Still no let up in the cold wind but birds still seem to be trying their best to perform some kind of spring migration…

Wednesday 27^th seemed to be a little bit less icy cold and a lower wind speed. Birding focuses came from Lytchett Bay where 6 Greenshank, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 25 Redwing and a Bittern were the highlights. At Holes Bay (PC World drain 9 Sand Martin (often resting on rocks), 70+ Chiffchaff, 3 Wheatear, 1 Common Sandpiper and 2 Spotted Redshank were present. At Sunnyside Farm, 6 Wheatear were dotted around the fields also a Peregrine and a Willow Warbler. A female Hen Harrier was seen leaving a roosting area at dawn.

Thursday 28^th also felt slightly more ‘pleasant’ hence why more reports came in, A second Bittern was discovered at Middlebere by surveyors monitoring Water Rail breeding numbers. The female Hen Harrier again left the roost at dawn and a Short-eared Owl was seen hunting along Arne Moors in the afternoon. The Bittern was again at Lytchett Bay, this time feeding with a Spoonbill! Also there 4 Wheatear, 3 Lapwing, 4 Chiffchaff and a Stonechat. At South Haven there were 11 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Coot (scarce here), 6 Sanderling, 9 Sandwich Tern and 15 Mediterranean Gull. Greenland’s Farm saw 35 Wheatear and a Black Redstart. As well as the Bittern Middlebere also had 4 Spoonbill and 4 Wheatear. Other nice sightings included at least 3 Firecrest at Slepe Copse, 5 Ring-necked Parakeet at Studland.

Friday 29^th was cold…again! So not much to report. Best was a Bittern and 4 Spoonbill, 1 Spotted Redshank, 8 Greenshank and 3 Green Sandpiper at Lytchett Bay. A Firecrest was at Sunnyside Farm. A male Hen Harrier was in the west of the harbour.