With the summer solstice only a couple of days away and day lengths beginning to shorten as of Wednesday it seemed fitting that the first autumn migrant of the season was logged today in the shape of the first Green Sandpiper arriving back at Lytchett Fields. This is a typical (if not slightly late) date for the first ‘Green Sands’ to appear. However, what was a bit more unusual were 2 Common Sandpiper, also at Lytchett Fields. The first ‘Common Sands’ often don’t tend to start heading south and arriving into the harbour until mid-July so it could be that todays were failed breeders. At Bog Lane a male Cuckoo was on the valley edge and a Spotted Flycatcher was also there. It’s been confirmed that Corfe Peregrines have fledged 1 chick which by the looks of things has recently departed the nest, although still hanging out around Corfe Castle. Another sign that some birds are moving were a small party of Crossbill over Rempstone heading south. These are likly to be local breeders, but in June and July, Crossbill start moving having finished their breeding season several weeks ago and are now in search of new feeding grounds.

Spotted Flycatcher – Bog Lane – Garry Hayman

Great Tit (juvenile) – Middlebere – Mark Wright

A perfect evening for our latest Puffin Cruise last night. Conveniently, a Puffin was sat on the water close to Durlston Head meaning we didn’t have to trek all the way to Dancing Ledge. This meant we got to spend more time at the Guillemot and Razorbill colony at Durlston where there was also Gannet flying close to the boat and several Fulmar were hiding away, nesting on the cliffs. There was also a Peregrine high on the ledge at Ballard.

Gannet – Durlston Head – Mark Wright (Twitter – @markwright12002)

Puffin – Close to Durlston Head – Mark Wright (Twitter – @markwright12002)

A stunning evening to be out last night running our Slepe Heath Nightjar walk which featured star appearances from White-tailed Eagle, Marsh Harrier, Dartford and Willow Warblers, 2 Cuckoo, 3 Glowworm and incredible Nightjar activity! We still have availability on our Nightjar walks running every Thursday evening through June & July… Find out how to join us here. More Nightjar activity continued into this morning when a male flew across the footpath before landing on a dead gorse branch at Lytchett Heath. Lytchett Bay also logged its first juvenile Lapwing of the year on the Fields this morning.

Nightjar (male) – Slepe Heath Nightjar Experience Walk

 

Nightjar (male) – Lytchett Heath – Ian Ballam

Another very warm day, with the sightings highlight being a Honey Buzzard reported over Rempstone Heath this afternoon. At Lytchett Fields this morning, 1 Hobby, 1 Peregrine and 1 Cuckoo were seen. Having evaded us on most boat trips this month, White-tailed Eagle G801 was seen flying low over the Wareham Channel from Keysworth to Arne shortly before midday.

If you want to make the most of the muggy weather, we are running a Nightjar Walk at Slepe Heath from 8pm this evening, which still has some availability. Tickets can be booked here.

Mediterranean Gull (taken 14th June) – Hamworthy – Ian Julian

Another stunner today, with the heat seeing female Osprey CJ7 sheltering her two chicks from the heat for most of the day, providing an essential Osprey shaped area of shade within the nest. The chicks are growing so fast and are now easily visible on the NEST CAM, especially when a food delivery is made. A Summer Safari Cruise headed out this morning and were treated to multiple Marsh Harrier sightings with the regular 2-3 mooching around the Swineham Point area. Up to 5 Bearded Tit were seen flying around the reed beds in the mouth of the Frome and both Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting were the most notably audible bird species singing. The Brownsea Lagoon had a combined total of 37 Shelduck ducklings, shared between 3 pairs. Also on the Lagoon were newly hatched Oystercatcher including a slightly older chick on the Seymers shoreline on the Brownsea North shore. The Dorset Wildlife Trust counted 135 Sandwich Tern chicks on the breeding islands which is an excellent total compared to last year.

Sandwich Tern colony – Brownsea Lagoon – Nicki Tutton

We apologise for the late post of yesterdays sightings, but we went on a day trip to the amazing Dyfi and Glaslyn Osprey Projects to get a feel for how other Osprey projects interpret and educate folk on Ospreys (and other birds of prey) conservation. Firstly, if you’ve never visited please do. Both set ups provide incredible views of nesting Osprey and the landscape and scenery are breathtaking. It’s certainly given us a few ideas on what things could look like here in the harbour over the next few years.

Regarding sightings, our Puffin Cruise on Monday evening produced a minimum of 4-5 Puffin off Dancing Ledge, a decent movement of Guillemot and Razorbill back and fourth off the cliffs at Durlston and Dancing Ledge, several Fulmar and only 1 Gannet. The simultaneous sunset and moonrise was amazing too, finishing off what was a perfect mid-June boat tour. A Honey Buzzard was seen just outside the recording area over Church Knowle and the over-summering drake Wigeon was still on the Upton CP shoreline. Also, great work to Upton County Park for their new Bird Screen/Hide which has now finished being installed. The park has missed having a hide for years so it’s great to now have one back at a site that sees so many families and visitors visit each year.

Common Guillemot – Durlston Head – Clare Slade

Puffin – Dancing Ledge – Clare Slade

Puffin – Dancing Ledge – Clare Slade

Sunset over Old Harry

Moonrise over Poole Bay

The new Upton CP ‘Lookout’ – Shaun Robson

The new Upton CP ‘Lookout’ – Shaun Robson

Very few sightings to report today, though hopefully our Puffin and Seabird Cruise this evening will be fruitful! 1 Spoonbill was reported in the Middlebere Channel again today, viewable from Coombe Heath. 1 Hobby was seen flying amongst a group of House Martin in the Piddle Valley this afternoon. The 2 Osprey chicks are growing rapidly, showing much more strength and even displaying their rudimentary “wings” to the camera today. The size difference between the two is noticeable, particularly as the older chick has progressed further with moulting their downy-feathers making it appear darker, which will be matched by the other in the next few days.

If all the current Osprey excitement wasn’t enough, we’re also hosting a talk with expert Alan Poole this Thursday 16th evening, “Ospreys: Revival of a Global Raptor”. The talk is free to watch, though donations are welcomed, but booking is essential and can be completed through our website here.

CJ7 (left) and 022 with both chicks

Cuckoo – Middlebere yesterday evening – @birderOtbt

A decent day, with more sightings logged today than in previous days. This morning male Osprey 022 was seen hunting in the Wareham Channel at 6am, and then again later in the afternoon. Sadly he didn’t appear during our first ‘Summer Safari’ boat tour this morning but we did get lots of decent views of the local Marsh Harriers, as well as 2 of the Common Seal that reside in the mouth of the River Piddle. At Swineham a few Bearded Tit were in the reedbeds off Swineham Point and there were multiple Reed Bunting on territory along the river, most in full song. A Red Kite drifted west over Keysworth and there were 2 Spoonbill in Middlebere. As the tide dropped up to c40 Shelduck were feeding on the mud in the Wareham Channel and a Green Sandpiper was in front of the Middlebere hide. At Lytchett Fields there were 3 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Ringed Plover with an increase in Lapwing with 9 now present and up to 23 Gadwall with another 18 on the Brownsea Lagoon. A drone filming Power Boats leaving Poole Quay annoyed the local Oystercatchers with 4 attacking it over the Quay Marina and a new nesting Oystercatcher was found as we passed one of the large barges moored off Hamworthy Beach, with an adult settled on 2 eggs on some old concrete! Last night a Tawny Owl visited the Osprey nest, looking quite interested in CJ7. Luckily she didn’t flush and the chicks remained safe. The 2 juv Peregrines were still looking content on the Barclays building.

Oystercatcher on Hamworthy barge – Clare Slade

Tawny Owl visits Osprey nest  last night

This wind is due to die down over the coming days and next week is looking like it could be the first ‘scorcher’ of the year with temperatures reaching 27 degrees. This will be a great Nightjar week as the warm muggy nights will get lots of insects active and really see Nightjar activity increase with intense territorial displays. In Middlebere 3 of the over-summering Spoonbill were feeding in front of the hide and 2 Hobby were over Slepe Heath again. There was Cuckoo calling at Swineham and plenty of Reed Warbler still singing away. We’ve also been getting some nice data regarding an area in teh harbour that has seen the hatching of 7 Lapwing chicks this spring which are all progressing well.

Lapwing chick – Poole Harbour south