Today was fine spring day with the surprise appearance of a Short-eared Owl over Arne moors at dawn, the first in quite some time. At Lytchett Fields there was a single Wheatear 5+ Willow Warbler, 20+ Chiffchaff, 1 Red-breasted Merganser in the Bay, 2 Greenshank and a Water Pipit on the Pools Field. In Middlebere 4 Spoonbill were feeding and a minimum of 5 Swallow dashed through past the hide. Off Baiter a single Great Northern Diver was seen off the Brownsea shoreline and at least 10 Red-breasted Merganser were out in central harbour. In the Arne car park 2 Firecrest were still present and along the Arne Road a Merlin was seen. At Holton Lee a single Wheatear was present, also 2 Woodlark and good numbers of Dartford Warbler. 

Dartford Warbler – Holton Lee – Sarah Jane Spinney