Well, at least we had one day of sun and slight spring warmth, but today it was back to rain. However, we’ve been keeping an eye on the national birding news over the weekend and it’s great to see a whole suit of early spring migrants have already arrived! Last week the first Northern Wheatear was found in Avon, a Little Ringed Plover was in Suffolk yesterday, multiple Sand Martin have been recorded across the country and even a few Swallows have been seen. These are early, but it’s not unusual if the correct weather systems are in place for this group of species to arrive in late February, with the weekends (and certainly todays) weather system blowing in all the way from southern Europe, which has deposited these early arrivals. The weather patterns over the next couple of weeks seem a bit all over the place, so whether we see more early arrivals is a bit unsure, but we know many people will be keeping an eye out.

Yesterday afternoon a juvenile Glaucous Gull was reported off the Brownsea south shore, in-between Brownsea and Furzey Island. This is the best time for scarce gulls to arrive into the harbour with Glaucous, Iceland and Caspian all found in Poole Harbour during late Feb and during March. A Black-throated Diver was off Parkstone Yacht Club, a Spotted Redshank was in Holes Bay and the Barnacle Goose was seen at Swineham GP again. The White-tailed Eagle pair were over Middlebere this morning before seen heading towards Corfe area. The Hawfinch was still in St Marys Church yard, Lytchett Matravers.

Pintail – Holes Bay NW