A gorgeous sunny day has heard reports of a Hoopoe around the Oakdale area, but no confirmed sightings yet. Brownsea Lagoon has stable numbers of Sandwich Tern with c154 seen and Common Tern with c127 seen over on the islands with 48 Oystercatcher, some of which were showing signs of nesting on the islands. c168 Black-headed Gull have 7 chicks hatched between them so far. c132 Shelduck have been joined by 32 Godwit Sp. seen at a distance, 1 Avocet, 2 Spoonbill, 2 knot and 3 Dunlin. Lytchett Fields have also seen 5 Ringed Plover and 2 Dunlin.

Today we gave the harbour some good coverage by taking a survey boat up and down and across the harbour. There were still signs of passage with some respectable numbers of waders on the lagoon including 7 Knot, 21 Bar-tailed Godwit, 43 Black-tailed Godwit, 27 Dunlin, 1 Grey Plover and 1 Turnstone. Birds now settled on the lagoon included 2 Spoonbill, 7 Avocet, c150 Common Tern, c200 Sandwich Tern and up to 3 pairs of Oystercatcher seemed to be nesting along the Seymers shoreline. On the southern shores a lone Barnacle Goose was in the Rempstone Fields and up at Swineham a male and female Cuckoo were plotting against the local Reed Warblers of which 29 were present along with 9 Sedge Warbler, 4 Reed Bunting, c40 Swift, c50 Swallow, c30 House Martin and a pair of Bearded Tit. On the edge of the Wareham Channel an amazing count of 110 Mute Swan were gathered, all assumed to be 1-2 year old non-breeding birds. We see this happen each summer but believe it to be our highest count in recent years but there were 219 on the 16th August 1999. At Lytchett Fields there was s ingle Grey Plover in the bay with the rising tide.

As we’ve spoken about many times before, we’re really keen on learning about which birds are migrating or moving about out and around the harbour at night. Last night, just north of the harbour we recorded this Nightjar over the rural village of Lytchett Matravers. Now it’s not unusual to hear these calls at night, as after all, Nightjar are nocturnal. However, hearing these calls away from the heathlands is quite rare so this particular bird could either be a migrant passing through the area, or a foraging individual moving off from the heath to feed before making it’s way back again.

Nightjar – Call of migrant/foraging bird – Lytchett Matravers – 20/05/19 @ 01:05

Cuckoo – Swineham – Keith Rawling

Yellowhammer – Challow Hill, Corfe – Keith Rawling

A reasonably dry morning has been followed by heavy downpours this afternoon putting a stop to the busy nesting activity seen by the terns over at Brownsea Lagoon today, with continued high numbers of c188 Sandwich Tern and c104 Common Tern but still no chicks to be seen. High numbers of Oystercatcher and Shelduck, 59 and c50 respectively, are also present, along with 2 Knot, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, c18 Bar-tailed Godwit, 14 Dunlin, 7 Gadwall and the resident 6 Avocet and 2 Spoonbill were also seen.

At Middlebere 2 Egyptian Geese were caught on camera commandeering the Osprey nest and a Cuckoo was also seen. 5 Swift and 5 House Martin were reported over Poole and Parkstone with 5 Tufted Duck also spotted in Poole Park. 1 Greenshank, 2 Ringed Plover, 5 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Oystercatcher and a juvenile Pied Wagtail seen at Lytchett Bay.

Up on Hartland 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whinchat and Hobby were near Scotland Farm. Around Slepe  Heath at dawn 4 Cuckoo were calling and an Osprey and 3 Hobby were over the Wareham Channel mid-afternoon. At Lytchett Fields mid-afternoon a Cuckoo was dropping into the reedbed between the fields and Holton Pools and on the fields were 2 Little Ringed Plover, 9 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Med Gull. There have been loads of newly fledged Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit and Great Tit at numerous sites, giving mid-May a very autumn feel as the zee zee zee their way through the hedgerows. We also recently found a juvenile Tawny Owl in woods just outside Wareham, drawn to it by it’s distinctive contact call.

 Tawny Owl Juv’s – Wareham – 17/05/19 @ 01:42

 Little ringed Plover – Lytchett Fields

It has been busy today in the harbour with South East to South Westerly winds and mild temperatures. Brownsea Lagoon provided a haven for c40 Dunlin, c16 Knot, 1 Sanderling, 2 Gadwall, 8 Ringed Plover, c16 Black-tailed Godwit, 21 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Redshank, 2 Avocet and 2 Spoonbill, along with the usual high numbers of Terns with c75 pairs of Common Tern and c170 pairs of Sandwich Tern sitting on eggs.

There have been plentiful Cuckoo sightings around the Harbour including 1 at Lytchett Fields, 2 at Hartland Moor, 1 at Swineham and 2 at Arne. Here at the HQ and along the Quay the highlights have been Swift, Pied Wagtail c5 Sandwich Tern, 2 Common Tern and an Oystercatcher.  

Lytchett Bay hosted 14 Ringed Plover, 2 Grey Plover (1 still in winter plumage and one in summer plumage), a Common Sandpiper, 7 Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover and a Red Kite drifting NE. Another Red Kite was also spotted over Upton Heath.

 Grey Plover – Spring migrant at Lytchett Fields

A change in wind direction to a Northerly has seen some still calm conditions with a drizzly end to the afternoon. This hasn’t deterred the birds at Brownsea Lagoon with the terns still busy breeding over on the islands; c142 Common Tern and c154 nesting Sandwich Tern along with 2 Spoonbill. The second batch of Black-headed Gull chicks have also hatched. The nesting Mediterranean Gull was spending a lot of time off her nest today and an additional 1^st summer plumage individual was also seen.

At Baiter Park, 15 Oystercatcher and 5 Turnstone were seen and Holten Lee webcam has caught a Great spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Nuthatch, Coal Tit and Great Tit. Over at Lytchett Bay there were 2 Grey Plover (1 in summer plumage and 1 in winter plumage), a Red Kite flying over Lytchett Fields and a Common Sandpiper.

Sadly, the Bee-eaters didn’t visit us in the harbour as they moved on with their migration, hopefully it won’t be long before they visit us again.

Easterly winds have continued today with some Northerly gusts creeping with a high of 15°C. Brownsea Lagoon is seeing high numbers of Shelduck and Oystercatcher with c100 and c80 respectively. These have been joined by numerous other waders including c40 Black-tailed Godwit, c25 Dunlin, 2 Gadwall, 2 Greenshank and the resident 2 Spoonbill and 5 Avocet. Over on the Tern breeding colony we are still seeing high numbers of Common Tern and Sandwich Tern building nests and incubating eggs, but no chicks yet for a few weeks yet.

Lytchett Bay accommodated 15 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ringed Plover and a Redshank and Baiter Park saw Little Egret, Common Tern and Sandwich Tern, Turnstone, Oystercatcher, Mediterranean Gull and notably a Garden Warbler! A Common Crane few over Middlebere, coming in from the NW and heading South over to the Purbecks. 2 Red kite were spotted at Wareham Forest.

With 7 Bee-eater turning up at Durlston today, it finally looks as if the easterly promise is delivering some goods! Although vey rare in the harbour, they have occurred with 6 near Brands Bay in 1988, 1 on Ballard in 1998 and 3 over a Broadstone garden in 2009, so its about time we’re due for some more…or at least another!

Despite the lack of Bee-eaters, it was another busy, beautiful sunny day for birdlife in the harbour today with the first Black-headed Gull chicks hatching over on Brownsea Island. With c100 adults seen today it looks like there will be plenty more chicks joining them soon. In amongst these are c75 pairs of Sandwich Terns and c100 pairs of Common terns, most of which are eagerly incubating eggs, along with 1 nesting Mediterranean Gull. 2 Spoonbill and 2 Avocet are also present. Several Swift have been seen today with c5 spotted in Poole Town and 1 in Lychett Bay. A Sparrowhawk was seen chasing 2 Long-tailed Tits at Lytchett Bay whilst Holten Lee saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker.  Dartford Warbler were preening along with Siskin, Linnet, Green Woodpecker, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Buzzard, Little Egret and Heron were seen at Coombe Heath with the backing vocals of a Chiffchaff. At Lytchett Fields late this evening 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank and 4 Teal were on the fields. Nightjar were a bit more vocal on the local heaths with 2 heard on Slepe Heath, 2 at Arne and 1 near Middlebere. On Stoborough Heath there were singing Woodlark and Skylark, 4 Willow Warbler, 1 Cuckoo and juveniles of Siskin, Stonechat and Meadow Pipit logged.

A warm day with a high of 19°C saw some strong South Easterly gusts bringing in a variety of species into the Harbour. An Osprey was seen fishing at 08.45 at Middlebere Channel and later on possibly 2 different individuals were seen fishing over the Wareham Channel.  Brownsea Lagoon is still hosting a variety of nesting Terns and Gulls with c100 pairs of Sandwich Tern, c75pairs of Common Tern, c100 Black-headed Gull and a pair of Mediterranean Gull. c50 Shelduck have been joined by a Grey Plover in stunning summer plumage, c10 Oystercatcher and 2 Greylag Geese. 3 Sandwich Tern and 14 Common Tern were seen leaving the harbour mouth. Holes Bay didn’t disappoint, with a Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Ringed Plover, a Black-tailed Godwit, a Curlew, a Redshank and an Oystercatcher. The tunes of Reed Warbler, Cetti’s Warbler, Whitethroat and Chiffchaff were heard along the Holes Bay shoreline. Along the Wareham 2 rivers walk a Marsh Harrier and 2 Hobby were spotted flying high and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 Egyptian Geese, Swift, Sand Martin, Cetti’s Warbler, Reed Warbler and Reed Bunting were seen on and over the River Piddle mud Banks.

Things are hotting up now, and mid week is supposed to reach peak warmth! Combined with an easterly air flow we could be treated to a bit of eastern promise. A Bee-eater or the odd Golden Oriole wouldn’t go a miss?

Well, today we needed to make do with an epic Hobby chase over Swineham which saw 3 Hobby hunt as a pack to try and take down a single Swift…something we’d never experienced before. The Swift got away but the chase lasted for a good minute or two…truly breathe taking. There was a big gathering of Swift right across the sky from Wareham to Swineham with plenty more on the coast too. On top of Hartland a Lesser Whitethroat was singing and a Red Kite drifted over Sunnyside. At Lytchett Fields there were 3 Ringed Plover, 9 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Greenshank with a single Hobby over Holton Lee. Good old Osprey CJ7 was seen again briefly at dawn on the Middlebere platform at dawn. Strangely a Barnacle Goose appeared at Bestwall with 2 Egyptian Geese and late news from yesterday saw a male and female Garganey at Swineham GP. A group of 3 Spoonbill commuted between Middlebere and Brownsea and on the lagoon 4 Knot, 1 Turnstone, 9 Avocet, 91 Dunlin, 34 Black-tailed Godwit, 24 Bar-tailed Godwit and 178+ sitting Sandwich Tern were logged yesterday.

Gentle easterlies breeze today, hoping for some interesting species to be brought in. Here in the HQ we had views of 8 Swallows passing over and c10 Sandwich Terns foraging in the harbour. Other than the usual wildfowl, Poole Park had some interesting birds including singing Whitethroat and Reed Warbler. Brownsea lagoon was quiet in the morning visited by more waders in the afternoon; 4 Knot, 74 Dunlin, c16 Black-tailed Godwit, c12 Bar-tailed Godwit, as well as 2 Spoonbill, 200+ Sandwich Tern, 100+ Common Tern. Rockley had views of Peregrine Falcon, Buzzard, Dartford Warbler, Little Egret and Shelduck. Lytchett Fields hosted 18 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin and an Oystercatcher this morning. In Osprey news, we had a blue ringed Osprey checking in to some of our nests including the Middlebere nest – potentially CJ7 visiting again! 

Blue -ringed Osprey on the Middlebere platform this AM – CJ7 again?