We knew it would come eventually! The sun actually stayed out long enough for it to become warm today and with the total lack of wind from dawn it finally felt like spring was here. This was backed up by the fact that right across Dorset plenty of migrants turned up including Reed and Sedge Warblers, the first Common Whitethroat and Common Redstart. The harbour saw its fair share with a small arrival of Blackcap up on Ballard plus several Chiffchaff. Over Slepe Heath 6 Swallow went through and a Red Kite was seen over the north of Upton. Along Soldiers Road 2-3 Willow Warbler were singing in amongst the newly arrived Chiffchaff which now seem to be on territory. Out off South Beach, Studland 3 Common Scoter were still present. By midday the sky looking out from across Slepe Heath seemed to be filled with displaying Common Buzzard and on Ballard the pair of Peregrine were really vocal near Old Harry. At Arne 5 Brambling were still feeding outside the visitors center in the car park. On many of the heathlands around the south of the harbour including Hartland, Slepe Heath, Arne and Stoborough Heath Dartford Warbler are now very vocal and Meadow Pipit were display flying too. In Middlebere there were now 8 Spoonbill suggesting there were some new arrivals in amongst the ranks. At Lytchett Fields there were 2 Blackcap along with 3 Greenshank and 3 Green Sandpiper and in the bay were 600+ Black-tailed Godwit.

Adder – Old Harry coast path – Paul Morton

Common Chiffchaff – Ballard Down – Paul Morton