Two exciting bits of news today and two potential ‘spring firsts’. Firstly the harbour’s first Wheatear of the spring made its way through grotty weather and made landfall at Sunnyside Farm. A cracking adult male was feeding in the approach field down towards the Sunnyside Scrape. This coincided with a mini arrival of Wheatear into Dorset today with 6 at Maiden Castle and a few along the Dorset coastline. Secondly, it was reported that an Osprey was seen flying over Stoborough Heath, heading towards Middlebere. Sadly there were no further sightings over the course of the day, so it could have just been a bird passing through the area. Either way, it’s certainly about now when adults from sites like Rutland should be arriving back to their nest sites so it wouldn’t be unrealistic to see our first ‘viewable’ Osprey of the spring in the coming days/weeks. The wind is really putting off peoples efforts to get out and explore during this early part of the spring, but looking at the forecast by Monday next week the wind and rain ease away and are replaced by lighter southerly winds and sun…hoorah!

Black-tailed Godwit – Poole Park – Ian Ballam