Finally some rain!!! A full day of on and off showers, after what seems like weeks of dry weather, finally brought down some migrants into the harbour. 2 Common Scoter dropped into central harbour from our Spring Safari Cruise this morning, before flying off high and then coming down to resettle again. 1 stunning summer plumage Knot was on the Brownsea Lagoon along with 11 Sanderling, 19 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank and 1 Avocet. The first Sandwich Tern chicks have hatched today on the Brownsea Lagoon. 4 Bar-tailed Godwit were feeding on the south shore of Furzey Island and c80 Black-tailed Godwit were still in the Wareham Channel. Interestingly c15 passage Ringed Plover and 5 Dunlin were also feeding in the Wareham Channel on the north shore of Arne. There was a family party of c10 Bearded Tit flying in the mouth of the River Frome showing successful fledging, as well as separately 2 males and 1 female. 2 Great White Egret were in the mouth of the River Piddle, including 1 in adult breeding plumage.

In other exciting news it looks like hatching on the Careys Secret Garden Osprey Nest is starting! Thanks to the eagle-eyed viewers on our YouTube chat who spotted it this evening. It will likely still be several hours before hatching so this could come overnight.

First egg showing a pip on the Osprey Webcams this evening

Sandwich Tern with freshly hatched chick – Brownsea Lagoon – Nicki Tutton