Another beautiful day, and remarkable for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was quite a shock to hear of the find of another Bluethroat at Swineham this AM, just several  yards away from where one was found back on March 17th. The main difference is that todays had a stunning, full red throat, indicating todays bird was a red-spotted Bluethroat, where as it was assumed that being so early in the year, the March 17th bird ‘had’ to be white-spotted Bluethroat. There are distinct differences between the two sub-species with red-spotted opting for a sub-Arctic breeding range, and migrating to India and SE Asia to over-winter, where as white-spotted over-winter in southern Europe and Africa and breed in milder, temperate areas of Europe. The timings of their migration is also very different with ‘white-spots’ migrating much earlier in the spring, and ‘red-spots’ much later. However……in one photo taken by Trevor Warwick of the March 17th bird at Swineham, a subtle red area can clearly be seen on the throat, but also so could some white. So was todays bird a totally new arrival which just happened to make landfall in exactly the same place as another just 3-weeks previous? Not impossible, but unlikely. Having spoken to Josh Jones at Birdguides, he informed us of a similar situation regarding a 1st winter red-spotted Bluethroat which over-wintered in Lincolnshire back in 2017 and spent Feb and March moulting from 1st winter plumage to adult breeding plumage before departing on migration. Therefore, is it possible that we’ve actually had a red-spotted Bluethroat over-wintering in the Swineham/Keysworth area (great habitat) this winter which when first found on March 17th was still transitioning from 1st winter plumage, and has now completed it’s full moult. An exciting prospect indeed. Keeping with the Mediterranean theme, the 3 Glossy Ibis, which were thought to have departed re-appeared over Wareham this morning. Although they’ve been a regular feature of the Wareham area all winter, the fact they’re still here in April is interesting, and we’ll seek to keep an eye on their movements for the rest of the spring just in case there’s a breeding attempt somewhere. The Osprey (AKA Beaky) thats been on the Middlebere nest platform for just over a week  finally left today, off towards her unknown nesting area (unknown to us…not her)! It was good to hear Tree Pipit back on territory at a few traditional harbour locations and this morning a Reed Warbler was ringed at Carey secret garden. There was some noteworthy ‘vis-mig’ species this morning moving around Studland with (Lesser) Redpoll and Crossbill logged heading along the Studland Road.

Photo of March 17th Bluethroat taken by Trevor Warwick (left)

and Photo of todays April 8th Bluethroat taken by @zp-pics.bsky.social (Bluesky)