Today had lots of eastern promise which sadly didn’t deliver. But when you’ve already had Bluethroats and Hoopoes in the harbour who cares! The Red-spotted Bluethroat showed well again on and off during the course of the day at Swineham GP at the eastern end. The Hoopoe seems to have moved on, but there were 2 Northern Wheatear in it’s place. From our Spring Safari this AM were were treated to 2 juvenile White-tailed Eagle again, active in the Wareham Channel, following each other around, trying to teach themselves how to catch fish. The Marsh Harriers were active in and around Swineham too, plus a decent number of Sand Martin, 5+ House Martin and 4 Swallow were buzzing around the gravel pit. The Brownsea Lagoon had 20+ Common Tern, 20 Avocet, 15 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Greenshank and a very late dark-bellied Brent Goose. The years first Swift was seen briefly over Wareham Common, a male Pied Flycatcher was seen on private land near Middlebere during a BBS (Breeding Bird Survey), the Ruff was once again in Holes Bay NW this morning, and an Osprey (neither of our local pair) was in Lytcehtt Bay this morning seen carrying a fish. Also great news today that our local Osprey pair CJ7 and 022 laid their first egg of the 2026 season, just 24 hours later than last year. All being well another two will be laid in the coming few days, but the big question is, will we see a fourth for a third year in a row?

Finally, there are many sounds of spring that bring joy to the ears…..the first singing Blackbird, a newly arrived Nightingale…..a passage of Mediterranean Gulls? Yep….without doubt, one of the true sounds of spring for us here in the harbour is when our local, and passage Mediterranean Gulls move around the harbour, calling in small flocks, most typically during the morning. Here’s a great example recorded last week from a survey boat.

Flock of 7 Meditteranean Gull passing over Shipstal – 01/04/26 – Mark Constantine