Another excellent school bird boat round the harbour this morning with some very good species to show the kids. The first passage Red-throated Diver of the season was in the Wareham Channel and all the children got their binoculars on it with encouraging levels of enthusiasm! An Osprey also flew over the boat along the Arne shoreline, unfortunately it was while the kids were eating their snacks downstairs! Luckily good views of at least 2 Marsh Harrier around Swineham made up for this. On the Brownsea Lagoon the Spoonbill gave great views with 74 being present along with c150 Avocet, 10+ Grey Plover and c200 Oystercatcher. From Poole Quay 2 Ringed Plover were on the rocks and a Peregrine flew over the town.

Elsewhere in the harbour at Lytchett Fields there were 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank and 3 Greenshank. The 1 Red-breasted Merganser was still in Brands Bay along with 1 juvenile Osprey, 1 Peregrine, 5 Pintail, 1 Avocet, 6 Grey Plover, 2 Sanderling, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Red Knot and 1 Greenshank. In Holes Bay 1 Spoonbill and 1 Cattle Egret were present NW first thing, but they soon departed and a Peregrine was seen hunting in the area. A Ruff was on the scrapes at Swineham and the Forster’s Tern is still around, showing well at Shipstal from RSPB Arne.

One of two Sanderling – Brands Bay – @HargraveClive on Twitter