Spring migration was really well presented today with a whole suit a nice birds and totals right across the harbour. Lets start with the raptors where bird of the day was a cracking Honey Buzzard photographed over someone’s garden in Poole Town. Other migrant raptors included a passage Osprey that went north over Lytchett Bay along with a juv Marsh Harrier. There were 3 Hobby on Arne Moors, a possible Black Kite over Ridge and Red Kite were everywhere today with records from pretty much every area of the harbour including Poole Town, Lytchett Bay/Matravers, Sandford, Slepe Heath, Swineham, Upton and Studland. Passerines were well represented and it was the best push of hirundines so far this spring with a broad front of mainly Swallow passing across the harbour and to a lesser extent House Martin, Sand Martin and Swift. At Lytchett Bay 364 Swallow were logged and there were also 2 Wheatear, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Common Whitethroat, 23 Linnet, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Whimbrel and 4 Curlew. There was more lockdown ‘garden gold’ with a Great White Egret seen over Oakdale. There were 8 Swift in Wareham looking as if they were prospecting certain areas of North Street.

Things are looking promising over the coming days with settled weather and a good easterly air flow up until Sunday so we could be in for more garden fly by treats between now and then.

Honey Buzzard – Poole – Clare Slade