Despite the drop in temperature, and the swing in wind direction from a SE to NW breeze, the harbour didn’t fare too badly today, although there was a distinct drop in numbers of common migrants compared to earlier in the week. That said more Common Whitethroat were recorded today with the first of the year ringed at Carey Secret Garden, then another was on Wareham Common and 3 were up on Ballard Down. At Swineham c100 Sand Martin and c10 Swallow were feeding over the gravel pit and no less than 4 Reed Warbler were singing. Sadly no sign of the Bluethroat though. An Osprey caught a fish in the Wareham Channel about 15:00, thought to be local male 022 and an immature White-tailed Eagle was soaring over Middlebere late afternoon. On Brownsea there were 2 Spoonbill on the lagoon, along with c80 Sandwich Tern. On Stoborough Heath a male Redstart was found along with 1 Common Whitethroat and a big arrival of Med Gulls piled into the Wareham Channel this after (80+), settling down into the Wareham Channel area. You’ve also probably noticed that there’s absolutely no shortage of Chiffchaff this spring with hundreds, if not thousands spread across every area and habitat type. Not all will stay, as migrants will also sing during migration too, but it seems that currently every other tree has a singing Chiffchaff in it! Blackcap are also arriving in reasonable numbers too. They’re not quite so prolific as Chiffchaff, but at the moment most woodlands have a number of singing Blackcap, some of which are in transit, others that will stay. Late this afternoon a Hobby was reported over RSPB Arne.

Common Whitethroat – Carey Secret Garden – Ed Betteridge