It was good to hear that Tree Pipit were heard at Hartland today, meaning more spring migrants are making their way through with several Swallow and Willow Warbler along Soldiers Road as Dartford Warbler and Stonechat became active in the mid afternoon sun. Out in the Wareham Channel the ringtail Hen Harrier was still active and a big female Peregrine was present too. Out on the Swineham/Frome Flood a single Little Ringed Plover was feeding on the mud with 2 Swallow over the main pit, 1 Willow Warbler, 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and  plenty of Cetti’s Warbler around the Swineham area. At Challow Hill it was much of the same with several Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Blackcap, 1 Swallow, 3 Yellowhammer, Stonechat and Meadow Pipit. At Lytchett Fields the Green-winged Teal was still on Sherford Pools with Blackcap and Willow Warbler also singing around the site. 

Little Ringed Plover – Swineham Flood – Trevor Warrick

There was a good arrival of common migrants into the county today, although most seemed to avoid the harbour, the great Grey Shrike on Hartland and the Green-winged Teal (now displaying) at Lytchett Fields were the main highlights for a tepid Friday. In the Wareham Channel a Hen Harrier was still lingering but Marsh Harriers remain sparse with little or no sign of courtship being carried out yet. The freakishly White Stork looking albino Black-tailed Godwit was in Lytchett Bay today with up to 104 ‘standard’ Black-tailed Godwit now using the fields. At Arne an Osprey flew over, a Firecrest was in the car park and just 1 Spoonbill was on Shipstal. 

White Stork ‘Wanna be’ Black-tailed Godwit – Lytchett Bay – Shaun Robson