I hadn't realised how time has moved on since our last blog, so what has been happening? Jackie and I have been doing a bit of birding of course mostly locally. I've had the moth trap out a few times and mid-August started recording nightly nocturnal migration again with varying results. Also the Poole Pub Birders started a friendly Poole Harbour monthly listing to see who could record the most species in the month though when Mark suggested it he had already started his August list. So when we arrived at the 1st of September we all started a monthly harbour listing together. Though I have to say Jackie and I haven't taken it too seriously as we have had others things to do, but we put in some time and enjoyed doing what we have and now decided to try a little harder for October, though with the wet weather so far this month we haven't started very well.
For September we recorded 105 species, Mark, who probably put most effort in, recorded a very good 133 species. Ian Ballam also did extremely well when you take into consideration that he concentrated on Lytchett Bay recording area only except for a quick trip to Wareham Water Meadows for the Pectoral Sandpiper/s and recorded 118.
When the final log was counted there was the potential of 161 species that was possible with in the Poole Harbour recording area.
To see the Poole Harbour recording area follow this link:-
The birding around the harbour area was pretty good with highlights of two Cattle & Great White Egret, no less than two Pectoral Sandpiper and ending the month with Ian finding Curlew & Wood Sandpiper and Long-billed Dowitcher on Lytchett Fields.
Jackie and I tried for the Dowitcher on the day Ian found it on the 29th but just missed it so we returned the next day when Ian messaged me that he had re-found it on one of the roosting Islands. So off we went in the light rain and found Ian watching it just as the rain increased to heavy. None-the-less we managed fairly good scope views of this American wader. This is the 34th species of wader recorded in the Lytchett Bay recording area since 2012.
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| Distant Long-billed Dowitcher _ Lytchett Fields RSPB © Ian Ballam |
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| Wood Sandpiper - Lytchett Fields RSPB © Ian Ballam |
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| Curlew Sandpiper, Dunlin & Teal - Lytchett Fields RSPB © Ian Ballam |
Visual Migration from Ballard Down and South Haven produced large numbers of Siskin moving with lesser numbers of Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Crossbill. We also recorded three Great Spotted Woodpecker moving north during one of our Vismig morning. Also Jackie and I managed to catch-up at long last with Spotted Flycatcher in the willows at South Haven on one of our mornings outings.
As mentioned earlier above I've started recording nocturnal migration again for this autumn from the middle of August. So far to date The notable species for me here were Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Common and Green Sandpiper, Whimbrel, Moorhen, Coot, Snipe and of real interest was the first Redwing and a single Ring Ouzel recorded on the morning of the 28th September and a flyover Bullfinch on the 30th. Also of interest was the recording of Barn Owl on three occasions during September. Tree Pipit and Meadow Pipits were commonly recorded and a couple of Moorhen and four Coot were considered migrants passing over in the period.
This is a very nice recording of a flyover flock of Lapwing at 22:29hrs on the 6th September.
Below sound is the Ring Ouzel recorded at 01:36hrs on the morning 28th September
The September mothing produced the usual species expected here in my Upton? Lytchett Bay garden but ended the month with two new species of macro moth. Heath Rustic Xestia agathina and The Anomalous Stilbia anomala with a supporting Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis a micro which has been considered a migrant but a friend has found caterpillars of this species this year so may now be breeding successfully in the county now.
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| Heath Rustic Xestia agathina |
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| The Anomalous Stilbia anomala |
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| Rusty Dot Pearl Udea ferrugalis |
