Another perfect Spring day, although the frost at dawn was a bit unnecessary! A sunrise check at Ballard Down yielded a reeling Grasshopper Warbler on top of the ridge, plus 1 flyover Yellow Wagtail, 3 Wheatear, 5 Willow Warbler, 15+ Common Whitethroat and 5 Swallow through. In Brands Bay a Great White Egret was feeding and there were 3 interacting in Middlebere this morning too. The Bluethroat was still entertaining the crowds at Swineham GP, with visitors having to queue up along the narrow track, waiting for their turn to see the bird, just like you would in a bakers when a prize winning Danish Pastry was on sale. Lytchett Bay also fared well for common migrants this AM with 1 male Whinchat, 1 male Redstart, 1 female Wheatear, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler (singing) and 6 Reed Warbler on territory, plus Osprey and Marsh Harrier there. Out in Lytchett Bay the years first Curlew Sandpiper was feeding in amoungst the Dunlin. It seems quite a poor spring for Whimbrel so far, with only small numbers (twos and threes) being logged at traditional sites like Brands Bay, the Lower Frome Valley and Lytchett Bay. Having not been reported for a few days, it was good to hear the 3 Glossy Ibis are still around having been seen over Swineham mid-morning, and there was also a report (but un-confirmed) report of a Bonapartes Gull around Swineham at lunchtime. Cuckoo’s were calling at Hydes Heath, RSPB and Soldiers Road, Stoborough Heath. On the Brownsea Lagoon 2 Spoonbill were snoozing and another was out on Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne. A few White-tailed Eagles were seen over Studland, Corfe Castle and wider Purbecks.

There was also an interesting development in regards to Ospreys when today, during the mid-morning we had what looked like a displaying male Osprey over the Wareham Channel which wasn’t our local male 022 as he was on the nest at the time. We havn’t been able to get any photos of this new mystery bird and he/it hasn’t landed on any of our other nest platforms yet, but maybe he will over the coming days, hopefully allowing us to get a positive ID……5H3 we hope!

Northern Wheatear – Ballard Down this AM