The harbour was full of good birds today, including some new arrivals as well as few long stayers. Starting at Holton Lee where Dartford Warbler and Stonechat were very active out on the heathland whilst in the woodland a flock of 8 Lesser Redpoll were feeding high in the trees. At Swineham a male Scaup was on the gravel pits along with a newly arrived Common Tern, also 1 Pochard, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 7 Sand Martin 8 Gadwall whilst at Swineham Point 2 Marsh Harrier, 2 Bearded Tit and 3 Willow Warbler were present, and a minimum of 10 Cetti’s Warbler were vocally active in the area. At Middlebere 150+ Black-tailed Godwit were in the channel and 6 Common Buzzard were viewable from the NT Hide. Incredibly the Yellow-browed Warbler is still at Knoll Beach, Studland also out in Studland Bay 1 Great Northern Diver, 11 Sandwich Tern and 5 Bottle Nosed Dolphins. In Brands Bay the Surf Scoter was with 11 Red-breasted Merganser. Finally, can we please ask that you follow THIS LINK to Chris Packhams webpage where he invites you watch live on his YouTube channel the atrocities that are taking place down in Malta this spring. Spring Hunting in Malta is an illegal act that kills hundreds of thousands of birds each year but yet continues to be ignored by the powers that be. Chris and his team of volunteers are looking to show you first hand what is really going on down there in the hope that the world (or at least Europe) stands up and takes note.

We’re pleased to announce that today the public funded Barn Owl Webcam went live on our website. Click HERE to view the birds who are now already on 3 eggs! Although feeling very spring like there are still plenty of wintering birds around with the Surf Scoter present close in off Jerry’s Point along with 4 summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe and 15 Red-breasted Merganser. Off Middle Beach still one Great Northern Diver and 2 Eider along with 6 Sandwich Tern. At Arne there is still 20+ Spoonbill, with some in breeding plumage and venturing around most parts of the harbour…is this the year they think about staying to breed? Who knows! A handful of Willow Warbler and Blackcap are beginning to trickle through with 2 of the latter ringed in Poole yesterday morning. A ringed Blackcap was also caught which was first ringed at the same site on the 19^th of April last year again showing that some birds are following the exact same migration routes each spring. On the Brownsea Lagoon there are still at least 2 Spotted Redshank, 100+ Avocet and 7 Greenshank. Finally click HERE for a short piece of footage of one of the Little Ringed Plover at Lytchett Bay on Sunday.