Compensation for missing the Osprey volunteers boat because I was on watch - a Marsh H nosing around the release site. There is a God. Later 2 different individuals over Arne Moors. Picking up at last.Birds of Poole Harbour

A new Marsh H in the west Harbour today - a young male emerging into adult plumage. That`s 4 individuals for the month so far.

4 more young sat-tagged Hen Harriers have disappeared in recent days and all - strange this - have stopped transmitting on driven grouse moors. Pathetic. See the RaptorPersecutionUK site for full details.Birds of Poole Harbour

Latish Osprey on the Arne Hill tree this morning. Extravagant hirundine pulses south & west over Wareham Channel / Hartland early afternoon (200+ in a minute once) with a Hobby or two accompanying. Marsh Harriers up to 4.Birds of Poole Harbour

With yesterday`s hirundine passage reduced to a trickle around Wareham Channel a close group of three Hobbys had reverted to insect prey. Loads of common raptors in the midday sun (i.e. 7 Kestrels on Slepe/Hartland) + a perched Osprey still.

Back out at dawn after a few days of early mist, highlights were 2 sparring Merlins on Slepe Heath & 3 Marsh Harriers leaving the roost.Birds of Poole Harbour

2 Merlins together again this pm on Hartland, a very feisty female & a juv male. Also f & imm m Marsh Harrier over the Moors. Always like seeing Black Swans amongst Mutes - currently 3 in Wareham Channel.Birds of Poole Harbour

Just a single Merlin and 2 Marsh Harriers dispersing from west Harbour roosts around sunrise. Well below par for mid-October.Birds of Poole Harbour

Ringtail Hen Harrier on the Moors (thanks for the tip off Purbeckpilgrim ) + very active female Merlin on Hartland alongside a Hobby.Birds of Poole Harbour

Female Merlin sitting inconspicuously in birches below Hartland`s Knoll this pm. Also Peregrine on the discarded forestry debris pile on Slepe Heath. Imm m + f Marsh Harrier over the west Harbour reeds.Birds of Poole Harbour

Another - or the same - Merlin around Slepe / Hartland. Another - or the same - Peregrine over Slepe. The same 2 Marsh Harriers over the reeds. Come on you Hen Harriers.Birds of Poole Harbour

Aidan`s juv Cuckoo still prominent in the stud / Little Knoll quarter of Hartland this am. Also a little pulse of Swallows south (5 actually). F Merlin perched up on usual birch. Just 1 of the Marsh Harriers seen through mist.Birds of Poole Harbour

Merlin female perched on Hartland at first light. Rufous-breasted male parked up in same general area pm. Local Marsh H numbers still worryingly low. Is their relentless fall from grace coincidence or an indicator?Birds of Poole Harbour

Better news re Harbour Marsh Hs today with 2 imm males + a female together this morning before a slim juv male arrived high from the east and dropped on to the Moors around 1330. Unbelievably, the best day total since Jan 26th.Birds of Poole Harbour

Adult female Hen Harrier quartering Hartland at length early pm. Assumed arrived today since Jol and I monitored the main roost with our customary diligence last night and saw nothing.Birds of Poole Harbour

SEO & Merlin + 4 Marsh Harriers in the west Harbour first thing.Birds of Poole Harbour

A new ringtail HH in this morning. A helter-skelter 1w male barrelling along the Piddle-side reeds.Birds of Poole Harbour

Short-eared Owl hunting Slepe Heath early.Birds of Poole Harbour

A pairing-up day in the Arne Moors / Slepe Heath gloom - 2 Hen Harriers together, 2 Marsh Harriers together & 2 Merlins together at various times.Birds of Poole Harbour

Got out at the death today post-rain. 3 Marsh Hs dashing about spectacularly in the wind above their Harbour roost including a sub-adult male. A Peregrine took time to disrupt their pre-bed settling-in with manic dives at each.Birds of Poole Harbour