Today was a pretty typical March day, with the cold and the warmth battling it out for top spot as the icy NE wind whipped across the harbour all day, as the warmth of the sun took much of the edge of the chill factor. It was once again White-tailed Eagle central in the harbour this morning with 4 individuals in the Wareham Channel, including both adults G466 and G463, plus two 2024 juveniles G639 and G633. This was particularly fitting as we hosted a Rewilding Britain boat tour this morning for partners within the Rewilding Network, and as luck would have it, 2 of the rewilded White-tailed Eagles came and flew right past us within the first 20 minutes of the trip. There were also a minimum of 3 Marsh Harrier around Swineham and 1 Red Kite went over too. There was a great count of 10 Little Ringed Plover in the lower river valleys, with 8 in the Lower Piddle Valley and 2 in the Lower Frome Valley, plus 3 Spoonbill were off Gold Point, RSPB Arne. There were still 4 Black-throated Diver off Evening Hill, Lilliput and on the Brownsea Lagoon wader numbers had dropped right off and saw only c100 Avocet, c200 Black-tailed Godwit, c10 Grey Plover and 8 Knot, however 4 Sandwich Tern were back on lagoon. A Little Ringed Plover was sound recorded last night over an Oakdale garden and there were at least c60 Fieldfare still at Sunnyside.

White-tailed Eagle fly-by of ‘Rewilding Britain’ Private charter

Spring was in full swing today with 1 Little Ringed Plover present in the field opposite Swineham Gravel Pit, as well as 20 Sand Martin over the pit itself. Off Swineham Point were 4 Ruff, 1 Greenshank and 2 Spoonbill, with 2 Marsh Harrier over the reedbeds and 1 Red Kite over Arne Moors. It was an White-tailed Eagle bonanza in the harbour today, with 4 seen on Shag Looe point in the Wareham Channel, including two in flight over Swineham, and two also reported over Creekmoor. With spring movements underway, 1 Tree Pipit was recorded headed north over Rempstone, and 1 Sand Martin over Wareham Common.

Four White-tailed Eagles(!) – Shag Looe, Wareham Channel – @kayakpoole.bsky.social

The 2025 Osprey season has officially started with the first birds back at Rutland water today! Hopefully not long until our cameras go live. Not only could we see the return of our nesting pair, but any of the young reared on the nest back in 2023 (ringed 5H3, 5H4 and 5H5), as well as prospecting male 374. Watch this space…!

The Siberian Chiffchaff was seen at Lytchett Bay View again this morning. The Long-tailed Duck was reported in Bramble Bush Bay this morning along with 5 Red-breasted Merganser. In Holes Bay, 700 Black-tailed Godwit and 50+ Pintail were reported on the high tide.

Siberian Chiffchaff – Lytchett Bay View – Ian Ballam

Spring is here! 20+ Sand Martin were reported over the Frome water meadows east of Holmebridge this afternoon. Sightings from our pop-up at Jerry’s Point this morning were fairly quiet, but the highlight was a distant Slavonian Grebe, along with counts of 210 Dunlin, 23 Redshank, 20 Curlew, 8 Turnstone and 6 Red-breasted Merganser.

Nice record from Lytchett Fields of a two Belgian-ringed Mediterranean Gulls, which have returned for a third spring. Also reported from Lytchett Fields was a probable Siberian Chiffchaff (although no vocalisations heard). There were reports of decent numbers of Fieldfare and Redwing again at Sunnyside Farm.

Probable Siberian Chiffchaff – Lytchett Fields – Shaun Robson

Belgian-ringed Mediterranean Gull – Lytchett Fields – Shaun Robson

The wind turned more northerly today bringing cold air and halting much more spring migration for the time being. 1 male Merlin was at Middlebere this afternoon and a flock of c50 Fieldfare were at Sunnyside Farm. 1 juvenile White-tailed Eagle was still in the Wareham Channel this morning and 4 were seen this evening circling over Hartland Moor. There have been lots of Red Kite sightings over the last few days all over the harbour, including Poole, Lytchett, Wareham and South of the harbour too. Let’s hope a pair or 2 decide to breed within the harbour boundary this year. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were still a number of wintering waders holding on with c50 Avocet, c50 Bar-tailed Godwit and c200 Black-tailed Godwit. The 3 Slavonian Grebe were still off Jerry’s Point today. 5 Spoonbill were feeding at the Stilt Pool at Swineham in the early evening.

In other news our Spring Safari Cruises begin this weekend as the first spring migrants have already been turning up around the country. Tickets are selling fast!