The arrival of a drake Garganey at Poole Park was the clear star of the day, delighting birders in the heart of Poole Town, generally keeping close to the islands on the small duck pond. A Lesser Whitethroat in sub-song was also picked up in small bit of scrub while observing the Garganey. Other highlights included 2 Whimbrel in Holes Bay north and 9 in Holes Bay south. A full summer plumaged Cattle Egret was in the Frome Valley and 3 flew over Wareham Channel at dusk and on Slepe heath there was 1 Cuckoo, 1 Willow Warbler and a Tree Pipit flew over. Whitethroat were conspicuous with quite a few logged across the harbour and there were 2 Lesser Whitethroat at Middlebere. There was a Marsh Harrier out in the Wareham Channel and in the Frome and Piddle Valley around c300 hirundine were feeding, mostly Sand Martin but also good numbers of House Martin and Swallow along with 1 Swift. At Lytchett fields there were 4+ Little Ringed Plover, 4+ Greenshank, 5 Whimbrel, 2 fly over Yellow Wagtail and 4 Wheatear. 

Garganey – Poole Park – Clare Slade