Lovely conditions for the Spring Safari Cruise this morning, with a steady stream of Sandwich Tern activity around the boat through much of the trip. Cruising along the Wareham Channel, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit were present on the Arne shoreline, as well as 2 Whimbrel seen and an Osprey visible soaring high over the far-end channel. A White-tailed Eagle (likely G801) was distantly visible through the heat haze moving along the treeline at Keysworth, as well as 2 Marsh Harrier interacting over the reeds. Moving up the frome, the reedbed was active with sightings of Bearded Tit, Reed Bunting and the songs of Cetti’s, Reed and Sedge Warbler. The highlight of the trip was a brilliant display from a Hobby directly over the boat as we lingered near the scrapes at Swineham. This evening at Swineham there were 3 Little Ringed Plover and at Lytchett Fields a single Garganey, 1 Swift, 3 Little Ringed Plover and 3 Whimbrel. There were dat roosting Nightjar found on Brownsea and in Wareham Forest. A sea watch out in Poole Bay produced a single Little Gull and an Arctic Tern with a flock of c40 Common Tern and c80 Herring Gull. In Middlebere male Osprey 022 dropped in briefly and there were 3 Spoonbill, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Cuckoo. There was also a drake Garganey on the Brownsea Lagoon.

Nightjar – Brownsea DWT reserve – Nicki Tutton