Gannet off Hengistbury Head, this evening – Alan Crockard

A Garden Warbler was on Wick, this morning; while the day-total for Chiffchaff came to around 75 birds – the estimates being from Wick and Hengistbury. The head also returned 5 Wheatear and around 30 Stonechat; with Crouch Hill holding a further Wheatear and 66 Meadow Pipit, those all counted in a single binocular scan. Late in the afternoon, 3 Mediterranean Gull headed out to sea; and, in the hour before sunset, from Mudeford Quay, there was a nice selection of birds noted, some arriving, some leaving. A single Ruff and a flock of 10 Dunlin arrived through the Run; 4 Brent Goose left the harbour to the east and five arrived; and 5 Curlew – 3+1+1 – all headed purposefully out and seemingly towards the Isle of Wight; presumably to roost in the Yarmouth area?

Red Admiral butterfly – Clinton Whale

Common Darter dragonfly – Clinton Whale

A Lesser Whitethroat in the No Dogs Field, this morning, due to the upperpart colouration and extent of white in the outer-tail feathers, was reckoned to be a very good candidate for the race blythi – aka ‘Siberian’ Lesser Whitethroat – but no definite claims are being made. Meanwhile, the fields held at least 50 Chiffchaff, with a handful more, plus some Blackcap, scattered elsewhere; and 3 Wheatear were on Crouch Hill. Siskin were moving over Stanpit – four stopping to feeding on the ground by the new dog dip on Riversmeet Meadow – and, as the morning wore on, modest numbers of Meadow Pipit and Skylark also pitched in about the marsh. Moving to waders, the best being singles of Avocet and Greenshank accidentally flushed from a ditch on South Marsh, but around Blackberry Point there was a further Greenshank, as well as 4 Black-tailed Godwit and 6 Ringed Plover, and fifty or so Lapwing were off Fisherman’s Bank. To round things up, a Great White Egret was about and Kingfisher were seen at the Bailey Bridge and on a flotsam tree opposite Grimmery Bank.

Grey Heron – Mark Taylor

There are, unfortunately, very few reports currently being received. This morning, 32 Chiffchaff were counted about Wick; while, this afternoon, a couple of Wheatear were on the Barn Field and a Great White Egret headed inland at some height. To finish this short post, a Kingfisher was watched from the Viewing Platform.

Curlew – Neil Jones

The few reports received concern, mainly, waders. A Green Sandpiper was on Wick meadows, early on, and a Ruff around Stanpit Bight, as were a Greenshank and 3 Black-tailed Godwit; while dribs and drabs of Snipe were seemingly arriving. Then, at 10:20, a White-tailed Eagle soared over the area. Otherwise, it’s just small numbers of settled Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Linnet and Reed Bunting, mostly around Crouch Hill, to mention.

The only news for the day is of a male Marsh Harrier heading inland, early on; plus, around lunchtime, an Avocet and 2 Shoveler at Stanpit.

Avocet – Scott Usher

Reed Bunting – David Faulkner

A White-tailed Eagle headed north out of the area at 07:45, this morning, when Chiffchaff were estimated at forty-five on Wick and described as ‘dozens’ at Stanpit. The marsh also held some wader interest, mostly on the afternoon low tide, when a Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Avocet, 2 Greenshank, 4 Ringed Plover and 12 Dunlin were logged; while, earlier, 5 Snipe were watched arriving and up to 45 Lapwing, nowadays a decent number, were about the place. Also during the afternoon, an apparent arrival of Wigeon – boosting the total to around two-hundred birds – and a couple of adult Peregrine seeming to interact over the Wick Hams area. To finish, Kingfisher were seen on two occasions – one of them opposite Grimmery Bank.

Glossy Ibis – Dave Miller

Clouded Yellow butterfly – Ben Feeney

Little Grebe – Alan Crockard

A party of four Glossy Ibis were seen on Wick Hams just before 08:00, before re-locating to East Marsh and obscurity in the reeds. Of interest, four of the same were seen, just west of the recording area, heading west, later in the afternoon. It was much quieter in terms of settled passerines today – the Chiffchaff estimated at around 70 birds in the Wick-to-Hengistbury zone, but also a Spotted Flycatcher in the No Dogs Field, a Whinchat on the Barn Field, 2 Yellow Wagtail by the Wooden Bridge and 4 Firecrest in the Wood, plus, for the records, 4 Wheatear, 4 Blackcap and a Whitethroat. Meanwhile, the only in-harbour wader report is of a Greenshank in Mother Siller’s Channel; with a Kingfisher seen there and one on the favoured fences about Brewer’s Creek. The post finishes with numbers from the end of the Head: 1000 House Martin, 650 Swallow, 25 Sand Martin, two each of Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail, 375 Meadow Pipit, a Redpoll, 92 Siskin and 63 Linnet – all coasted east. Moving west at sea were 2 Great White Egret, 12 Grey Heron, 56 Cormorant, a Common Tern, 11 Sandwich Tern, 23 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Pintail, 98 Wigeon, 17 Teal, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and 7 Black-tailed Godwit; while, a Great Northern Diver, a Brent Goose and 38 Gannet headed in the opposite direction. A Golden Plover checked-in and 4 Grey Plover were logged.

The most intriguing record of the day,by far, was a Treecreeper in an isolated and stunted Elder bush on Whitepits, just metres from the sea. Meanwhile, for the second post on the run, it’s all about Chiffchaff. It would be unwise to attempt to offer a total, so here are the accounts: 122 counted on the way from the Salt Hurns to the Stunted Oaks, with around forty-five by the Wooden Bridge on the return; 100 estimated across Wick as a whole; around fifty reckoned along the Batters west of the Lily Pond; and ‘plenty’ at Whitepits; and that’s with no reports from Stanpit. Also settled across Hengistbury and Wick – 29 Blackcap, several Whitethroat, 2 Pied Flycatcher, 4 Spotted Flycatcher, a Whinchat, a Redstart, 19 Wheatear and 3 Firecrest. Visible-migration is definitely getting into some kind of swing, with most of the day’s estimates and totals coming from the end of the head, between 07:30 and 10:30, and coasting into the easterly breeze: 8500 Swallow, 2500 House Martin, a Tree Pipit, 275 Meadow Pipit, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 65 Pied Wagtail, 66 Siskin, 48 Linnet and 2 Redpoll; while a Merlin headed inland; and the sea contributed 7 Grey Heron, 2 Goosander, 7 Kittiwake, 47 Mediterranean Gull and 58 auks, all to the west, plus 3 Brent Goose and a Black Tern east. To round things up: wildlfowl arriving for the coming seasons involved a Tufted Duck, 8 Shoveler, 4 Pintail, 46 Wigeon and 7 Teal; a Mistle Thrush was recorded; the only wader news is of 2 Greenshank in Holloway’s Dock and a Common Sandpiper in Barn Bight; a Cattle Egret was on Wick meadows; and, tying in with a few sightings about Christchurch, a Swift was heard from the HHVC.

There were plenty of Chiffchaff about today – Alan Crockard

…and the sunshine brought Migrant Hawker dragonfly to the wing across the area – Peter Boardman

Chiffchaff were the order of the day – as a good few hundred, quite possibly several hundred, were spread across the site. To put some context on this, a total of 131 was counted from Solent Meads to the Salt Hurns, as the birds moved off the head to hinterland feeding areas, with anecdotes of lots elsewhere. Also, 2 Redstart – one on the northern edge of the Salt Hurns and one on the Old Pitch and Putt Course – a Whinchat on the Bobolink Field and 2 Spotted Flycatcher – one in the Wood, the other in Stanpit Scrubs; plus 9 Wheatear, a settled Yellow Wagtail, and small figures of Sedge Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat. Meanwhile, a Tree Pipit, at least 150 Meadow Pipit, a Grey Wagtail and a Yellow Wagtail passed over; likewise, 214 House Martin and around 100 Swallow – but, both those numbers very conservative; and an estimated, based on mainly audio, 24 Siskin were amongst a light passage of other finches. Migrant wader numbers seem to be reducing – a Grey Plover, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 25 Ringed Plover and 3 Dunlin the pick at Stanpit, with Holloway’s Dock returning 2 Common Sandpiper and three passing Whimbrel. To round it up: a new-in Pintail rested in Stanpit Bight, when a further three passed over very high to the east – also six newly arrived, tired-looking Teal there; a 1cy Marsh Harrier headed high to the south and out to sea; a Firecrest was in the Stunted Oaks; and a Clouded Yellow butterfly was logged.

A 1cy Little Ringed Plover inside the harbour this afternoon is an exceptional record for the date. Meanwhile, a Curlew Sandpiper and 3 Sanderling were about; with a Golden Plover and a Knot logged earlier in the day. On the Hengistbury side, an Avocet was on the beach close to the Shorebird Sanctuary and a Curlew Sandpiper was on the Long Groyne. The most notable passerine was a Spotted Flycatcher in Ashtree Meadow, while 4 Wheatear were across the site. To finish, a Kingfisher was by the Wooden Bridge.

Juvenile Common Tern – Scott Usher

…and the bird in flight – Scott Usher

Those on the Members’ Day were treated to a flock of 5 Spoonbill that passed through the Harbour during the morning. The other highlights being a Whinchat on the Barn Field and a couple of Firecrest in the Wood. Meanwhile, a Grey Plover overflew, a Knot and 12 Black-tailed Godwit were at Stanpit, and an un-ringed Osprey caught a fish just before lunch. The finch migration is starting to get underway – 94 Siskin, 6 Linnet and 34 Goldfinch over Hengistbury – with other birds moving including: 750 Swallow, 75 House Martin and 35 Sand Martin, plus 9 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Grey Wagtail, 16 Pied Wagtail, 2 Tree Pipit and 120 Meadow Pipit. A further Yellow Wagtail was settled with the ponies on Crouch Hill, where a couple of Wheatear also lingered, and the rest of the reported passerines across the area comprised: a minimum of 45 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, a Sedge Warbler and a Grasshopper Warbler. At sea, a juvenile Arctic Skua and nearly all of the day’s 82 Mediterranean Gull headed west, while a flock of 3 Great White Egret headed in the opposite direction, and two each of Kittiwake and Common Scoter were logged. To finish: a Short-eared Owl travelled north: a Curlew Sandpiper used the Long Groyne; and a Nuthatch and 2 Treecreeper were in the Wood.

Spotted Flycatcher in Ashtree Meadow – Alan Crockard

Visible migration took off today with many birds taking advantage of the calmer conditions and light southerly wind to head south. Hirdundines were moving in good numbers for most of the day with conservative estimates of at least 10,000 Swallow, 5,000 House Martin, 250 Sand Martin and a late Swift. At Hengistbury, they were accompanied by 500 Meadow Pipit, 7 Tree Pipit, 15 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Grey Wagtail, 58 Siskin and 25 Chaffinch, while grounded migrants included 5 Whinchat, a Lesser Whitethroat, 65 Stonechat, 35 Reed Bunting and a Wheatear. Thirty-four Mediterranean Gull flew west through the Harbour, with just two past Hengistbury at sea, together with 2 Common Scoter, a Guillemot and 15 Sandwich Tern. Two Greenshank were on Salt Hurns and 3 Firecrest were in the wood. At Stanpit, a Golden Plover went west through the Harbour; other waders logged around the marsh during the day included a Curlew Sandpiper, 4 Knot, 2 Sanderling, 3 Black-tailed Godwit and 53 Ringed Plover. Earlier, an adult Little Gull was on Blackberry, with further reports including a Great Crested Grebe, a Common Gull, 45 Sandwich Tern and single Common Tern. Kingfisher were at Hengistbury and at Wick, with two Cattle Egret being seen at the former site. Passerines at Stanpit were 2 Spotted Flycatcher in Ashtree Meadow, five more Yellow Wagtail, two Wheatear and a Willow Warbler, while the Chiffchaff total from all three main areas came to thirty. An Osprey was seen twice during the afternoon, together with a Marsh Harrier and two Buzzard. This evening, a flock of 22 Cattle Egret flew across Stanpit to roost at Hengistbury.

A Grey Dagger moth caterpillar at Hengistbury: a common species only readily separable from Dark Dagger at the caterpillar stage – Robin Harley

Conditions were similar to yesterday apart from a weaker south-westerly wind. Again, the sea was quite busy with a westerly movement past Hengistbury comprising 365 Sandwich Tern, 32 Common Tern, 1 Arctic Tern, 2 Little Gull – one of which travelled through the harbour – 5 Kittiwake, 11 Mediterranean Gull, 31 Gannet and 10 Common Scoter. Amongst the waders commuting to the Long Groyne were 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 37 Ringed Plover and 6 Sanderling. Heading south were 135 Swallow, 51 Sand Martin, 66 Meadow Pipit, 2 Tree Pipit, 11 Yellow Wagtail and 3 Grey Wagtail. Grounded passerines included singles of Redstart and Whinchat by the Hengistbury Head Visitor Centre and 2 Spotted Flycatcher in the wood, as well as Nuthatch and Treecreeper. The pick of several visits to Stanpit were two more Arctic Tern, another Little Gull, 5 Curlew Sandpiper and a Little Stint, the latter especially being very thin on the ground so far this autumn. It is difficult to assess possible duplication in Sandwich Tern numbers, but a total of 150 was inside the harbour during the day, together with 10 Common Tern and 2 Mediterranean Gull. A Ruff could well have been the same bird as yesterday, with other wader counts coming to 40 Ringed Plover, 30 Dunlin, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Snipe, a Greenshank, a Sanderling and 18 Turnstone. An Osprey visited the harbour this morning, while a Peregrine and a Marsh Harrier also passed through. The only passerines noted were 4 Wheatear and a Yellow Wagtail, with 17 Chiffchaff and a further 30 Swallow were at Wick. Three Cattle Egret were at Wick Water Meadows, with a further bird at Stanpit in the afternoon. In late afternoon, a large movement of seabirds was reported past Hengistbury, although most were too distant to identify apart from 4 Common Scoter and a Little Gull on the sea.

Given the overcast conditions and blustery westerly wind, the sea was covered for a large part of the day from Hengistbury and produced good numbers of birds heading into the wind. Totals from all the day’s watches were an excellent count of 760 Sandwich Tern, plus 43 Common Tern and 6 Arctic Tern, all but one being juveniles, together with three adult Little Gull, 27 Kittiwake, 2 Fulmar, 2 Arctic Skua and 150 Gannet. Also travelling west were 7 Mediterranean Gull, 16 Common Scoter, 6 Guillemot, a Razorbill and 11 unidentified auks. Twenty Ringed Plover, 28 Dunlin, 3 Turnstone and 4 Sanderling were also noted, while 190 Swallow and 9 Sand Martin headed south-west. Elsewhere at Hengistbury, 2 Greenshank were in Holloway’s Dock, a Common Sandpiper and 2 Little Grebe were in Barn Bight and a Firecrest was in the wood. Moving across to Stanpit, a varied selection of waders included 6 Curlew Sandpiper, 11 Turnstone, 3 Knot, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, a Ruff, another Greenshank, 4 Sanderling, 59 Ringed Plover and 18 Dunlin, but some of these smaller waders were likely to have been at Hengistbury at high tide. Forty more Sandwich Tern and 15 Common Tern were at Stanpit, as well as another adult Little Gull and singles of  Mediterranean Gull and Common Gull. To finish, the Wigeon flock totalled twenty-five, a Yellow Wagtail flew over Crouch Hill and a Pied Flycatcher was in Ashtree Meadow, with an Osprey visiting the harbour during the morning and at lunchtime.

Pied Flycatcher in the Stunted Oaks at Hengistbury – Chris Chapleo

Wall Butterfly at Hengistbury – Barrie Taylor

It was quite a sunny start to the day but with cloud increasing later. The westerly wind was not as strong as yesterday, so there’s a lot more to write about tonight, starting with a Barn Owl over Wick Water Meadows and an Osprey that headed north having caught a fish. At Stanpit, a total of 4 Curlew Sandpiper was logged, together with a Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Sanderling, a Common Sandpiper and a Whimbrel. Three Cattle Egret flew north, and a Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 9 Teal and a Great Crested Grebe were also present. There was an obvious influx of Water Rail, with 25 heard from parts of the marsh where they are not usually noted. Grounded migrants included 3 Pied and a Spotted Flycatcher in the Stunted Oaks at Hengistbury, 2 Whitethroat, 12 Goldcrest and singles of Grasshopper Warbler, Willow Warbler and Wheatear at Stanpit, with a total of 50 Chiffchaff spread across the harbour area. Overhead westerly passage from Hengistbury and Stanpit numbered 32 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 3 alba Wagtail, 206 Meadow Pipit, 7 Tree Pipit, 11 Siskin, 83 House Martin, 10 Swallow and 5 Sand Martin. Moving over to Hengistbury, the first Red-throated Diver of the autumn headed west at sea and a lone Mediterranean Gull flew towards the Sandspit. The Ringed Plover and Dunlin flock of 110 birds flew towards the Long Groyne, where at least 78 of the former were counted. An early evening visit to Stanpit produced at least 1 Arctic Tern and 70 Sandwich Tern, while a late afternoon sea watch at Hengistbury included 2 Sanderling, 2 Kittiwake, 3 Mediterranean Gull, another Arctic Tern and 250 Sandwich Tern, while some 30 Yellow Wagtail went to roost in Wick Hams.

Arctic Tern past Hengistbury this afternoon – Scott Usher

It was a mixed bag of weather with sunny spells interspersed with occasional showers, some of them quite heavy. The strong, predominantly westerly, wind meant that the sea received attention from Hengistbury and Mudeford Quay. At Hengistbury, the morning’s headliners were 3 Balearic Shearwaters heading south off Double Dykes and a Grey Phalarope moving west past the Long Groyne. Also travelling into the wind were 6 Kittiwake, 25 Sandwich Tern and a lone Common Tern, while an Arctic Skua flew quickly east without pausing. A Common Scoter lingered offshore and a distant unidentified Auk landed on the sea, with some 10 Gannet being seen from both venues. Two afternoon sessions produced more westbound travellers, including a second-winter Little Gull and a first-winter Mediterranean Gull, an Arctic Tern, a further 3 Common Tern, 45 Sandwich Tern, and 15 Cormorant apparently headed out of the bay. Three Greenshank were in Holloway’s Dock, while passerines included 4 Grey Wagtail, 3 Yellow Wagtail and a Spotted Flycatcher. Stanpit also received several visits, and returned a Whinchat and 3 Wheatear on Crouch Hill, plus 16 Black-tailed Godwit.

Cattle Egret at dawn, taken from a kayak paddle – Scott Usher

…and, although there are still plenty more to arrive to get to the expected 800 or so, the Wigeon are increasing – twenty-six counted today – Alan Crockard

It was all about before the afternoon rain and wind set in. This morning, 3 Tree Pipit, 125 Meadow Pipit, 7 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 320 Swallow, 75 House Martin and 35 Sand Martin, all headed out. Settled passerines were seemingly sparse, but a Whinchat in the North Scrubs was nice, and 3 Wheatear were about Stanpit; while Wick held 15 Chiffchaff and 3 Blackcap. A reasonable selection of waders, from the marsh, included a brief Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Avocet to the west, 7 Sanderling, a Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Black-tailed Godwit and 40 Ringed Plover. The rest is a bit of a mixture: a Marsh Harrier toured from the east and an Osprey left with a fish at around 11:00; 21 Cattle Egret left the roost and two were, a little later, on Wick meadows; 4 Mediterranean Gull were about; a Peregrine went over; and Kingfisher were seen by the Wooden Bridge and on the marsh.

Early morning on Wick held some interest – namely, a Pied Flycatcher in the Bobolink Field and a couple of Spotted Flycatcher in the No Dogs Field – as well as a female-type Marsh Harrier over the meadows. Meanwhile, a pale-morph Arctic Skua came from the east and landed on the sea off Hengistbury, where 45 Common Tern, 100 Sandwich Tern and 2 Common Scoter were logged. Also from the Head, a Whinchat on the Barn Field, a Nuthatch in the Wood and a Kingfisher. Terns were also moving through the harbour – 56 Common Tern and 75 Sandwich Tern – with 350 House Martin, 235 Swallow and 55 Sand Martin also passing. The only Osprey return with any context was one leaving north at 10:45, while the rest of the post is just numbers, with no real back stories, almost entirely from Stanpit. A Grasshopper Warbler, a Garden Warbler, 60 Blackcap, 35 Whitethroat, 3 Willow Warbler, 76 Chiffchaff, 2 Firecrest, 2 Wheatear, a Tree Pipit, 58 Meadow Pipit, 17 Yellow Wagtail, 10 Grey Wagtail, a Green Sandpiper, 7 Greenshank, 19 Black-tailed Godwit, 26 Mediterranean Gull, 3 Common Gull, a further Osprey, 2 Marsh Harrier and a Glossy Ibis.

It’s getting to the time when Meadow Pipit should pass through in some numbers – Alan Crockard

Wick held a little interest, early on, in the form of a Grasshopper Warbler and a Willow Warbler, but not too much else. Meanwhile, over a couple of hours, Hengistbury returned: a Nuthatch, a Firecrest, a Wheatear, 12 Chiffchaff, a Blackcap and a steady trickle of Swallow; with Stanpit contributing 3 Wheatear, a Yellow Wagtail and at least 20 Meadow Pipit, mostly on Crouch Hill. Moving to waders and 2 Common Sandpiper in Barn Bight, plus, from Stanpit Bight: 2 Greenshank, a Whimbrel, 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 48 Ringed Plover, 15 Dunlin and 20 Turnstone – the latter figure being reasonably significant for inside the harbour and perhaps being able to harvest insects from the algae scourge? To finish, a Kingfisher was about the marsh.

This morning, after the rain cleared, the Stunted Oaks were found to be hosting a Pied Flycatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher, while a couple of Firecrest were in the adjacent section of the Wood. Also, a light movement of Swallow and House Martin over Hengistbury. Otherwise, the only other news is from Stanpit and of 3 Wheatear on Crouch Hill, plus 12 Black-tailed Godwit on North Marsh.

On the very low of the tide, Mother Siller’s Channel is currently very reliable for Water Rail – this, one of three birds showing well in the morning’s gloaming – Alan Crockard

All the news is from the early morning at Stanpit, when a Barn Owl, an Osprey, a Lesser Whitethroat and 29 Cattle Egret were logged; plus 3 Wheatear and at least 6 Meadow Pipit on Crouch Hill.

Sea Aster Mining Bee, a rare species associated with coastal margins and saltmarsh habitats, and active from late August until October, when the Sea Aster is in bloom – Bryan Edwards

Juvenile Whinchat – Adrian Simmons

This morning, probably one of the shortest, heaviest and most-focussed deluges of rain ever to hit the area caught a few people out! Despite that complication, there was a decent presence of passerine migrants on Hengistbury, comprising: a Willow Warbler, twenty each of Chiffchaff and Whitethroat, and a Wheatear; while, a couple of Tree Pipit, 5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail, a Grey Wagtail and around 60 Swallow passed, during a 2.75-hour period. Over at Stanpit, a Whinchat on Crouch Hill was nice, where 3 Wheatear also lingered and a likewise number of Whitethroat were on the edge of the North Scrubs. Moving back to the Head, and singles of Greenshank, Common Sandpiper and Kingfisher; with today’s observed Osprey visit coming at just after 16:00.

Glossy Ibis – Caroline Herbert

Juvenile Kestrel doing some strange moves on Crouch Hill – David Faulkner

…and Starling, all but one moulting out of their juvenile plumage – Mark Taylor

There were 2 Glossy Ibis at Stanpit, this afternoon, although not always seen together. Initially, there were, but then singularly toured the fringes of Central Marsh – the last encounter being of a single bird by the Bailey Bridge. One seen well enough to age was a juvenile and, to add some context, there has been a significant influx into south-west England over the last few days, as well as Cattle Egret, possibly the result of drought conditions on the Iberian Peninsula. Talking of the egrets, there were twenty-six resting at Stanpit, early on, after presumably leaving their roost. Moving to more expected species and migrant passerines – the pick being a Spotted Flycatcher on Ashtree Meadow, but also 3 Wheatear, a Garden Warbler and a Willow Warbler about the area, as well as a handful of Chiffchaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap. Waders, meanwhile, included 3 Green Sandpiper which dropped into Mother Siller’s Channel, along with a Common Sandpiper and 5 Black-tailed Godwit. To round things up, a couple of Shoveler and at least 15 Wigeon were about.

Juvenile Whitethroat – Scott Usher

Adult male Blackcap – Scott Usher

Common Sandpiper – Alan Crockard

…and Brown Rat – Scott Usher

It was a really mixed day of weather with un-forecast thunder and rain during the morning, and a strong breeze that veered from south-east to south-west throughout. Starting with terns, gulls and skuas: early on, at least 160 Sandwich Tern and around 25 Common Tern were logged from Fisherman’s Bank; then, around lunchtime, an Arctic Skua and a 1cy Kittiwake were seen from Mudeford Quay, while 2 Little Tern and up to 10 Mediterranean Gull were around Stanpit Bight – most of the latter 1cy birds and all nearly completely transitioned into first-winter plumage; late in the afternoon, a 1cy Common Gull was on the tip of the sandspit; and, this evening, from the Gully, an adult Little Gull and a juvenile Arctic Tern were returned. To add some further context, there has been a significant feeding flock off the western end of Hengistbury for a few days now. As per yesterday, there was a constant trickle, sometimes flow, of hirundines through not just the recording area but also noted over greater Christchurch and the Lower Avon Valley – at least 90% of the birds being Swallow, the remainder Sand Martin and House Martin. In addition, and always nice for September, a couple of Swift over the Harbour; plus, a Hobby joining in. No doubt brought in by the easterly vector in the overnight wind, wildfowl included a couple of Pintail, a minimum of 6 Wigeon and 4 Teal, at Stanpit. While the sun was still shining, the North Scrubs and the adjacent bramble bank were busy with birds – in the main, Chiffchaff, numbering in excess of twenty-five and some in song – but also a Lesser Whitethroat, and a few each of Whitethroat and Blackcap; with other migrant passerines around including two each of Firecrest, those in the Wood, and Wheatear. Moving to waders and a Green Sandpiper that dropped into Central Marsh, but also: a Common Sandpiper, a Bar-tailed Godwit and 8 Black-tailed Godwit around South Marsh; and 6 Sanderling and fifty or so Ringed Plover resting nicely in the fenced area of the sandspit. We’re almost there, I promise! Just after dawn, a minimum of 26 Cattle Egret, in varying flock sizes, headed inland and were probably the birds seen, a short time later, just outside of the recording area in a field bordering the Stony Lane roundabout. To finish, Kingfisher were seen on several occasions along Fisherman’s Bank, as well as single encounters from Grimmery Bank and by the Purewell Stream.

Kingfisher – Jeremy Mayes

Wheatear – Alan Crockard (upper) & Jeremy Mayes

…and Stonechat – Mark Taylor

Firstly, some news that came in subsequent to last night’s publication – a Barn Owl about Priory Marsh. Now to today and after an absence of a couple of weeks, at least, a White-tailed Eagle, presumably G818, spent around an hour at Stanpit early this afternoon. Sticking with raptors and the Osprey routine: 08:30, one left with a fish; 10:30, one arrived and connected on first attempt; 14:15, one not so fortunate and departed; 16:30, one seen to arrive, outcome unknown. Meanwhile, there was a clear movement of hirundines into the south-south-east breeze, with Swallow dominating the numbers by a long chalk – well over 1000 across a three-hour period in the morning – followed by Sand Martin and then House Martin. Early on, the North Scrubs was lively – a Lesser Whitethroat and around 25 Chiffchaff – when a Wheatear was on Crouch Hill; and a Grey Wagtail, plus some Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipit over. A flock of six, new-in, Shoveler really couldn’t decide where they wanted to be and toured around; while, to finish, 3 Black-tailed Godwit were on site.

Glossy Ibis – Scott Usher

The female Osprey, 1H1, who bred in the Poole Harbour area this season is still around (upper) but, today, one of her chicks, 5R8, was also about the area – Scott Usher

…and a young Great Crested Grebe enjoying the early morning calm in Stanpit Creek – Scott Usher

The recent good run of heron-type records continued today, when, at around 07:30, a Glossy Ibis was found in Stanpit Creek. Then, over the next thirty minutes or so, it was seen on North Marsh and over, both, Central Marsh and Wick. Around lunchtime, a Great White Egret was feeding well on East Marsh; while 4 Cattle Egret had earlier been on Wick Meadows – their favoured wash-and-brush-up spot – before heading inland for the day. Let’s go through the Osprey events: around 12:15, juvenile 5R8 arrived and spent a good deal of time attempting to catch something, before eventually doing so in Mother Siller’s Channel, only to promptly drop the incredibly fortunate fish and then decide to head off high over Mudeford; then, at 13:20, 1H1 arrived and casually pulled one out on the first attempt! Keeping with raptors, a male Marsh Harrier was over Wick. The pick of the migrant passerines was a Whinchat on Ashtree Meadow; but also 6 Wheatear on Crouch Hill and 20 Chiffchaff in the North Scrubs, along with singles of Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Blackcap there. Strangely, the only wader return is of the call a Whimbrel around South Marsh, with 3 Kingfisher – two in Mother Siller’s Channel, this afternoon, and one whizzing over the No Dogs Field – wrapping things up.

Early September is when small numbers of Grey Wagtail pass over the area – from where and to where, largely unknown. In keeping with this tradition, there were frequent calls over Stanpit, this morning, and, this afternoon, a settled bird was by the Lily Pond. It’s also now getting to the time when most of the Willow Warbler have passed through and Chiffchaff start to dominate the ‘phyllosc’ numbers – the former returned, sensibly, as ‘lots,’ a couple of them in song, while the latter were counted as three. Also, a Spotted Flycatcher in Ashtree Meadow and 5 Wheatear about the place. The only wader report comes courtesy of a Greenshank in Stanpit Bight, where an Osprey caught a fish at around 10:20; with 3 Cattle Egret on Wick meadows closing things off.

Osprey – Paul Mcauliffe

Grey Seal – Alan Crockard

The animal has been around Clay Pool for several days now

…and a juvenile male Peregrine from the ‘Asda’ nest in Poole, yesterday over Stanpit – Paul Mcauliffe

The bird of a stormy day was a Turtle Dove, seen heading south over Wick towards Hengistbury. Meanwhile, the best from a choppy sea was 60 Gannet, of all plumages, during a single scan across Christchurch Bay from Mudeford Quay; but the gathering soon moved away. Also from the quay: two Little Tern, an adult and a juvenile, were about the Run for a while before moving inside the harbour to Stanpit Bight; 5 Knot, a Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel and 2 Curlew all arrived from the east; 3 Common Scoter passed by; and a Sparrowhawk skimmed the waves in an effort to catch its breakfast from the gathering of around 100 Ringed Plover, 10 Dunlin and a Sanderling that was resting on the sandspit. A further Whimbrel was logged from the marsh, where a Wheatear was on Crouch Hill. An Osprey fished successfully from 17:50 to 18:00 and 2 Cattle Egret, still in breeding plumage, were on Wick meadows.

On a day dominated by rain, there are few reports to carry. On Wick, early on, around 15 Willow Warbler emerged after a heavy rain shower, while two of three Chiffchaff there had a sing and a Greenshank passed over. Meanwhile, the only news from the Stanpit side was of a couple of Whitethroat in Ashtree Meadow. During the afternoon, there were 3 Common Sandpiper in Barn Bight and, moving to the evening, a 1cy Yellow-legged Gull was about Mudeford Quay and the Run.

Pied Flycatcher – Chris Chapleo

The photographed Pied Flycatcher spent all day, first and last seen at 08:15 and 19:45 respectively, in oaks on Monkswell Green – viewed from the path separating there and Ashtree Meadow, at what3words location mock.list.tower – also, a good record of two Treecreeper from the same spot. Around 17:30, an adult Hobby passed over the Recreation Ground, while ninety or so minutes earlier an Osprey had fished the main channel for at least ten minutes before grabbing a mullet and leaving north, also over ‘the rec’, to enjoy its catch. There was another surge in small wader numbers about Stanpit Bight – 170 Ringed Plover and 35 Dunlin being reckoned, along with 3 Sanderling – plus, a Grey Plover, 2 Greenshank and a Whimbrel. Wrapping up, a Lesser Whitethroat was on Crouch Hill and a Common Gull was logged.