A swift lingered around Hengistbury for a while this morning – although the very experienced observer is leaning towards pallid, he could not, hand-on-heart, call it, and has asked the bird goes into the records as a sp. – a decision to be respected! Meanwhile, an estimated 120 House Martin and 200 Swallow, plus 2 Sandwich Tern, headed west, with at least 5 Firecrest spread across the Wood. Inside the harbour, the wader numbers were not as expected – just a Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Ringed Plover and 10 Dunlin around Stanpit Bight. Nearby, a minimum of 5 Wheatear, as well as 2 Raven, were on Crouch Hill; and, early on, 2 Cattle Egret were on Wick Water Meadows.

Goldfinch, moulting from juvenile to its first semblance of adult plumage – Alan Crockard

Other than a Buzzard about the northern fringes of the recording area, it’s all from the sea; which was watched for the two hours after 07:20, from the Beach Huts. The best, by a country mile, was a Sooty Shearwater west; with an Arctic Skua seeming to head into Christchurch Bay, likewise, a couple of Red-throated Diver. In support, however, were: 10 Mediterranean Gull, 4 Common Gull and 12 Sandwich Tern, west; around 15 Common Scoter hanging around; and 6 Brent Goose, plus 500 Swallow, east.

Pied Wagtail on Crouch Hill – Alan Crockard

The day started as a fresh sunny morning with cloud appearing as the day went on. Beginning at Stanpit where 15 Wheatear, 25 Meadow Pipit, 4 Pied Wagtail and 2 Yellow Wagtail were on Crouch Hill early morning and a Kingfisher flew over the same location later in the day. Elsewhere, two Cattle Egret were again on Wick Water Meadows and a single Spoonbill flew West over the Harbour this afternoon.

After a damp start with persistent drizzle, the weather brightened up in the afternoon. However, with several of our regular Harbour observers and contributors away at present, sadly there is again no news to report for today.

On a day characterised by a blustery south-west wind and intermittent heavy rain showers, there is no news to report. However, yesterday evening there was a late sighting of a Barn Owl flying over Stanpit Recreation Ground. This is a species that is a scarce visitor to the Harbour, with just two other individuals having been logged in the CHOG recording area since 2018.

Overnight showers cleared soon after dawn and, remarkably, the morning remained dry as the rain held off until the afternoon. The wind was variable but very light. At Stanpit, grounded migrants around Ashtree Meadows and North Scrubs included a Pied Flycatcher, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 15 Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler and at least 60 Chiffchaff. Ten Yellow Wagtail, 6 Wheatear and 2 Grey Wagtail were also noted, while 70 Meadow Pipits were on Crouch Hill. Wader highlights were a Wood Sandpiper that flew north calling, 2 Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 13 Turnstone and 90 Ringed Plover. Six Black-tailed Godwit flew east an adult Mediterranean gull was settled. There was also a smattering of passerine migrants at Hengistbury, with singles of Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat and Whitethroat on Long Field/Barn Field, 7 Wheatear, 60 Meadow Pipit, 14 Blackcap and a further 45 Chiffchaff, as well as three more Willow Warbler at Wick. Finally, 4 Cattle Egret were again on Wick Water Meadows and a Kingfisher was in Barn Bight.

It was a dreary overcast day, alleviated by only the briefest of brighter spells in late morning, with a light north-westerly breeze. Early arrivals at Hengistbury included the first Redwing of the autumn accompanying 6 Song Thrush at Double Dykes. Three Cattle Egret and a Great White Egret were also noted, while grounded migrants included a Redstart, 2 Whinchat, 7 Wheatear, a Spotted Flycatcher, 80 Chiffchaff, 6 Goldcrest and 2 Firecrest. There was a reasonable variety of species moving overhead, mainly in an easterly direction, with a total of 325 Meadow Pipit, 28 Chaffinch, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Tree Pipit, 4 Grey Wagtail, 12 Siskin and 14 Reed Bunting, as well as 160 Swallow. Also on the move was a Golden Plover, 2 Brent Goose, 5 Pintail and 7 Shoveler, the latter three all heading west. Although work is still ongoing, the reconstituted Long Groyne is already attracting roosting waders at high tide; today, a Curlew Sandpiper joined theflock of 60 Ringed Plover and a few Dunlin. The only news from Stanpit was of a Buzzard flying across the harbour towards Hengistbury and a female Sparrowhawk patrolling North Scrubs.

Despite some threatening clouds, the morning remained dry and it wasn’t until lunchtime that the rain set in for the rest of the day. The fairly light wind was from the south-west throughout. A Ruff and a Great White Egret were on the HHC Sandbar and 5 Cattle Egret were noted, four of these at Wick Water Meadows. Three Spoonbill appeared to come in off the sea and head towards Stanpit around mid-day, but there were no further reports. Waders present there comprised 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, 60 Ringed Plover and 20 Dunlin; also about the Marsh were 3 Wheatear and 4 Yellow Wagtail. Meagre overhead movement at Hengistbury was limited to some 50 Meadow Pipit, a Grey Wagtail, 15 Swallow and 3 House Martin. However, grounded passerines included 90 Chiffchaff, singles of Willow Warbler, Garden Warbler and Nuthatch, 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 8 Blackcap, 6 Goldcrest and an excellent 7 Firecrest, several of which were singing. Four Sandwich Tern headed west at sea, as did a total of 10 Common Scoter, while 2 Raven soared over the cliffs. A further Blackcap and 11 Chiffchaff were at Wick, and Kingfisher were seen on both sides of the Harbour.

Adult Hobby, which was tagging along with migrating Swallow and Meadow Pipit – Scott Usher

The highlight of the first WeBS count of the season was a Wood Sandpiper at Stanpit, where a Greenshank, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 61 Ringed Plover, 34 Dunlin and 32 Snipe were also present. Meanwhile, a Hobby went through and 24 Yellow Wagtail were logged, including a flock of sixteen on the deck, with a single Whitethroat on Crouch Hill. Moving back to the water birds and a few select counts: 216 Mallard – actually a good number for here, 230 Wigeon – that’s around 25% of the expected winter population now in, 380 Mute Swan – quite late for such a high figure, and 151 Coot.

Holloway’s Dock can offer some close-up views of Black-tailed Godwit – Alan Crockard

Cattle Egret – Chris Chapleo

Small Heath butterfly – Clinton Whale

It’s a news-light day – 5 Avocet and a Great White Egret from Stanpit, plus 10 Chiffchaff and 7 Cattle Egret from Wick, being the best of it.

Rock Pipit – Mark Taylor

A few Southern Hawker dragonfly are still on the wing – Peter Boardman

Starting at Stanpit, where the best was a female-type Garganey on South Marsh; but, also: 2 Grey Plover, 2 Knot, a Sanderling, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 94 Ringed Plover and 82 Dunlin. A further selection of waders, potentially comprising different birds, was using the Long Groyne as a roost and included 4 Knot, 5 Sanderling, 135 Ringed Plover and 8 Dunlin. Meanwhile, a Curlew Sandpiper was seen leaving the area. A total of 32 Stonechat on the top of the head represents a definite influx, with overhead movement of passerines, to the east, noted as: 8 Yellow Wagtail, 22 Pied Wagtail, 215 Meadow Pipit and 15 Siskin; plus, a hirundine reckoning of 4300 House Martin and 2200 Swallow. In addition, a couple of Sparrowhawk headed inland and a Ring Ouzel put in a cameo performance on the Batters. Incoming wildfowl were returned at a Pintail, 6 Shoveler and 179 Wigeon; while, at sea, 2 Brent Goose and 7 Common Scoter passed, along with a Razorbill. Rounding up: 8 Cattle Egret flew upriver, early on, and 3 Great White Egret were over Priory Marsh in the afternoon; a Peregrine was on the Priory; and a Kingfisher was in Stanpit Creek.

Long-tailed Blue butterfly – the first harbour record of this nationally rare immigrant from southern Europe – by Ocean Point, the site of former Point House Cafe – Mike Gibbons

…while some Speckled Wood butterfly are still on the wing – Peter Boardman

There was another good easterly movement of birds over Hengistbury, this morning – the estimates and counts, during a period from 07:30 to 09:30, being: 7500 House Martin, 4600 Swallow, 14 Sand Martin, a Tree Pipit, 31 Yellow Wagtail, 95 Pied Wagtail and 265 Meadow Pipit. Also moving through the area, but to the north, were 2 Merlin and 3 Marsh Harrier; while groups of Wigeon and Teal were could be seen arriving; and 62 Mediterranean Gull headed west. Settled birds included 4 Willow Warbler by the Wooden Bridge – a significantly late date for such a number – around 18 Yellow Wagtail at Stanpit, 6 Pied Wagtail, the same number of Wheatear and around 20 Chiffchaff. In or around Stanpit Bight, there was a Whimbrel, a Knot, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Ringed Plover and 25 Dunlin, with the Wigeon there now in excess of 120 and 26 Teal.

Small Copper butterfly – Peter Boardman

The acidic waters of the Ironstone Quarry usually host only Mallard, so a fresh-in Teal was strange to see there – Peter Boardman

Hirundines were counted with some focus today – 4500 Swallow and 2600 House Martin to the east over Hengistbury – over an unspecified period. Moving with them were 2 Tree Pipit, 225 Meadow Pipit with an accompanying Merlin, 16 Yellow Wagtail, 9 Grey Wagtail and 46 Pied Wagtail. Meanwhile, at sea, all west, were: a ring-tail harrier, a Red-throated Diver, 117 Mediterranean Gull, 18 Common Tern and 63 Sandwich Tern. Incoming wildfowl were conspicuous, including the first 5 Brent Goose of the coming season, but also: 58 Wigeon, 16 Shoveler, 8 Teal and 6 Shelduck. Amongst the waders were: 2 Curlew Sandpiper on the Long Groyne; a couple of Green Sandpiper over; and a Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Dunlin inside the harbour. Moving to settled, migrant passerines – the pick being 3 Firecrest in the Wood and 5 Coal Tit at the end of the head; as well as 19 Yellow Wagtail, the majority on Crouch Hill, 2 Wheatear also there and 60 Chiffchaff spread. To finish, Raven is now back on the notables list after a period of almost residence – one at Stanpit, this morning, where there was a Kingfisher.

House Martin were the order of the morning – hundreds were reported moving slowly east, but 260 in a twenty-minute sample is the only indication of just how dense the movement was. Although it’s sheer conjecture, the reality may be that thousands went through. Meanwhile, a Spotted Flycatcher lingered around the Pod for much of the day, with a Whinchat and 3 Wheatear on Crouch Hill, and 3 Yellow Wagtail over Hengistbury. Uncharacteristically of late, the only white-heron return is of a Great White Egret crossing the area, fairly early on.

There have been as many as 7 Willow Emerald damselfly of late and looking like more next year – Peter Boardman

Common Lizard – Peter Boardman

Comma butterfly – Peter Boardman

All of a sudden, in terms of wader selection, Stanpit looked a little like its former self – no doubt helped by the optimal combination of time and tide – late-afternoon and rising – when the westerly sun allows prime viewing conditions. As such, the list goes something like this: a Curlew Sandpiper, 14 Knot, 2 Greenshank, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 28 Ringed Plover, 43 Dunlin, 13 Snipe and a couple of Turnstone. Earlier, there was a reasonable presence of Chiffchaff across Hengistbury and Wick, around 70 birds being reckoned – along with a couple of Whitethroat, in what has been a poor autumn for them – while overhead returns included 4 Yellow Wagtail, in with a trickle of Meadow Pipit, 40 House Martin and 75 Swallow. Once again, Cattle Egret favoured the Salt Hurns – eight there today – with 2 Great White Egret heading inland early on. To finish: 53 Wigeon were counted, 5 Sandwich Tern were about the harbour and a Buzzard was well within recording-area airspace.

Cattle Egret – Alan Crockard

Blue Tit raiding a spider’s larder – Alan Crockard

The scarcest bird of the day, plumage-wise that is, was a juvenile Common Gull on Blackberry Point. Otherwise, a Tree Pipit over Wick was the best of the passerine reports, while a Wheatear was about Crouch Hill and concentrations of Chiffchaff on Wick and in the North Scrubs aggregated around twenty-five birds. Wigeon numbers are now rising, likewise Coot, thirty-two and 227 respectively inside the harbour. Moving to egrets and it’s now probably time to give Cattle Egret – six on the Salt Hurns this morning – the status of winter visitor – and a single Great White Egret over is suggesting that species is heading the same way. Finishing with mammals, a Muntjac was in the Nursery.

All the news for the day comes from another well-organised and equally well-attended Members’ Day – thanks to everyone involved! The best from the ringing demonstration, which included a nice selection of warblers, was an adult Water Rail that had somehow found its way into a mist net! The bird-walk then featured: some nice views of Dartford Warbler, an impressive feeding gathering of Swallow over the Barn Field, a flock of twenty fly-by Ringed Plover, a great comparison of singles of juvenile Bar-tailed Godwit and Black-tailed Godwit in Holloway’s Dock, 4 Cattle Egret – one of them a juvenile – on the Salt Hurns, and multiple encounters with Kingfisher. Later, the odonata event produced at least 6 Willow Emerald damselfly.

Reed Warbler – Alan Crockard

Chiffchaff – Alan Crockard

There is little to trouble the keypad from a day that started with a chill. The best on Hengistbury, during the morning, was a Whinchat on the Barn Field, around 20 Chiffchaff and small passage of Meadow Pipit. Meanwhile, Wick experienced a Cattle Egret from the Wooden Bridge, a further ten ‘chiffs’ and 20 Swallow over. Moving to the afternoon, at least 3 Painted Lady butterflies were at the base of the cliffs.

The day is light on news, although a Hobby over Wick was nice and what were perhaps the first, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit of the autumn fed-up at Stanpit. Otherwise, it’s just 5 Wheatear on Crouch Hill, 4 Willow Warbler, around 15 Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat to mention about the migrants. To finish, a Kingfisher was by the Bailey Bridge.

There is little to report for today – the best perhaps being 2 Whinchat on the Barn Field – as well as at least one Great White Egret and 3 Cattle Egret in the usual, early-morning locations.

A female-type Marsh Harrier headed inland, early on, when the egret show comprised at least 3 Great White Egret, those in Barn Bight for a while, and 11 Cattle Egret on Wick Water Meadows. Otherwise, it’s just 2 Common Sandpiper on Grimmery Bank, during the afternoon, to mention.

Whinchat – Janet Panter

Juvenile Sanderling – Janet Panter

Starting with waders and this morning, when a Curlew Sandpiper flew west past the Coastguards with a Dunlin. Later, three juvenile Sanderling were on the sandspit, but only 4 Ringed Plover seen there. Moving to passerines – there were 12 Wheatear across the site, eleven on Crouch Hill, where 3 Whinchat also hung out, while a Yellow Wagtail was by the Pod and 12 Chiffchaff were on Wick. (As this is being written, news just in of at least ten more ‘yellow wags’ with the ponies in the northern part of Stanpit.) Today’s Cattle Egret accounts are interesting – eight were seen going across the harbour and coming down on Priory Marsh and a short time later a singleton on Wick water meadows was joined by eight, naturally assumed to be those already mentioned. A couple of hours later, however, there was a siege of seventeen a kilometre or two north of the recording area – so perhaps 2×8+1? To finish the egret encounters, a Great White Egret spent some time in Barn Bight. Rounding up with wildfowl, the best being 2 Tufted Duck, both drakes, plus 3 Wigeon.

Spotted Flycatcher – Scott Usher

Blackcap fuelling up on blackberries – Scott Usher

…and yesterday’s Wood Sandpiper – Gregory Morum

It was another day overshadowed by, at times, some very heavy rain. Nonetheless, during the drier periods: the North Scrubs was quite birdy – holding a Spotted Flycatcher, 4 Blackcap, a Willow Warbler and 2 Chiffchaff; 6 Wheatear were on Crouch Hill; and a Swift, 25 House Martin, 2 Willow Warbler and 8 Chiffchaff were logged on Wick. The rest for the post is 3 Common Sandpiper, 5 Snipe and a Great White Egret, all at Stanpit.

Wryneck – Scott Usher (upper) & Chris Chapleo

Sparrowhawk – Amanda Cunningham

The umbrellas were out this afternoon, when a Wryneck was discovered at the southern end of the North Scrubs, immediately adjacent to the Pod at Stanpit. Earlier, the best had been a Wood Sandpiper – initially, with some Redshank in Mother Siller’s Channel, but soon up and off towards Wick; then, a few minutes later, heard again and possibly coming down on Priory Marsh – a Swift over Hengistbury and 2 Greenshank about East Marsh. Migrant passerines on the head included: a Willow Warbler, 20 Chiffchaff – the mix now turning in their favour – 5 Blackcap and 6 Whitethroat. Meanwhile, 2 Grey Wagtail, 14 Yellow Wagtail and a few Meadow Pipit were seen in the sky about the area, but calls of the latter wagtail were more numerous. Finishing with egrets: 13 Cattle Egret were on the HHC mudbar, early on; when 3 Great White Egret were on East Marsh, but a couple logged in Barn Bight could raise the total to five.

The rain again prevented most field activity – although 3 Great White Egret were seen at the northern end of Stanpit Creek, this afternoon. Earlier, the waders on the sandspit included a Knot, a few Sanderling, at least 100 Ringed Plover and around 50 Dunlin. Meanwhile, the conditions meant a good presence of House Martin were feeding low over the recording area, as well as the adjacent parts of BH6 and BH23.

No doubt due to the almost, day-long rain, the only news is of 6 Cattle Egret on Wick, before it all set in.

Starting with passerines and a 1cy male Redstart ringed at the HHC, this morning, when 2 Tree Pipit, 7 Willow Warbler 12 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat and a further 4 Wheatear were logged on Hengistbury, and 7 Wheatear were on Crouch Hill. The CHOG-funded fenced area on the tip of the sandspit continues to show it’s worth – a Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Knot, 2 Sanderling, 135 Ringed Plover, 21 Dunlin and 14 Turnstone using the sanctuary on offer; also, another 3 Wheatear. Meanwhile, waders inside the harbour included: 2 Avocet, 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 10 Sanderling, 3 Ringed Plover, 9 Dunlin and 18 Turnstone. Quite what’s happening with Cattle Egret is uncertain – twelve flew upriver at just after 07:00, so had presumably roosted, with up to three seeming to be hanging around throughout the day, along with a Great White Egret. Of the wildfowl, the best was definitely 3 Tufted Duck, but also 7 Wigeon and a couple of Teal; and, to conclude, the late afternoon saw 2 Whinchat and 25 Chiffchaff on the head, with a 3 Swift, a real delight in September, and a pulse of  75 Swallow high over to the west.

Death’s-head Hawkmoth caterpillar – it’s debatable what is more impressive, this or the flying phase of the species – Robin Harley

The best of the passerines was two each of Pied Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher in the Wood, this morning, as well as a Nuthatch; while 3 Willow Warbler were on Wick and 6 Wheatear were on Crouch Hill. This afternoon, a total of 10 Cattle Egret crossed the harbour and settled on the Salt Hurns, with a Great White Egret, earlier, having headed north. Moving to waders and the returns from throughout the day, all at Stanpit, included: a Green Sandpiper in Stanpit Creek, 2 Greenshank, 8 Sanderling, 3 Common Sandpiper, 51 Ringed Plover and 16 Dunlin.

The morning at Stanpit saw a good selection of waders, including a circling, vocal Curlew Sandpiper, as well as: 2 Green Sandpiper, 3 Greenshank, 4 Knot, 3 Sanderling, 3 Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel, 12 Snipe and 6 Turnstone; but, strangely, no Dunlin. Meanwhile, around Crouch Hill, there were 2 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Whinchat, 8 Wheatear and a juvenile Whitethroat. A Pintail and 5 Wigeon were the pick of the wildfowl, with a Great Crested Grebe also inside the harbour. Over on Wick, the 3 Cattle Egret were again present, while yesterday’s start to the wildfowling season saw hundreds of Canada Goose ‘migrate’ to the area from the Avon Valley.

Juvenile Knot – Scott Usher

…joined by some juvenile Sanderling – Scott Usher

…and now some Dunlin, also juvenile, the browner birds. The fenced area on the sandspit is a safe haven for these southbound birds, the Knot and the Sanderling, maybe the Dunlin too, having fledged within the Arctic Circle – Scott Usher

A day when thunder was forecast, but now looking unlikely, produced few reports. Other than the photographed waders, a Nuthatch was vocal in the Nursery and 3 Cattle Egret were again on Wick.

New just in from Stanpit, all from Fisherman’s Bank: a Little Ringed Plover, 9 Avocet, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, a Knot and 7 Sanderling; 5 Shoveler, 12 Teal and 3 Wigeon; and a Kingfisher.