With 7 Bee-eater turning up at Durlston today, it finally looks as if the easterly promise is delivering some goods! Although vey rare in the harbour, they have occurred with 6 near Brands Bay in 1988, 1 on Ballard in 1998 and 3 over a Broadstone garden in 2009, so its about time we’re due for some more…or at least another!

Despite the lack of Bee-eaters, it was another busy, beautiful sunny day for birdlife in the harbour today with the first Black-headed Gull chicks hatching over on Brownsea Island. With c100 adults seen today it looks like there will be plenty more chicks joining them soon. In amongst these are c75 pairs of Sandwich Terns and c100 pairs of Common terns, most of which are eagerly incubating eggs, along with 1 nesting Mediterranean Gull. 2 Spoonbill and 2 Avocet are also present. Several Swift have been seen today with c5 spotted in Poole Town and 1 in Lychett Bay. A Sparrowhawk was seen chasing 2 Long-tailed Tits at Lytchett Bay whilst Holten Lee saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker.  Dartford Warbler were preening along with Siskin, Linnet, Green Woodpecker, Swift, Swallow, House Martin, Buzzard, Little Egret and Heron were seen at Coombe Heath with the backing vocals of a Chiffchaff. At Lytchett Fields late this evening 6 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank and 4 Teal were on the fields. Nightjar were a bit more vocal on the local heaths with 2 heard on Slepe Heath, 2 at Arne and 1 near Middlebere. On Stoborough Heath there were singing Woodlark and Skylark, 4 Willow Warbler, 1 Cuckoo and juveniles of Siskin, Stonechat and Meadow Pipit logged.