over Solent Meads car park. In terms of passerines, there is only one return, but it’s a reasonable one – a Pied Flycatcher in Ashtree Meadow. To finish, other interest at Stanpit came from: 6 Whimbrel, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull; while an hour’s toil looking at the sea earned just 8 Gannet, 4 Sandwich Tern, 6 Common Scoter and 5 Ringed Plover.

The waders at Stanpit, this morning, included: 2 Common Sandpiper, 7 Whimbrel, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, which were seen to arrive, and 2 Turnstone, plus a distant forty-strong flock of Ringed Plover and Dunlin. Also, around the bight, 4 Gadwall. Meanwhile, among the migrant warbler on Ashtree Meadow, there were singles of Garden Warbler and Whitethroat, along with around 5 Willow Warbler.

The only news comes from late in the day at Stanpit, when there was a juvenile Cattle Egret on South Marsh, plus 2 Sanderling with un-quantified Dunlin.

The sea and Stanpit were equally quiet this morning. The former came up with 3 Sanderling west, 2 Common Scoter and 45 Gannet, a mix of juveniles and 2cys. Meanwhile, the best on the marsh was a pair of Shoveler.

Juvenile Little Grebe on the Ironstone Quarry – George Garland

We think this colour-ringed Dunlin received its band in mid-Wales, but are seeking confirmation – Scott Usher

The only news is of a Wheatear on Crouch Hill and a Sparrowhawk over Ashtree Meadow.

Juvenile Cattle Egret – Scott Usher

Male Linnet are quite variable, in terms of the red breeding plumage, but this individual is at the top end of the spectrum – Alan Crockard

The photographed Cattle Egret, early on at Stanpit, was the pick from the marsh, but also there, throughout the day: 2 Common Sandpiper, 4 Whimbrel, 18 Ringed Plover, 26 Dunlin – including the year’s first juvenile – and a Snipe; plus at least 3 Mediterranean Gull – all 1cy birds. Thanks to those who are sending in Sparrowhawk records – it seems there is a bird using the northern part of the area; where begging Kestrel can still be heard.

Common Darter dragonfly – Peter Boardman

Juvenile Stonechat – Mike Foote

Small Heath butterfly – Peter Boardman

It’s another day of light news: 2 Whimbrel, 8 Dunlin, an adult Mediterranean Gull and 36 Little Egret together on East Marsh; all from Fisherman’s Bank this morning.

This deer swam from Stanpit to Hengistbury, and then back again, this morning – Jeremy Mayes

Roesel’s Bush Cricket at Riversmeet Meadow – Mike Foote

Swallow – Alan Crockard

Other than 3 Willow Warbler and a Sparrowhawk from Wick, it’s all about Stanpit for this post, which held: 3 Whimbrel, 2 Common Sandpiper, 7 Dunlin – all adults – and 20 Lapwing; plus a single adult Mediterranean Gull. This evening, a few Swift trickled over.