This morning we went and surveyed the important gull islands in the Wareham Channel, specifically to count Black-headed Gulls and more importantly, the Mediterranean Gulls. The Med Gulls are a schedule 1 species and also a Poole Harbour SPA (Special Protection Area) feature species, meaning they’re an important bird for the on going protection of Poole Harbour. We’re only able to access the islands as we obtain a Natural England schedule 1 license each year, due to the fact it’s normally illegal to intentionally disturb nesting Mediterranean Gulls. The survey yielded some low totals unfortunately, resulting in:

Black-headed Gulls – 2901 nests
Mediterranean Gulls – 43 nests
Great Black-backed Gulls – 2 nests
Sandwich Tern – 3 nests
Oystercatcher – 2 nests
Gadwall – 2 nests

We also received info of a new Osprey in the harbour this morning, which at a distance looked like it was ringed. We’re now in the period where 2-year old Ospreys begin to arrive back, and we’re on the look out for ring numbers 5H3, 5H4 and 5H5. Could this mornings bird be one of those. Fortunately it landed on one of our nest platforms which allowed us to read the ring number as 3H9. This wasn’t one of ours, but yet another Rutland female, our fourth to visit the harbour this spring! Also at Middlebere today were 5 Spoonbill, 1 Cuckoo and 1 White-tailed Eagle flew over.

Gull Islands at dawn – Terry Elborn

Black-headed Gull chick in nest – Paul Morton

Female Rutland Osprey 3H9 – Middlebere