Numerous reports came in from different areas of the harbour today starting with Swineham where the Barnacle Goose was again with Canada Geese, also at Swineham a late female Wigeon, 1 Cuckoo, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 3 Sedge Warbler, 4 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Redshank, 1 Whitethroat and 100+ Swift. Up on Hartland Stud 2 female Wheatear were feeding. At Middlebere 1 Spoonbill, 40+ Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 60 Swift. At Lytchett Bay there was 1 male Whinchat, 1 Wheatear, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Whimbrel, 1 Cuckoo, 15 Gadwall, 1 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 44 Black-tailed Godwit, 70+ Shelduck, 9 Reed Warbler, 1 Peregrine and 6 Med Gull. A Little Gull was still present at Swineham yesterday.

The rain eased off pretty quickly this morning but the strong west, south-westerly breeze held steady all day. A sea watch from Branksome produced 3 Common Scoter, 1 Kittiwake, 8 Fulmar, 10 Gannet, 50+ Swift in off the sea and 6 Common Tern. At Swineham at least 1 Garganey is still present out on the main pit, also 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Whimbrel, 200+ Swift, 1 Whitethroat, 11 Reed Warbler and 6 Cetti’s Warbler.  On Brownsea there are already 90 sitting Sandwich Tern, also 265 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Avocet, 1 Spoonbill, 3 Greenshank, 1 Ringed Plover and a Peregrine. At Lytchett Bay 1 Hobby, 4 Raven, 7 Whimbrel, 2 Lapwing and 7 Black-tailed Godwit.

With all this grotty weather we’ve been experiencing, its beginning to bring back bad memories of this winter when numerous events and trips had to be cancelled and rescheduled which is unfortunately what we’ve had to do with tomorrows trip to Morden Bog. News from around the harbour has been very sparse too with the only real highlight being a singing Firecrest at Arne, suggesting they are breeding there again this year. A sea watch from Branksome produced only 8 Gannet, 2 Fulmar, 3 Whimbrel, plenty of Sandwich and Common Tern, 1 Auk sp and a handful of Swift and Swallow coming in off the sea. At Lytchett Bay 1 Lesser Whitethroat on territory, 3 Greenshank, 85 Shelduck, 1 Cuckoo, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Lapwing and 1 Redshank. 

Unfortunately, due to tomorrows forecast we will be canceling tomorrows walk at Morden Bog. We will try to re-schedule a bit later in the month weather permitting! Who would have thought it was May!

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Sorry for the lack of updates so far this month, we’ll do a round up in this post from over the bank holiday weekend. Starting off with the discovery of a Spotted Crake out on Bestwall meadow. The bird was heard calling last night and the night before and could possibly stay for a number of days. Below is a sound recording of the bird by Nick Hopper…

There was another sighting of the/a Great White Egret near the Stoborough causeway.  Swineham area has seen a maximum of 5 drake Garganey along with 3 Egyptian Geese, 7 Spoonbill, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Hobby, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Bearded Tit, 3 Little Gull and stunning warbler number with 47 Reed Warbler, 20 Cetti’s Warbler, 11 Sedge Warbler, 6 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Willow Warbler. At Upton CP 22+ Whimbrel were dotted around and a handful of Swift were noted. The Sandwich Terns on Brownsea have now started nest building on the breeding islands so make sure you watch the Brownsea webcam for all the drama (http://www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/brownsea-webcam). At Lytchett Bay 1 Whinchat, 4 Wheatear, Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit and Lapwing are all still prominent as are a few Gadwall and good numbers of Shelduck. Also noted at Lytchett Bay was a real mega in the shape of a Coot, which was then seen feeding two young! At Holes Bay 1 Wheatear and 5 Whimbrel. A Nightingale was in song very briefly on Stoborough heath. Hobby were also noted over Soldiers Road and Hartland Moor. Off Branksome Chine 4 Great Northern Diver were still around, also several Gannet, 4 Fulmar, 3 Auk sp and 30+ Common Tern. There was a big arrival of Swift over the bank holiday weekend and other common migrants continued to arrive in small numbers such as Wheatear, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat and hirundines.