Another fine couple of days allowed birds and birders to soak up some sun, despite a chilly northerly wind at times. Highlights included….

28^th April – A survey at Lytchett Bay produced Whimbrel 2 + 6 later on pools, Greenshank 1, Black wits 334, Redshank 6, Curlew 8, Little Egret 8, Teal 3, Mallard 5, Shelduck 26, Snipe 1, Little Gull 1 (1st w), Med Gull at least 2 over calling, Blackcap 3, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 2 singing, Cetti’s Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 8, Sedge Warbler 4, Reed Bunting 8, Peregrine 1 male, Buzzard 2 and a Lytchett Bay mega… A COOT! From the west of the harbour up on Ballard there were 2 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Hobby, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Wheatear. In Brands Bay still 1 Brent Goose, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Greenshank, 6 Dunlin and a Turnstone and at the Arne triangle a Hobby. At Swineham the Osprey was spotted over the Wareham Channel again, also there a ringtail Hen Harrier, Common Sandpiper, many Swift, 4 Whitethroat, 5 Sedge Warbler and 5+ Cetti’s Warbler.

April 29^th was fairly quiet for sightings. On Upton Heath 3 Dartford Warbler territories were noted on a small section of the heath. At Fleets Corner, there was a singing Lesser Whitethroat and also still plenty of Whitethroat and Blackcap. In Lytchett Bay the mega bird of the week a Coot was seen with a mate! Probably the best sighting of the day was of a singing Wood Warbler in Slepe Copse, which eventually showed really well.