This morning we hosted our dawn chorus walk at Challow Hill, Corfe. Although a bit cold to begin with, as soon as the sun peaked above the crest of the hill we were treated to a perfect early May day. On the edge of Challow Hill, 8 Common Whitethroat, c10 Yellowhammer, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Stonechat, 1 Dartford Warbler and c5 Linnet were logged and on top of the hill several Skylark were in full song and a Cuckoo flew along the ridge. Elsewhere around the harbour, over Slepe heath/Arne Moors 6 Hobby were actively feeding together, a Red Kite over Ridge, a Marsh Harrier was in the Wareham Channel and an Osprey was in Middlebere. On Slepe Heath there was a single Tree Pipit, several Dartford Warbler and We also found a singing male Common Redstart on the eastern edge of Hartland Moor which gave us a good opportunity to sound record its song. Common Redstart are excellent mimics and we’ve cut some sections of this birds song allowing you to hear the its amazing mimicry. Each strophe starts the same with a single call, then four ‘buzzier’ calls then the final section is the imitation, apart from the final example we’ve provided where the bird gives up totally on its own song and completely steals another’s! 

Common Redstart mimicking Green Sandpiper – East Hartland – 05/05/18

Common Redstart mimicking Chaffinch – East Hartland – 05/05/18

 Common Redstart mimicking Siskin – East Hartland – 05/05/18

Common Redstart mimicking Blackbird – East Hartland – 05/05/18

Dawn Chorus Walk – Challow Hill – Barbara Bisset