Long may this beautifully, sunny period of high pressure continue! It must of been October last year when we last had 4 days of consecutive sun? It’s certainly getting the birds going, with displaying and a building chorus of song developing. Even our winter birds are now seeing the bright side, with 3 Black-necked Grebe off Studland Beach mostly in full summer plumage, along with the smattering of Mediterranean Gulls there too, plus 3 Common Scoter and 1 Great Northern Diver. A random winter plumaged Red-throated Diver was ‘new in’ , settled on the water out in Brands Bay and the Long-tailed Duck was off Jerry’s Point with 1 Slavonian Grebe and 2 Black-necked Grebe. A ringtail Hen Harrier was in Middlebere and 1 also flew over Swineham GP this evening. There were 2 White-tailed Eagle present with 1 in the Wareham Channel and one on Gold Point, RSPB Arne, opposite Hamworty Beach. This afternoon, 2 Red Kite drifted over the Ham Common viewpoint, there was still at least 1 Hawfinch in St Marys Church yard, Lytchett Matravers.

Red-throated Diver – Brands Bay – Mick Brooks

Partial summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe – South Haven – Studland – Mick Brooks