Still not feeling very spring like in the country at the moment hence the lack of sightings, especially spring migrants but a few reports dripped in over the last 3 days, starting with….
Monday 18th, where the wind dropped but there was still a chill to the air. The biggest surprise was when a local bird sound recorder recorded a Tree Pipit migrating over Stoborough during the night, which is the second earliest British return date. Also recorded was a Woodcock and a few Redwing. At Brands Bay a Great Northern Diver, 8 Pintail, 18 Grey Plover, 119 Black-tailed Godwit, 36 Knot and 7 Turnstone, and at Middle Beach 1 Slavonian Grebe, 10 Black-necked Grebe and 5 Great Crested Grebe.
Tuesday 19th saw a slight frost first thing with a low blanket of fog making for uncomfortable bird watching conditions. The Hoopoe re-appeared over near Turlin Moor. Lytchett Bay waders included 40+ Black-tailed Godwit, 22 Redshank, 50+ Curlew, 40 Brent Geese also a Brambling, 2 Spoonbill and 4 Gadwall. There was an impressive 28 Red-breasted Merganser in Parkstone Bay and at least 15 Meadow Pipit out on Baiter fields.
Wednesday 20th was again a cold start but grew into a warm sunny spring like day… for a while. Black-tailed Godwit numbers are on the increase all around the harbour with an impressive flock of 500+ in Holes Bay with a Common Sandpiper at the mouth of the PC World drain. Lytchett Bay saw 5 Spoonbill, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Jack Snipe, 2 Greenshank, 70+ Curlew, 30 Brent Geese and 4 Gadwall. Also there 4 unidentified ‘grey geese’ flew over slough lane.
I was also kindly sent photos of a colour ringed Sanderling by Robert Walker who photographed the bird at Shore Road, Sandbanks on the 13/03/2013. The bird was originally ringed in Griend Bay, Netherlands on the 18/08/2012
What started off as a promising day, with overcast sky’s and an easterly air flow, soon descended into…
Find out moreDespite the rain, which ended up lasting aaaallllllll day, there was still plenty of great birding top be…
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