A stunning day today which had a nice mix of winter and spring birds. 5 Black-necked Grebe in the Wareham Channel, just off gull islands was the biggest surprise, none of us from BoPH recalling seeing them this far into the harbour before, suggesting these could have been freshly arrived migrants? At Swineham there were 3 singing Sedge Warbler and 2 Reed Warbler with c15 Cetti’s Warbler and 5 Wheatear in various fields around Swineham with a female type Marsh Harrier over the point. Sandwich Terns were noted around most of the harbour with a nice gathering on the lagoon too. Peregrines were seen over the Wareham Channel and Rempstone. There were still 6 Red-breasted Merganser in central harbour and a handful of Brent Geese. Swallows went through in a light trickle. On the lagoon there were 5 Spotted Redshank (3 in full sum plum), 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Ringed Plover, several sum plum Dunlin, as well as, Bar-tailed Godwit, Greenshank Avocet and c10 Med Gulls. An Osprey was also over the Wareham Channel getting mobbed by gulls. Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal and Tufted Duck made up the duck attendance and a Lesser Redpoll flew over Holton Lee. In Lytchett Bay 2 Whimbrel were out on the mud along with c30 Black-tailed Godwit. At South Haven, Studland a Cuckoo was in the Boardwalk area. In Holes Bay there were 2 Whimbrel too. 

Black-necked Grebe’s – Wareham Channel

Common Buzzard – Holton Lee

This afternoon 2 Cattle Egret were in the Frome Valley, just west of Holmebridge. Looking at plumage, it looks as if it could be the same two that were in Lytchett Bay last week. The Lesser Yellowlegs made a rare appearance onto Lytchett Fields, having de-camped to the bay for most of its time recently, along with a single Little Ringed Plover, 3 Ringed Plover and 2 Whimbrel also on the fields. On the Brownsea Lagoon 5 Spotted Redshank including some summer plumaged individuals were in the western bays and Sandwich Tern numbers are increasing day by day.

Finally, we’ve been working with Dorset Police Marine Division to help carry out extended patrols to monitor ‘Gull Islands’ this spring. Last year, during our annual census of the islands our charity discovered a large illegal theft of gull eggs, which we believe end up on the menu’s in some of the top restaurants in the country. We’d like to say a huge thanks to Dorset Police for their support in this issue and we hope that through these increased monitoring efforts we can really put a stop to this once and for all. For the full story CLICK HERE

No rain as of yet but there were more Osprey with one over Slepe Heath first thing, carrying a fish and another seen over Arne later in the day. Also at Slepe Heath 2 Tree Pipit passed over north and a Marsh Harrier was out over the mouth of the Frome Valley with a male seen from the Coombe viewpoint too. On Lytchett Fields 2 Little Ringed Plover were on Sherford Pools. At Swineham, the springs first Sedge Warbler was along the footpath with now 2 Reed Warbler along the river path walk, also 6 Blackcap singing, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Swallow (surely more to follow soon??) and a single Siskin. At Challow Hill, it was much of the same too with Yellowhammer, Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, several Blackcap, Linnet and a couple of Dartford Warbler. At Middlebere a Marsh Harrier flew past the hide and both Black-tailed Godwit and Grey Plover were out on the mud. At South Haven, Studland a Whimbrel passed north calling and just 3 Swallow went through. There were still 4 Brent Geese in Brands Bay.

Yellowhammer – Challow Hill – Nick Mudge

Chiffchaff – Arne – Keith Rawling

Today was another scorcher of a day, well in early spring terms it was. With conditions like these many migrants will be just going ‘straight over the top’ and arriving at breeding grounds across the country in good time. What us south coast watchers really want is rain and yuk and this time of year, bring birds down to view. Although from the birds point of view, these conditions are perfect and just the great start to the breeding season they deserve having made a long and dangerous journey north. We are however still only in early April and with the rest of the month and May to go, we haven’t given up on at least a few good spring bird days occurring. Today at Lytchett Fields a few waders were dropping in with 80+ Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Dunlin along with an unseasonable Avocet and the springs first Whimbrel out in the bay as well as 3 Egyptian Geese which flew through the bay and another Osprey drifted low over Slough Lane carrying a fish. The Green-winged Teal was also still on Lytchett Fields. There was also some good coverage at Swineham where there were still 2 Little Ringed Plover on the Swineham Flood, the 1^stReed Warbler of the spring near Redcliff, 2 Swallow through, up to 16 Cetti’s Warbler along the river, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 singing Blackcap, 1 Marsh Harrier and up to 8 Chiffchaff.

Sometimes, when the weather gets this good you just need to get out and make the most of it. And although todays weather seemed more in line with getting a good tan rather than a big fall of birds occurring, a few of us from BoPH went out and spent the day trying to learn a little extra about a few lesser visited areas of the harbour as well as some of the more well know places. It’s always good to get up early and experience an early spring dawn chorus and as we arrived at Swineham Song Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler and Chiffchaff were all competing against Tawny Owl at 5:30am. In the south of the harbour near Corfe 2 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker were drumming and the rare song of Bullfinch could be heard. At Middle Beach 2 Common Scoter, a distant Gannet, 2 Ring-necked Parakeet and 4 Great Crested Grebe were noted and at South Haven Swallows were slowly trickling through in ones and twos as Turnstone, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit a Razorbill and more Great Crested Grebe were out on the water. Somewhere we spent a good half an hour was the Corfe gap, an under-watched area that can be quite good for birds migrating through the gap, rather than having to go over the top of the ridges. In the 30 minutes we were there, 2 Common Buzzard, Swallows, Sand Martin and Siskin all headed south to north over our heads through the gap as 3-4 Raven looked down at us from their thrones up on Corfe Castle. Out on the Swineham Flood 2 Little Ringed Plover were still present and Cetti’s Warbler were very vocal with up to 7 heard.  Along Soldiers Road a Red Kite drifted over and Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and Dartford Warbler were all taking advantage of the calm, still warm weather by actively displaying for most of the afternoon. Out in the Wareham Channel 40 Great Crested Grebe were in 2 flocks before 16 upped and left the channel (and possibly the harbour?) as they headed east in 2 flocks. An Osprey drifted low over Holes By with a large fish at around 8am before heading north. At Lytchett Fields the Green-winged Teal is still on the fields and at Sunnyside there was a single Green Sandpiper. Wheatears are still hugely thin on the ground with just a single out in the Lower Frome Valley.

Sadly, the lowlight of the day was seeing someone systematically walking around the gull islands in the Wareham Channel. Although we saw no evidence of egg collecting the sheer presence of humans on the islands was enough to send all the gulls into a frenzy and desert their nesting areas. However it does still beg the question, why was someone out there walking around looking at all the nest sites?

Raven – Corfe Castle

Turnstone – The Houseboats, South haven, Studland

Common Buzzard – Corfe Gap

Red Kite – Soldiers Road

Meadow Pipit – Soldiers Road

Although it was very quiet today, 3 Garganey found in the Wareham Channel was a good start to the day and a new species for the year. There was precious little else reported other than the Green-winged Teal still at Lytchett Fields.

Last year we worked with the Purbeck National Trust team to help convert two old fish traps into fully functional breeding Tern rafts. They’re currently Tern rafts, but not yet fully functional! Last year we just ‘missed the boat’ as the rafts weren’t ready in time for the 2016 Tern breeding season. However, they are now both out and in situ on Littlesea, Studland and we’re now waiting and hoping for birds to start using them this spring. Today, to aid this process we placed several decoy Common Tern out on the rafts to make it look like a colony was already underway. Whether this technique works is yet to be seen, but with the number of Mediterranean Gulls paired up on Brownsea at present it looks as if the Common Terns need to find a safe retreat as soon as possible. We kindly ask for any sightings of Terns on, over or around the rafts to be reported to us as any information on how birds are interacting with the new structures is really important. Don’t be fooled though, there is a decoy strategically placed on one of the corners, although its lack of movement should give away its lack of life! Bird wise today it was tough going with a high-pressure system with a light NW wind kept birds either high or at bay. The sun has however made the gorse smell and look incredible and also made the birds that are settled here very active indeed. Our long-staying ringtail Hen Harrier looks as is she could have waved us a fond farewell when at dawn she lifted out of the roost and headed off high north. There was also another Red Kite over Studland mid morning. Both Lesser Yellowlegs and Green-winged Teal were on Lytchett Fields with a nice addition of a White Wagtail and a Marsh Harrier. On the Brownsea Lagoon good numbers of Sandwich Tern are now settled on the breeding islands, looking hardy as they face up to the Med Gulls and there are still at least 8 Avocet on the lagoon. On the heaths Dartford Warbler, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and Linnet are busy displaying. 

Dummy Common Terns on new Tern rafts – Littlesea, Studland

As spring progresses and forms so do the songs that each species performs to help set up their territories and attract a mate. It’s a great time to listen out for unfamiliar sounds of birds by venturing out in to a mixture of habitats between sunrise and mid morning as different species start up their repertoires at different times throughout the dawn. This morning we had this Nuthatch singing beautifully out in the open from an exposed branch at the top of an old Oak Tree at Holton Lee, a sound that can be unfamiliar to many people. Sightings-wise an Osprey was seen passing over Arne with a big fish in its talons, heading towards the Wareham Channel. A male Pied Flycatcher was also reported from Arne on Coombe Heath which is a real dream find with hardly any spring records of this species in the harbour each year. At Lytchett Fields the Lesser Yellowlegs was on the fields looking impeccable in summer plumage and the Green-winged Teal was still flirting with its Eurasian counterpart and an adult male Marsh Harrier and sub-adult female were over Lytchett Heath. Willow Warbler were again singing from many woodland edges around the harbour but we’re still waiting for our first Whitethroats, Reed and Sedge Warblers. 

Nuthatch song – Holton Lee – 04/04/17 @ 10:30am

The Cattle Egret run continued with 2 found out on the salt marsh at Lytchett Bay mid afternoon, which sadly didn’t linger long as they took off and headed south over the railway bridge. Also near by on Lytchett Fields was the Lesser Yellowlegs and Green-winged Teal. Over Swineham GP late evening c280 Sand Martin were feeding with 5 Swallow in amongst them. An Osprey drifted over Arne midday. Willow Warbler were a bit more numerous around the harbour too but its still pretty quiet on the migrant front at present.

Cattle Egrets – Lytchett Bay – Shaun Robson

Some nice coverage today with a decent list of birds from around the harbour. It started at dawn where a Short-eared Owl was found hunting up on Ballard Down. Migrant wise up on Ballard it was fairly quite with a few Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Blackcap. Its great to see so many Yellowhammer about though with c10 seen. Off Middle Beach there were 3 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Common Scoter, 1 Gannet and 3 Sandwich Tern. At Challow Hill it was much of the same with Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Yellowhammer, Dartford Warbler, Linnet and a couple of Swallow through. The Swineham flood still had the Little Ringed Plover on it with another 3 on another flooded pool near by and many Cetti’s Warbler singing in the area. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen briefly in the Corfe River Valley. The Soldiers Road and Hartland area displaying Greenfinch and singing Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. At dusk an Osprey flew over South Haven, Studland whilst at the same site during the morning just Willow Warbler and Blackcap were the only new arrivals in with just a single Sanderling on Shell Beach. At Lytchett Bay the Green-winged Teal was on Sherford Pools and a Marsh Harrier passed through with ‘Storkwit’ (the albino Black-tailed Godwit) still feeding in the bay on the low tide. In Poole Harbour west the Hen Harrier was still present. 

Lesser -spotted Woodpecker – Corfe River Valley

Yellowhammer – Challow Hill

Short-eared Owl – Ballard Down

Adder – Hartland Moor