AUTUMN MIGRATION
We started newsletter no. 6 with Spring migration, how quickly times goes now the Autumn migration is upon us.

Our local patch is the superb Blashford Lakes Reserve near Ringwood and the Great White Egret is back. Black Terns and waders are passing through and the ducks are beginning to return.

Ospreys have been seen all along the southern coast and during the Autumn they have a tendency to linger and Middlebere, Poole Harbour is always a good place to see them, as I write there are 3 together. Titchfield Haven and Lower Test Marshes are also good sites.

Even our smaller migrants like Yellow Wagtails, Whinchat, Whitethroats, Wheatears are beginning to come through in numbers now. Of course it's always a good time for a rarity to turn up.

Our new programme for the autumn is now running and on Saturday 23rd August saw us out at Pennington Marshes, with our star bird being a juvenile Grey Phalarope on Fishtail Lagoon. Wheatears scattered along the beach, Yellow Wagtails flying over, as did a Spotted Redshank calling as he went. Other waders included 3 Greenshank, 4 Knot a few Dunlin and Ringed Plover. A few Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were around and a Common Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat really didn't want to show themselves.

At Blashford Lakes on the 31st our group started with 3 Black Terns on Ibsley Water and a fourth one by the end of our walk. Waders included Green Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit, there were still some young Grebes both Little and Great Crested about being fed by a parent, excellent views of a juvenile Green Woodpecker as highlights of our walk.

AUTUMN/WINTER COURSES
A popular way to see many of our Autumn Migrants and learn more about bird identification with a friendly group of like-minded people is to join one of our monthly or weekly courses.

SHORT BREAK IN NORFOLK 5th - 8th FEBRUARY 2009
In February 2007 we visited the North Norfolk coast for a 2-night weekend break and had good birds, good food and good company. This time we are going for 3 nights as there is just so much to fit in, with spectacularly large flocks of geese and waders, winter migrants like Shorelark, Snow and Laplang Bunting, Twite and perhaps even Waxwing. Raptors like Marsh and Hen Harriers, Merlin and Barn Owl are regular, we may be lucky and see Short-eared Owl.

The cost is £250 per person, single supplement £30, staying in a comfortable hotel on a dinner/bed & breakfast basis. Our breaks are always popular so early booking is adviseable.

See our Programme page for full details of all our trips and courses. We limit our group size to 12, usually with two leaders so this ensures a small friendly group where everyone has a chance to see the birds and allows us to cater for beginners to the more experienced bird watcher.