Another stunning day in the harbour and some fantastic news with the arrival of 2021 translocated male Osprey ‘374’ into the harbour today! He was first seen giving a close flyby from our Spring Safari Cruise in the Wareham Channel this morning. This is 12 days earlier than he arrived last year (17th April 2024). This is really exciting news and hopefully he’ll go on to pair up with a female on a nest platform (1H1?) and have a successful breeding season. Fantastic news that he’s arrived safely again! He’s already been checking out some of the other artificial nests this afternoon.

1 Osprey was also seen over Oakdale too and the unringed female was still in the Middlebere Channel. The Forster’s Tern gave close views from our boat in the Wareham Channel, although it was difficult to pin down later in the day. The Pink-footed Goose was still present at the same spot at Swineham. A total of at least 7 Little Ringed Plovers were also recorded at Swineham with 5 in the Frome Valley and 2 in the Piddle Valley, so clearly some more arrivals in recent days. 2 Ruff were also in the Lower Piddle Valley and 1 Green Sandpiper in each river valley. There were big numbers of hirundines arriving all round the harbour, of mainly Sand Martin and Swallow as well as 1 House Martin reported. More Red Kite were moving today with 3 high over Brownsea and eventually over Poole Quay as well as at least 2 more over the west of the harbour. 3 Spoonbill were still at Shipstal, Arne and 1 was feeding early morning at Swineham. 1 Spotted Redshank was still visible from the Rock Lea Viewpoint, Lytchett Bay.

Osprey 374 from our Spring Safari Cruise this morning – Wareham Channel – Harry McBride

Forster’s Tern from our Spring Safari Cruise – Wareham Channel – Harry McBride