We will meet on the last Tuesday evening of each month at The Ship in Distress pub, 66 Stanpit, BH23 3NA, at around 19:00. Do come along and meet like-minded people in a social environment.

Next meeting Tuesday 27th October. 

Other than an early seawatch from Hengistbury, which produced an unidentified diver, 8 Razorbill, 12 auk sp., and 11 Gannet – all to the west, save for a single Gannet – the majority of the news is from Stanpit. The Glossy Ibis was on North Marsh around 13:00, while the late afternoon into the early evening on Crouch Hill saw 2 Wheatear and a pre-roost gathering of around 30 Pied Wagtail. Nearby, 5 Grey Plover, a Sanderling, 17 Black-tailed Godwit and a Dunlin were in Stanpit Bight.

Barely a minute went by without moisture, of varying degrees, being in the air. The most bizarre moment of the day came late in the morning, when an Avocet was seen taking a stroll on the Mudeford Quay promenade! Meanwhile, waders inside the harbour included 7 Grey Plover, a couple of Sanderling, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit and 3 Black-tailed Godwit. Stanpit also held some passerine interest: a Ring Ouzel was in the North Scrubs, briefly, feeding on rowan berries; a Whinchat and a couple of Wheatear were about Crouch Hil; and a Firecrest and 15 Chiffchaff were logged. To finish, the Peregrine preferred the shelter of the east side of the Priory tower.

CHOG 2027 Calendar is now available to buy in the CHOG Shop

It was WeBS count day – a full census of all waterbirds each month from September to March – with the in-harbour wader highlights coming from: a Grey Plover, a notable figure of 19 Bar-tailed Godwit, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, 36 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin and a nowadays good total of 126 Lapwing – only a couple of decades ago, four figures may have been expected; as well as 3 Golden Plover over Hengistbury. Moving to wildfowl and 2 Brent Goose arrived to join 485 Wigeon, 237 Mallard, 8 Teal and 243 Mute Swan. Wrapping up the statistics, others worth a mention include a Glossy Ibis, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Kingfisher and 380 Coot. Moving to other birds, a couple of Wheatear were on site – on South Marsh and by the Ironstone Quarry – and there was another reasonable presence of Chiffchaff in most bushes across the area – the junction of the Solent Meads and central paths on Wick, and the tip of Hengistbury, holding particular concentrations. A Peregrine was on a grotesque on the south side of the Priory tower, while the White-tailed Eagle pair arrived at 13:00 but chose not to linger due to the high water.

Are you feeling chilly on your harbour walks? The CHOG winter clothing range is here, including beanies, fleeces, hoodies and sweatshirts to keep you cosy, all in a variety of colours and made from environmentally sympathetic materials.  See full range…

This seemingly long-winged Wheatear was on Crouch Hill yesterday and the day previous. Assuming the apparent wing length isn’t a trick of the lens, it’s a good bet this bird may have already crossed the Atlantic on its way back to Africa. Just the Sahara to go now!

On a reasonable day of weather, A Yellow-browed Warbler was heard a few times on Wick, this morning, when there were at least 30 Chiffchaff active – with the site-wide total reckoned to be approaching around a hundred; with other birds in bushes on Hengistbury including singles of late Willow Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher, 6 Blackcap, 10 Goldcrest and 3 Firecrest. Meanwhile, there was a reasonable finch movement to the west, including: 430 Linnet, 160 Goldfinch, 46 Chaffinch, 26 Siskin, 2 Redpoll and a Brambling; along with 75 Meadow Pipit, 35 Pied Wagtail and 12 Swallow; plus 6 Song Thrush incoming. At sea, an adult Little Gull passed, as did a few auks; while the early roost flight contained a Glossy Ibis – one later seen on East Marsh – and 6 Cattle Egret. Rounding things off: the overhead passage carried 2 Merlin with it; a Peregrine was about; and a White-tailed Eagle arrived at 14:00 and settled on Blackberry Point.

CHOG are pleased to officially launch the CHOG Nature YouTube channel, created by Scott Terrell

We are hoping this will become a central repository for videos and photographs of all types of nature, including raptors, in and around Christchurch Harbour.

If you have videos or photos, please do submit them to the channel here.

Turnstone – Peter Corbin

On a blustery and sometimes wet day, nearly all the news is from the sea. A total of 31 Common Scoter was logged – all but five to the east – along with, in the opposite direction, a single Red-throated Diver, 2 Mediterranean Gull and 3 auks. Meanwhile, around 20 Gannet lingered, as did up to 5 Sandwich Tern. Otherwise, it just twenty or so Cattle Egret in the roost to mention.

Although not as numerous as last year, there is still a reasonable presence of Chiffchaff each day – Dave Miller

…but it’s been another concerningly poor return migration of Wheatear

On a clear morning, the first Redwing of the season was close to the Pod, before heading off inland. Over at Hengistbury, despite there having been four days of unsuitable conditions for movement, the hoped-for release of birds didn’t really happen. In what is best described as a light passage, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Linnet, Goldfinch, Siskin, Redpoll, Swallow, Skylark and Song Thrush featured in quite modest numbers. Meanwhile, the photographed Wheatear was on Crouch Hill and Chiffchaff were scattered across the site. It’s been remarked that Teal and, indeed, Brent Goose are both late arriving for the winter – although the former saw a slight increase to around twenty and three ‘brents’ circled; with the best of the waders coming from: 7 Knot, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, and 12 Black-tailed Godwit, all around Stanpit Bight. A Glossy Ibis was on East Marsh, during the morning, and one was on Priory Marsh, at dusk, when 12 Cattle Egret went to roost. To finish, a Marsh Harrier passed over high and a Peregrine was on the Priory.

We finally have some information about the colour-ringed Curlew that was first seen at the end of August and was still present yesterday. It was ringed, presumably as a juvenile, as part of the Duke of Norfolk’s reintroduction scheme, at Peppering in West Sussex – Louise Powell-Hills. More details of the project here… 

Rain for much of the morning limited field activity to some degree, but a venture onto Stanpit did produce a notable sight of an 18-strong flock of Golden Plover – always a good bird here – heading west over Crouch Hill; as well as 5 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 33 Ringed Plover. Meanwhile, a Glossy Ibis was seen throughout the day on both South Marsh and East Marsh.

There was more early fog, so it was a little late before people really got out there – with all the news coming from Stanpit. Around the Bight, there was a nice count of 12 Bar-tailed Godwit, along with 6 Black-tailed Godwit, with wildfowl interest there headed by 4 Tufted Duck. A late Yellow Wagtail was the best of a modest presence of migrant passerines, which also included a Firecrest; with a Treecreeper also being logged. Meanwhile, the Glossy Ibis was seen about East Marsh and North Marsh, and a Kingfisher was along Fisherman’s Bank. A Marsh Harrier and a Red Kite overflew; while the White-tailed Eagle show commenced at 09:00, the male of the pair arriving and fishing, but not joined by his mate until 12:30 – they both left at 13:45 – although a single bird was back on Blackberry Point around thirty minutes later, remaining for an hour or so.

Early morning fog, which persisted until gone 09:00, made for a pretty dismal start. After things cleared, however, there was a modicum of movement: during a 45-minute spell from 09:45, around 250 Swallow passed south-east over Hengistbury; while, in a similar period, 20 House Martin and 80 Meadow Pipit were logged at Stanpit. Chiffchaff dominated in the bushes – a site-wide total in excess of fifty, plus 4 Blackcap and a gathering of 50 Linnet in the Barn Field. The pick of the wildfowl was another Pochard, a drake and, by the author’s reckoning, the third of the season, which is pretty good nowadays, was seen – heading north up the river; with the best of waders about the marsh coming from: 2 Grey Plover, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit and a single Black-tailed Godwit. Glossy Ibis sightings occurred throughout the day, from around Stanpit, at one point being spooked by the eagles, along with 3 Great White Egret – this by Crouch Hill. Before the raptor wrap-up, Cattle Egret are no longer always mentioned, but there does seem to be three which are faithful to Wick Water Meadows, where the day’s only Kingfisher was recorded. A Buzzed and female-type Marsh Harrier passed over the Harbour, during the morning; when the White-tailed Eagle pair arrived around 09:30 and stayed until just after 16:00 – feeding well – with recent prey looking to include a type of mullet, Flounder and Eel.

On-the-ground Woodlark are nearly always, if not always, associated with extreme cold weather, but the early morning fog was responsible for this one on Crouch Hill – Adrian Simmons

The decked Meadow Pipit in the same area were attracting the attention of this Sparrowhawk – Adrian Simmons (upper) & Alan Crockard

…and the incumbent Peregrine on the Priory is unringed – Paul Dore

All the news is from Stanpit, where the early, dense fog resulted in the photographed Woodlark, around 20 Meadow Pipit and a couple of Pied Wagtail being stranded on Crouch Hill – all of which left as soon as the conditions cleared. Meanwhile, waders in or around Stanpit Bight included 2 Grey Plover and at least 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, as well as a very distant and equally brief Little Stint. Before moving to the raptor news, the southern embankment of Riversmeet Meadow hosted thirty or so Chiffchaff, with regular sightings of the Glossy Ibis coming from South Marsh, East Marsh and Priory Marsh, and a Tawny Owl was heard from the car park. To finish: a female-type Marsh Harrier was about the north of the area; the Peregrine from the Priory pursued Lapwing, unsuccessfully; a Buzzard passed over; and, for some reason best known to them, the White-tailed Eagle pair visited individually – he emerged from the mist, already on Blackberry Point, at 09:00, then caught a Flounder and a couple of small Eel before heading off at 13:00 – some time after that, she slipped in unnoticed but was seen to leave at 14:30. Moving to mammals – a Grey Seal was off Mudeford Quay, around 17:30.

Wednesday October 14th 19:30-21:15
A Journey with Science, Animal Behaviour and Behind the Scenes of Wildlife Filmmaking   – Sam Stewart
For more information…

This drake Wigeon with a colour ring, but seemingly no metal ring, was photographed a couple of days ago. After some discussion, the feeling is the plastic ring was probably put on to mark the bird in a wildfowl collection. As such, this likely explains the summering bird we had – i.e., it was an escapee from captivity that had no migratory urge, rather than a wild individual that was unable to undertake a reasonably long-distance migration – Adrian Simmons

Starting with mammals – an Otter casually trotted from Parky Meade Rail to Central Marsh, around 07:45, barely yards in front of the observer. Moving to birds and although the morning’s migration over Hengistbury was light, there were a couple of highlights: a Lapland Bunting passed west and a Woodlark headed off along the sandspit after circling the end of the Head; with a single Brent Goose passing at sea. Earlier, the dawn roost flight of Cattle Egret numbered seventeen birds; while at least one Glossy Ibis, but probably two, were around Stanpit – one favours the North/East Marsh area, the other Priory Marsh. Around Stanpit Bight, in addition to around a mixture of around fifty Ringed Plover and Dunlin, an increase from the last few days, there were 2 Grey Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit and at least 2 Black-tailed Godwit. Meanwhile, a minimum of two, but maybe four, Kingfisher were along Fisherman’s Bank. The only Osprey was a high, southbound bird and the 2 White-tailed Eagle came at 08:30 and spent at least two hours on Blackberry Point – from where they were occasionally catching Eel, as well as regularly terrorising Grey Heron and Cormorant.

Saturday 17th October
Hengistbury Head
For more information…

There are a couple of notables to start the post: a Green Woodpecker, once commonplace, but in less than a decade a rarity, was on Ashtree Meadows; while the first returning Brent Goose – a skein of five – passed west over the Barn Field. The early part of the morning saw some decent visible-migration numbers, the period from 07.10 to 8:30 yielding: 1200 Meadow Pipit, 230 Swallow, the same for Linnet, 80 Pied Wagtail, 20 Goldfinch, 10 Chaffinch, a late Sand Martin and a Grey Wagtail, all the west. It seems likely there were more, however, as it was remarked the passage was continuing when the observer had to leave. Meanwhile, on the deck, there was another good presence of Chiffchaff – forty and a dozen estimated from Wick and Priory Marsh respectively – but, with no reports from Hengistbury, it’s reasonable to assume there were far more across the area; also, a couple of Blackcap and a cameo Yellow-browed Warbler by the Wooden Bridge. The migrant waders continue to dwindle – just the ‘North Marsh’ Whimbrel, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin at Stanpit, although 118 Redshank was a good count. Also, on the marsh, a single Common Gull. Wrapping up, an Osprey was about at some point in the afternoon, when the White-tailed Eagle pair arrived at 14:00 and settled on Blackberry Point, leaving some time prior to 16:30.

Update: after singles of Glossy Ibis were seen on North Marsh and Priory Marsh, two went to roost this evening, along with 16 Cattle Egret.

Saturday 24th October
Portland and Weymouth
For more information…

The ‘North Marsh’ Whimbrel has been frequenting that area for around two weeks now – David Faulkner

Kingfisher – Dave Miller

Although migration was light this morning, a Ring Ouzel was seen coming in off the sea over the top of Hengistbury, which experienced an unenthusiastic movement of Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Linnet, Reed Bunting and Swallow, plus a single Grey Wagtail. On the ground, Chiffchaff were conspicuous across Wick and the Head – in excess of three figures would seem reasonable – along with a Whitethroat, a handful of Blackcap and 6 Firecrest. Heron types were again well represented: the Glossy Ibis frequenting the North Marsh area; a Great White Egret descended in from the north with 4 Grey Heron; and 21 Cattle Egret exploded from the roost at 07:00 prompt. As is often the case, the following day’s post contradicts a seemingly sage observation from the previous – in this instance, the sea, where a sizeable feeding flock of gulls attracted up to 10 Gannet and a drake Common Scoter was settled just off the Long Groyne. Waders continue to be relatively sparse, but at least one Whimbrel, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, around 30 Black-tailed Godwit and the colour-ringed Curlew, all at Stanpit, were decent consolation. To finish: the photographed Kingfisher was by the Noddy Train Terminus and the raptors went something like this: a Peregrine on the Priory; Osprey at 10:00, 11:30 and 13:00; and the White-tailed Eagle pair arrived at 13:45 and stayed until 16:15, when the flood tide covered Blackberry Point.

Each week, CHOG Facebook runs a photo-of-the-week competition – covering Christchurch Harbour, the Lower Avon Valley and CHOG meetings – and the current winner is shown below.

If you are not on Facebook and would like to make a submission, please email here…
Please note, when it is received, the photo may also be used on this page.

Razorbill – Richard Moore