Another fine couple of days allowed birds and birders to soak up some sun, despite a chilly northerly wind at times. Highlights included….

28^th April – A survey at Lytchett Bay produced Whimbrel 2 + 6 later on pools, Greenshank 1, Black wits 334, Redshank 6, Curlew 8, Little Egret 8, Teal 3, Mallard 5, Shelduck 26, Snipe 1, Little Gull 1 (1st w), Med Gull at least 2 over calling, Blackcap 3, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 2 singing, Cetti’s Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 8, Sedge Warbler 4, Reed Bunting 8, Peregrine 1 male, Buzzard 2 and a Lytchett Bay mega… A COOT! From the west of the harbour up on Ballard there were 2 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Hobby, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Wheatear. In Brands Bay still 1 Brent Goose, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 6 Dunlin and a Turnstone and at the Arne triangle a Hobby. At Swineham the Osprey was spotted over the Wareham Channel again, also there a ringtail Hen Harrier, Common Sandpiper, many Swift, 4 Whitethroat, 5 Sedge Warbler and 5+ Cetti’s Warbler.

April 29^th was fairly quiet for sightings. On Upton Heath 3 Dartford Warbler territories were noted on a small section of the heath. At Fleets Corner, there was a singing Lesser Whitethroat and also still plenty of Whitethroat and Blackcap. In Lytchett Bay the mega bird of the week a Coot was seen with a mate! Probably the best sighting of the day was of a singing Wood Warbler in Slepe Copse, which eventually showed really well.

It’s safe to say that the last few days have been spring migrant days, with various areas around Dorset reporting incredible numbers of birds…700 Wheatear alone at Portland, not to mention 500 Blackcap. The Harbour didn’t fair too badly either with the following sightings….

Friday 26^th April saw some of the best weather conditions for migrants, a clear moonlit night followed by a wall of rain heading in from the north just before dawn. In and around Holes bay there were 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 10’s of Whitethroat, Blackcap and Willow Warbler, good numbers of Reed Warbler and a few Sedge Warbler. The female Marsh Harrier in the Wareham Channel is still very active. At Lytchett Bay the 1^st Winter Little Gull was still present along with a cracking male Whinchat, 6 Whitethroat and 3 Whimbrel. Some fantastic records from Swineham included Blackcap 4, Hobby 2,Sand Martin 69, Swallow 6, Linnet 4, Teal 4, Gadwall 15, Chiffchaff 7 , Whitethroat 4, Cetti’s 7, Reed Warbler 16, Red-throated Diver 1 on main pit then flew into harbour at 14:30, Sedge Warbler 11, Wheatear 1, Siskin 3, Common Sandpiper 1, Swift 47, Grasshopper Warbler 1 flushed from beside path and showed well in a bush for a minute or so, Greenshank 1, Med Gull 1, Whimbrel 36, Peregrine 1, Shelduck 108, Skylark 1, Scaup 2 female on west of main pit, Bearded Tit 1, Willow Warbler 1, Cuckoo 1 and a Marsh Harrier. An evening gull count was conducted on Brownsea where an incredible 1500+ Herring Gull came into roost, also an Arctic Tern came into roost. Also on Brownsea 3 Little Ringed Plover, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, a pair of Golden Pheasant, 1 Common Redstart, 6 Spotted Redshank (some in full summer plumage), 12 Turnstone, still 9 Avocet, 4 Greenshank, 2 Ringed Plover and 8 Knot.

Saturday 27^th April was cold and clear but still a few migrants hung around. Nice to hear that a pair of Dartford Warbler are back on territory on Lytchett Heath. Also at the Bay the Red-throated Diver is still hanging around, 13 Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, Little Gull and Cetti’s Warbler numbers seem to be doing better. AT Holton Lee a possible Spanish Wagtail was located, also there a Jack Snipe and Common Sandpiper. An Osprey was seen again out in the Wareham Channel. Migrants in and around Fleets Corner included Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Reed Warbler. Sandwich Tern numbers seem to be increasing on the Brownsea Lagoon webcam, best viewed around 08:30 in the evening.

Spring is still rolling along nicely with new birds turning up everyday. Spring migrants are popping up at many locations around the harbour so keep you eyes peeled for your first Swift or even Spotted Flycatcher…

Wednesday 24^th was a bit overcast and cold to begin with but soon evolved into a pleasant spring day. Lytchett Bay produced a 1^st winter Little Gull, 1 Common Swift, 2 Sandwich Tern, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Cuckoo, 5 Yellow Wagtail, 2 White Wagtail, 2 Whimbrel, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 5 Reed Warbler and the Red-throated Diver is still hanging around out in the bay. There was a great report of a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker calling on Brownsea near the vinery. At Middlebere there were 2 Swift, 1 Spoonbill, 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Whimbrel, a Ringtail Hen Harrier and 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling. At Sunnyside there was a Ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Peregrine, 1 Lapwing and 1 Snipe.

Thursday 25^th started off really foggy but soon cleared. Reed Warbler numbers around Upton CP seem to be increasing in good numbers. There were an interesting count of 8 Great Crested Grebe out in Holes Bay with 4 Sedge Warbler, 6 Blackcap and 3 Whitethroat along the Holes Bay outfall drain. Lytchett Bay saw it’s first ever Blue-headed Wagtail, also there 3 Yellow Wagtail, 4 White Wagtail, 2 Whitethroat, the 1^st Winter Little Gull, Red-throated Diver, 360 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Dunlin and a Cuckoo was heard over at Holton Lee. 

Highlights from the last few days include….

Monday 22^nd April where at Greenland’s Farm there where 28 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Common Whitethroat and a number of Swallows north. Out on Grange heath a pair of Woodlark singing, a Tree Pipit and a Cuckoo. There seemed to be a drop in Dartford Warbler numbers with only a single bird present. 

Tuesday 23^rd April  saw the Osprey sat on the feeding post at Middlebere at around 8am.  The harbours first Swift of the year went over Parkstone and there were a handful of Whitethroat and Blackcap in the PC World Drain.

A slightly nippier day today, but pleasant all the same. Again some good coverage was received from around the harbour starting with Greenland’s Farm where there 1 Cuckoo, 21 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler and 5 Chiffchaff. In Brands Bay 1 Brent Goose remains and 2 Pintail there. At Swineham an Osprey was touring the Wareham Channel for 45 minutes, also there 6+ Cetti’s Warbler, 6 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Water Rail and a drake Garganey on one of the freshwater Pools near the cottage named ‘Curlews’. At Lytchett Bay a 1^st winter Little Gull was present, also a sky-watch produced a Marsh Harrier, Ringed Plover and a Snipe. In woods between Corfe and Nine Barrow Down there was 1 Lesser and 3 Common Whitethroat, 2 Nightingale and a few Willow Warbler. In Slepe Copse a Wood Warbler sang very briefly. There seemed to be a movement of Red Kite across the county too so keep your eye’s to the skies over the next few days.

Today was a glorious spring day with some nice sightings from around the harbour. Starting with Sunnyside/Soldiers Road where there were 2 Cuckoo, 4 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Peregrine, 5+ Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap and a scattering of resident birds. At Swineham there was 1 female Marsh Harrier, 1 Greenshank, 100+ Black-tailed godwit, 15 Sedge Warbler, 8 Reed Warbler, 6 Blackcap and 11 Chiffchaff, 1 Spoonbill and a Yellow Wagtail. At Ballard a Peregrine, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Whitethroat and a few Yellowhammer back on territory. At Studland Church there was a Black Redstart and at Brands Bay a Whimbrel and Greenshank were present. Lytchett Bay produced another Little-ringed Plover and the Red-throated Diver remained. The PC World drain seemed much quieter today, but still Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat and Blackcap all present. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 41 Sandwich Tern (still yet to visit their nesting islands), 1 Spoonbill, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 33 Avocet and 6 Knot. There was a Whimbrel in Holes Bay with a clam attached to its foot. An Osprey flew south over Holton Lee heath at 5pm

If you didn’t already know the Brownsea Lagoon webcam NOW HAS SOUND, so you can listen to all the chaos and mayhem live as it happens.

Spring is well and truly here with lots of nice birds around. Highlights from the last few days include…

Wednesday 17^th April had 15 Whimbrel in Shell Bay, along with 2 Common Sandpiper in the area. At Lytchett Bay the Bittern was seen again along with the Red-throated Diver where a sparse scattering of migrants included Blackcap, Whitethroat and Willow Warbler and 9 Whimbrel roosted up on the Turlin Shore.

Thursday 18^th April was a wild and windy day, where birds were certainly keeping low. However Reed Warbler were seen back at Upton CP. At the PC World drain there was 6 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 20+ Willow Warbler and 10+ Chiffchaff. In and around Swineham the usual suspects of Cetti’s Warbler, Swallow, House Martin, Great spotted Woodpecker and a few wildfowl out on the lake. There was a report that a Nightingale was back on territory near Corfe. At Lytchett Bay there was a 1^st year Little Gull, 1 Common Sandpiper and the Red-throated Diver put in appearance.

Friday 19^th of April was a real treat when Poole Harbours first Subalpine Warbler was discovered at the east end of the PC World drain. Unfortunately it was only seen by 2 lucky observers and wasn’t seen since. Also in the area a Grasshopper Warbler, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, lots of Blackcap and Willow Warbler. At Middlebere there were 3 Spoonbill, 9 Wheatear at Greenland’s Farm and 3 at Soldiers Road. On Brownsea 53 Avocets, 5 Greenshank, 3 Spotted Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper. A Nightingale was singing at Corfe again this evening.

Sorry for the lack of reports over the last few days but have been away. I was keeping tabs on various sighting and reports while I was away and it looked like a bad time not to be around. Some great birds combined with great weather certainly seemed to give everything the lift it needed…

Sunday 14^th April saw lots of nice birds dotted all over the place. Starting with an Osprey and Yellow Wagtail over Swineham Point, also there 2 Spoonbill, female Marsh Harrier, 2 Greenshank, 10 Grey Plover and a steady trickle of Swallow and Sand Martin and Barn Owl and ringtail Hen Harrier in the evening. On the Brownsea Lagoon a single Common Tern, 3 Whimbrel, 29 Sandwich Tern, 6 Turnstone, 1087 Black-tailed Godwit, 47 Avocet, and 1 Sanderling. A brief sea-watch off Branksome produced 2 Great Skua and a House Martin in off the sea. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling on the west side of Holes Bay.

Monday 15^th April started off with a real cracker as a ringtail Montague’s Harrier drifted over French’s Farm, Lytchett Bay in the morning (only the 2^nd record for Lytchett Bay). The Osprey was seen again over Swineham Point and the female Marsh Harrier was over the reedbed at the point.

Tuesday 16^th April was a beauty of a day. Only a handful of reports in. One of a Red-throated Diver out on the water in Lytchett Bay, also the first Reed and Sedge Warblers there. 

Saturday the 13^th of April was wet, wet, wet, but despite the driving drain a handful of decent sightings were recorded. Starting with Swineham where there was no sign of the Long-eared Owl but a 1^st winter Little Gull was over the main pit, also 4 Sandwich Tern up the river Frome, 30+ each of Swallow and Sand Martin, 2 House Martin, 1 Greenshank, 1 (singing) Skylark, 1 (singing) Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Cetti’s Warbler and at least 6 Brambling still near the pumping station at Church Lane, Wareham. Out on Slepe Moor a Jack Snipe was flushed and an Osprey was seen carrying a fish also there a single Wheatear and many Water Rail. Along the PC World drain still many Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, 1 Common Sandpiper and a mystery Egret was photographed out in Holes Bay, which resembles a Great White Egret, but at 500m away it was hard to clinch!

Late news came in last night from 2 local birders of a Long-eared Owl that had been spotted roosting in some trees along the main footpath at Swineham. They both headed down there and were rewarded with seeing the bird leaving its roost site. Despite it almost being pitch black they managed to get a couple record shots to confirm its identification. Long-eared Owls are a very rare occurrence in the harbour so this is a truly significant sighting. There is also a very good possibility that it’s still in the area. Also at Swineham yesterday was a Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier, 2 Sandwich Tern, 5 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler and also still 10+ Brambling and 3 Willow Warbler near the pumping station at the east end of Church Lane in Wareham.

Almost as incredible was the sighting of 11 Little Ringed Plover on the Brownsea Lagoon yesterday afternoon. We’ll have to check the records but that must be the highest spring gathering of this species on record for the harbour?