Another muggy day, that certainly felt ‘rare’ but nothing Mediterranean turned up……yet! That said, 3 Great White Egret heading down the Piddle Valley at dawn certainly provided a taste of further south. That begs the question, with multiple Cattle Egret (17 last week), 3 Great White Egret still around and up to 7 Spoonbill still present, are these species breeding secretly somewhere in some tucked away corner of the harbour or in the river valleys or perhaps starting to claim territories? There were 5 Spoonbill in Middlebere today, all showing black tips to the primary wing feathers, highlighting they’re all 2nd cal year birds so unlikely to be breeding yet. There was a male Common Redstart on the end of Redhorn Quay and there were 2 Little Ringed Plover at Lytchett Fields. Whimbrel were numerous with individuals at Lytchett Bay, Brands Bay, Holes Bay and in Middlebere.

Spoonbill – Middlebere – Alison Copland