The heavy rain forecast for this morning passed during the night but ringing had been cancelled and it was too late to set up now.
It was mid morning before I got out for a spot of raptor watching at Rockley Point. This caravan site commands a superb view over Wareham Channel and is an excellent place to scan for raptors, especially in the morning when the sun is behind you. Views however are distant. I saw a single Osprey perched in a dead eating a fish over at Arne and had great views of a female type Marsh Harrier quartering Otter Island in Lytchett Bay (which is also visible from the caravan park) as well as at least ten Buzzards.
Spotted Redshank have been absent from Lytchett Bay this autumn so I was glad to find three, feeding with a couple of Greenshank in the Bay. Out in Wareham Channel there was an impressive gathering of over 100 feeding Cormorants.
Wareham Channel from Rockley Sands
Lytchett Bay from Rockley Sands
On the subject of Ospreys, recent genetic research has suggested that there may be as many as five species, although I don’t know of any world check list that has wholly implemented this.
If split they would be: ‘Eurasian’ Osprey Pandion haliatus, ‘American’ Osprey P (haliatus) carolinensis, ‘Caribbean’ Osprey P (haliatus) ridgwayi, ‘Wallacean’ Osprey P (haliatus) melvillensis and ‘Eastern’ or ‘Australian’ Osprey P (haliatus) cristatus.
Well I have seen all five forms, but I doubt if I will be amending my life list in the near future.
Worth a tick .. probably not ! Although distant the snowy white crown and dark breast band of 'Wallacean' Osprey is visible. It is also smaller than the Eurasian and American forms. West Papua July 2011
gryllosblog 
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