It’s safe to say that the last few days have been spring migrant days, with various areas around Dorset reporting incredible numbers of birds…700 Wheatear alone at Portland, not to mention 500 Blackcap. The Harbour didn’t fair too badly either with the following sightings….

Friday 26^th April saw some of the best weather conditions for migrants, a clear moonlit night followed by a wall of rain heading in from the north just before dawn. In and around Holes bay there were 2 Garden Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 10’s of Whitethroat, Blackcap and Willow Warbler, good numbers of Reed Warbler and a few Sedge Warbler. The female Marsh Harrier in the Wareham Channel is still very active. At Lytchett Bay the 1^st Winter Little Gull was still present along with a cracking male Whinchat, 6 Whitethroat and 3 Whimbrel. Some fantastic records from Swineham included Blackcap 4, Hobby 2,Sand Martin 69, Swallow 6, Linnet 4, Teal 4, Gadwall 15, Chiffchaff 7 , Whitethroat 4, Cetti’s 7, Reed Warbler 16, Red-throated Diver 1 on main pit then flew into harbour at 14:30, Sedge Warbler 11, Wheatear 1, Siskin 3, Common Sandpiper 1, Swift 47, Grasshopper Warbler 1 flushed from beside path and showed well in a bush for a minute or so, Greenshank 1, Med Gull 1, Whimbrel 36, Peregrine 1, Shelduck 108, Skylark 1, Scaup 2 female on west of main pit, Bearded Tit 1, Willow Warbler 1, Cuckoo 1 and a Marsh Harrier. An evening gull count was conducted on Brownsea where an incredible 1500+ Herring Gull came into roost, also an Arctic Tern came into roost. Also on Brownsea 3 Little Ringed Plover, Lesser-spotted Woodpecker, a pair of Golden Pheasant, 1 Common Redstart, 6 Spotted Redshank (some in full summer plumage), 12 Turnstone, still 9 Avocet, 4 Greenshank, 2 Ringed Plover and 8 Knot.

Saturday 27^th April was cold and clear but still a few migrants hung around. Nice to hear that a pair of Dartford Warbler are back on territory on Lytchett Heath. Also at the Bay the Red-throated Diver is still hanging around, 13 Whimbrel, Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, Little Gull and Cetti’s Warbler numbers seem to be doing better. AT Holton Lee a possible Spanish Wagtail was located, also there a Jack Snipe and Common Sandpiper. An Osprey was seen again out in the Wareham Channel. Migrants in and around Fleets Corner included Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and Reed Warbler. Sandwich Tern numbers seem to be increasing on the Brownsea Lagoon webcam, best viewed around 08:30 in the evening.