More spring migrants are beginning to turn up with single Reed Warbler singing at both Swineham, River Frome and Lytchett Fields (whimbrel field). Also in Lytchett Bay was 1 Green Sandpiper in Pools Field. Plenty of migrant Osprey activity still throughout the harbour with two in the Middlebere Channel including ‘Beaky’ giving stunning views while catching another enormous sea bass. Another unringed Osprey was still in Morden Bog as well. 1 Spotted Redshank in the Middlebere Channel is starting to come into it’s summer plumage and the Forster’s Tern was still showing well on Shipstal Point.

Migrant Osprey ‘Beaky’ carrying off large sea bass – Middlebere Channel – Aidan Brown

A thoroughly enjoyable boat in the sunshine this morning despite the strong winds, the highlights being 3 Marsh Harrier, 4 Great Northern Diver, 2 Spoonbill, 2 Common Tern, 2 Swallow and a single Little Gull amongst Black-headed Gulls as they flew rapidly past in the central harbour. The Forster’s Tern managed to evade us but was seen by others on the Brownsea Lagoon, and later in the Middlebere Channel, where 2 Osprey were also present with fish this morning. Two firsts for the year were also recorded elsewhere: a female Whinchat at Sunnyside Farm, and a Reed Warbler at Swineham, plus a dark-phase Arctic Skua was on the water off Branksome Chine

Summer plumage Black-tailed Godwits – Brownsea Lagoon, Spring Safari Cruise – Alison Copland

Another day with bracing winds! The highlight of today’s sightings was the Forster’s Tern switching up it’s routine and heading into Holes Bay NE late this morning. 1 Osprey was reported over Shipstal Point this morning, and another unringed female was feeding at Morden Bog. 2 Whimbrel were also seen at Shipstal (RSPB Arne). Swallows were active through Upton Country Park and over Swineham, where there was also 1 Marsh Harrier reported. 1 Tree Pipit was heard at Lytchett Bay.

Osprey – Morden Bog – Gerry Shilham

Despite the strong breeze, there was some definite movement today with an intermittent trickle of Swallow and Sand Martin arriving in all day across the entire harbour. This afternoon off Middle Beach, Studland House Martin, Swallow and Sand Martin all arrived in off the sea as did small numbers of Meadow Pipit. There was also still a full summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe in Studland Bay and a 1st winter Kittiwake was off South Beach with 1 Great Northern Diver. There were also 3 Great Northern Diver sheltering in Shell Bay this afternoon and 2 Willow Warbler in the Shell Bay car park. The Forster’s Tern showing well off Shipstal Beach this morning and was seen well from this mornings cruise. There were 4 Marsh Harrier at Swineham, the Brownsea Lagoon held 1 Spoonbill, 11 Sanderling, 9 Avocet, c300 Black-tailed Godwit, c20 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Wigeon, 1 Greenshank, c20 Sandwich Tern and later this afternoon the lagoons first Common Tern of the year arrived. Female Osprey ‘Beaky’ was on the Middlebere nest platform for a few hours this morning but then seemed to catch a thermal during late morning and proceeded to leave. At Lytchett Fields there were 2 Spotted Redshank and 2 Wheatear, with another 2 Wheatear at Greenlands Farm.

Sandwich Tern arrival – Brownsea Lagoon – Clive Hargrave

Not many new arrivals today, ‘just’ the Forster’s Tern off Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne which then later deployed to the Brownsea Lagoon, 2 Spotted Redshank and 4 Greenshank were on Lytchett Fields, the female Osprey was in Middlebere and another was at Morden Bog where the Great Grey Shrike was also still present. There was a Willow Warbler in the PCW Drain and around Upton CP (and many other woodland sites) Blackcap song is now starting to build and ‘wind up’. A handful of Swallow and Sand Martin were over Lytchett Fields and Swineham GP. There was a Great Northern Diver off Shell Bay Beach, Studland and a single Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon.

Forster’s Tern – Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne – Aspen Silvaana

Another breezy day. In fact the breeze looks like its here to stay for a while, so don’t put your winter coats away just yet. Not a huge amount reported today, but Ospreys were well represented with male 022 seen on a different harbour nest platform near RSPB Arne with an un-ringed female. This is likely to be the female that landed on his nest last week, and shows she’s keen to stay in the area…..we just need male 374 to turn up! Female ‘Beaky’ was again on the Middlebere nest platform again all morning, an un-ringed Osprey was in the dead trees at Morden Bog this evening and late this afternoon a mystery Osprey briefly visited CJ7’s and 022’s nest site. In the Frome valley, up near Holmebridge there were 17 Cattle Egret, 1 male Mandarin Duck and 618 Black-tailed Godwit feeding on the floods. In Lytchett Way, Upton the Lesser Redpoll was in Alders again, the seasons first Whimbrel was on Patchin’s Point, on RSPB Arne and a full summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe was off Middle Beach, Studland Bay. There was also another season first with a Hobby over Slepe Heath and a Spotted Redshank was on Lytchett Fields. Finally, we’re not sure what time but apparently the Forster’s Tern was seen again off Shipstal Beach.

Male Osprey 022 on a harbour nest platform near RSPB Arne with un-ringed female early this AM

It was tale of two halves today, with glorious sunshine and some actual warmth during this morning, which then descended into something more familiar by the end of the day as wind a rain rolled on in. Thankfully our Spring Safari was during the sun and warmth and returned a good selection of birds including newly arrived White-tailed Eagle G644 in the Wareham Channel which highlighted perfectly that it was less than 1-years old as it failed spectacularly to land in a pine tree, falling through several branches before sorting her self out and finding a comfortable place to sit along the RSPB Arne shoreline. The Marsh Harrier’s were in fine voice, displaying and courting high above Swineham, demonstrating their spectacular Skydancing skills to the awe-inspired crowd. We also had the first 2 migrant Tree Pipit of the season fly past over Swineham and there were 2 House Martin over Swineham GP. There were still 3 Great Northern Diver on show stunning summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwits continued to move up the Frome Valley, over the boat. Elsewhere there were 2 Osprey over Middlebere, both with fish, and one of which was ‘Beaky’ as she soon settled on the Middlebere nest platform. There was another Osprey at Morden Bog in the dead trees south of the pond, eating a fish. Another White-tailed Eagle flew in over Holes Bay this afternoon and then headed over Upton, this time it was an adult, and was likly our resident female G466 returning from the Isle of Wight having been on a day trip there yesterday. The Forster’s Tern was off Shipstal Beach this morning for about 30 minutes but couldn’t be relocated sadly later in the day.

Female Osprey ‘Beaky’ looking like how we all felt by the end of the day!

The start of the month got off to a flyer (literally) when a White Stork was found and tracked south over the Piddle Valley by Mark and Mo Constantine, only then for it to appear a few minutes later over Nick Hopper in Stoborough who also watched it move south. It later sounded like it must have then tracked east, as it (or another) was then seen over Christchurch Harbour about an hour later. The Forster’s Tern was once again off Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne moving between Middlebere and Shipstal. A new White-tailed Eagle appeared today, this time a 2023 IOW female translocated chick, G644 (as apposed to G466 our resident female). Most amazingly, after she was first spotted in the Wareham Channel she was then found and photographed on Pergins Island in Holes Bay north, giving anyone driving down the Holes Bay dual carriage way a potential shock, should they have looked over in that direction. On Lytchett Fields there were 2 Spotted Redshank and 4 Greenshank. On the move this morning a House Martin and 2 Swallow were over the Piddle Valley along with 2 Red Kite. The Little Gull was still on the floods just north of Swineham GP, a Swallow went through Sunnyside and un-ringed female Osprey ‘Beaky’ was on the Middlebere platform for most of the day.

White Stork – Stoborough – Nick Hopper

White-tailed Eagle – Pergins Island, Holes Bay – Rene Goad

Red Kite – Osprey nest platform – Private Site