It was nice to be back to something more mild and dry, rather than damp and cold, and with it, lots of nice sightings from across the area. Starting chronologically, early this AM at Lytchett Fields 12 Greenshank was a season high for this year, also there were 75 Redshank, 14 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Curlew and c40 Lapwing. Also a morning watch at Brands Bay provided 84 Curlew, 5 Whimbrel, 32 Black-tailed Godwit, 61 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 23 Med Gulls and 2 Common Gull. At Middlebere 2 Spoonbill remained plus there were still 5 Spotted Redshank and a Great White Egret there. At Swineham a Marsh Harrier was seen along with 4 Bearded Tit and 3 Whimbrel. From Rock Lea View, Lytchett Bay this afternoon one of the White-tailed Eagles was seen flying, a Hobby went over and a few Whimbrel were in the Bay. Male Osprey 022 was really out and about today being seen fishing in Middlebere several times during the day, as well as from our Sunset Safari Cruise this evening where CJ7 was also seen heading back up the Piddle Valley with a fish, plus, what we think was ‘new’ female Osprey ‘1H1’ getting chased by a Peregrine over the RSPB Arne shoreline. Plus, we think she was back at the nest site again this afternoon as CJ7 and 022 defended the nest for about 45 minutes from an intruding Osprey. Also from the cruise were plenty of Common Sandpiper on the north Brownsea shoreline, c200 Black-tailed Godwit in the Wareham Channel, c80 Dunlin plus an arrival of 40+ Turnstone. On the Stilt Pools at Swineham 3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were still loafing about. Finally, our fourth and final Osprey chick ‘5H6’ (semi) fledged today, leaving the nest empty for a period of time, the first time it’s been empty since late March!! It didn’t take long for food to be delivered and there was soon a busy scene again as frantic feeding took place, but over the next few days we expect ‘5H6’ to fledge properly, and we’ll begin to see less and less of them on screen as they start taking fish to nearby trees instead of eating on the nest…..Sad times!!

Man about town – Male Osprey on parental fishing trip, Middlebere – Mark Wright

(Same) Man about town – Male Osprey on parental fishing trip, Middlebere – @twamers (Twitter)