Still not feeling very spring like in the country at the moment hence the lack of sightings, especially spring migrants but a few reports dripped in over the last 3 days, starting with….

Monday 18^th, where the wind dropped but there was still a chill to the air. The biggest surprise was when a local bird sound recorder recorded a Tree Pipit migrating over Stoborough during the night, which is the second earliest British return date. Also recorded was a Woodcock and a few Redwing. At Brands Bay a Great Northern Diver, 8 Pintail, 18 Grey Plover, 119 Black-tailed Godwit, 36 Knot and 7 Turnstone, and at Middle Beach 1 Slavonian Grebe, 10 Black-necked Grebe and 5 Great Crested Grebe.

Tuesday 19^th saw a slight frost first thing with a low blanket of fog making for uncomfortable bird watching conditions. The Hoopoe re-appeared over near Turlin Moor. Lytchett Bay waders included 40+ Black-tailed Godwit, 22 Redshank, 50+ Curlew, 40 Brent Geese also a Brambling, 2 Spoonbill and 4 Gadwall. There was an impressive 28 Red-breasted Merganser in Parkstone Bay and at least 15 Meadow Pipit out on Baiter fields.

Wednesday 20^th was again a cold start but grew into a warm sunny spring like day… for a while. Black-tailed Godwit numbers are on the increase all around the harbour with an impressive flock of 500+ in Holes Bay with a Common Sandpiper at the mouth of the PC World drain. Lytchett Bay saw 5 Spoonbill, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Jack Snipe, 2 Greenshank, 70+ Curlew, 30 Brent Geese and 4 Gadwall. Also there 4 unidentified ‘grey geese’ flew over slough lane.

 I was also kindly sent photos of a colour ringed Sanderling by Robert Walker who photographed the bird at Shore Road, Sandbanks on the 13/03/2013. The bird was originally ringed in Griend Bay, Netherlands on the 18/08/2012