What a beaut of a day. Lots more of these please! The warmth has really triggered some breeding activity as well as the emergence of numerous insect species. Red Admiral and a Comma Butterfly were on the wing, ponds and ditches are already bustling with Common Frog and Common Toad wrestling for females and soon to be laying spawn. Crocus’s, Daffodils and Snowdrops are all in flower and bird song is ringing in the air. There has already been multiple courtship displays logged with Sparrowhawk and Goshawk now in full display mode, Common Buzzard were also out in force today and the Poole Peregrines have been busy dropping down to the nest ledge on the (ex) Barclays building, attending to their nest and no doubt prepping for another busy summer of parenthood. Although White-tailed Eagles have been ‘around’ in recent weeks, they’ve not been spending long periods of time in the harbour, however today 3 were very active around the Wareham Channel and Lytchett Bay area. In Middlebere this afternoon 2 Hen Harrier were buzzing about. At Norden Sewage Works there was a minimum of 10 Common Chiffchaff and 3 Firecrest. Off Middle Beach a Slavonian Grebe and a Great Northern Diver were seen and at Lytchett Fields there were 2 Water Pipit and 1 Spotted Redshank. At Hatch Pond the female Bearded Tit was seen again.

Ringtail Hen Harrier – Middlebere – Rob Morrison