Today was another fine spring morning, despite the forecast of degrading conditions. Swifts and Swallow were swooping low over Swineham and a Little Ringed Plover was on the flooded pools there. An Osprey was circling high above Arne by mid morning and was later seen in the Wareham Channel with another (or the same) resting up at Morden Bog for most of the afternoon. In the Corfe River Valley near Wytch Farm 2 Cuckoo were calling and there were plenty of common spring migrants such as Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing. Dartford Warbler and Stonechat were in fine voice on Slepe Heath and on Godlingston a single Wheatear and 2 Cuckoo. Near the chain ferry at South Haven a single White Wagtail was logged. On the Brownsea Lagoon a full high tide count was conducted and it seems there has finally been a big clear out of waders with only 6 Avocet, 1 Greenshank, 2 Common Redshanks, 105 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 50 Oystercatcher and 1 Common Sandpiper however Tern numbers had built with 145+ Sandwich Tern and 82+ Common Tern. The terns are however late back on to their breeding islands and although some have settled we’d thought more would be nest building/on eggs by now.

Chaffinch – Holton Lee – John Pick

Little Egret – Whitecliff- John Pick

Oystercatcher – Whitecliff – John Pick