Bird sightings started in the early hours of the morning with Nightjar churring and young Tawny Owl‘s begging for food at Arne. Later in the day, Nightjar was also recorded at Coombe Heath, along with Marsh harrier, Kestrel, several Common Buzzard, 4 Spoonbill, Hobby, Dartford warbler and several Swallows and Swifts.

On our Summer Safari cruise around the harbour this morning, we started at the Brownsea lagoon due to the hide tide. It was busy with breeding birds; Sandwich and Common terns frantically feeding their young and protecting their nests. Also, a pair of Oystercatchers had three chicks following them along the northern edge of the island. 4 Mediterranean gulls were resting on the north shoreline, with one presumably failed adult breeder amongst them with it’s jet back head and bright red beak. 4 Dunlin were hiding on one of the islands within the lagoon and at least 2 pairs of Greater Black-backed gulls had fluffy, grey chicks alongside them. A lone Curlew was in flight alongside Brownsea and a further two Curlew were also seen at Lytchett Bay, perhaps these are individuals that haven’t bred this year? Later in the day, a Hoopoe was found on Brownsea Island and 4 Bar-tailed godwit and 4 Sanderling were on the lagoon.

Elsewhere in the harbour, Greylag geese were showing off their goslings in the Wareham channel and White-tailed eagle G466 female made a sudden appearance and somehow hid herself amongst the vegetation on the edge of the channel. The resident female Marsh harrier took flight, no doubt keeping an eye on the eagle. 2 Great crested grebe and 10 Black-tailed godwit were in the Wareham channel. 10 Swift and at least 30 Swallow overhead and distant views of a single Osprey and Hobby made for an entertaining morning.

Sandwich tern – Lytchett Bay  petey632.bsky.social