Spring certainly arrived today with the years first Wheatear which was seen running along the edge of Soldiers Road with another seen at Sunnyside Farm later in the day. Also, 5 Sand Martin were hawking over Swineham GP again. At dusk another Bittern left Swineham too making that the third to leave in just over a week. How many more will we see leave over the coming weeks? Also at Swineham was a ‘nasal-saddled’ Teal (an alternative to the ringing of a birds leg) which looks like it may have come from a Spanish project. In the Lower Frome Valley a lot of the flood plain was under water and fields around Bestwall and Redcliff held 98 Shoveler, 15 Pintail, c800 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Egyptian Geese.  At Holton Pools a Spoonbill dropped on to the new scrapes and another Spoonbill was near Swineham. At St Mary’s churchyard in Wareham 3-4 Hawfinch were in trees around the edges of the churchyard. In Upton CP 3 different Firecrest, 3 (over-wintering) Blackcap and a singing Chiffchaff were all logged.

Below is a sound recording made last spring on March 13^th 2017 at Swineham of a Bittern departing at dusk (18:45 to be exact). Within the recording you can hear the soft  ‘bark like’ call of the Bittern as it responds/interacts to the calls of a near by Grey Heron. The Bittern then promptly disappeared into the darkness having arrived in at dusk over Swineham before heading off NE.

Bittern – Call of a migrant leaving at dusk – Swineham – 13/03/17 @ 18:45

Wheatear – Soldiers Road, near Ridge – 13/03/18