An interesting day with torrential rain at dawn, but blindingly bright sunshine and a brisk SW breeze by this afternoon. The warmth of the day got many of the over-wintering Common Chiffchaff in the PCW Drain singing with 10+ along the channel warming up for the season ahead. The harbour faithfuls were still spread around with 1 Slavonian Grebe, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Long-tailed Duck and 3 Great Northern Diver off Jerry’s Point. There was at least 1 Black-throated Diver still off Evening Hill, Sandbanks, there were up to 9 Spoonbill were on Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne. A random Jack Snipe was wandering around out on one of the lawns of the Brownsea Lagoon, seen during the boat trip this afternoon. Up to 3 Sandwich Tern were in central harbour, the Hawfinch was in Lytchett Matravers church yard again, a Spotted Redshank was in Holes Bay, a female Merlin was hunting in Lytchett Bay this morning and both adult Peregrines were on their usual balcony on the Asda flats at Hole Bay. Finally, a huge thanks to birder and photographer Simon Johnson for providing us with this great info he’s received back from a colour-ringed Turnstone he photographed at Baiter late last year: This female Turnstone was ringed on 08.03.2024, and is believed to have hatched in 2023 or earlier. Ringing took place near Alert, Nunavut, Canada Lat 82.49167 Lon -62.34167. Alert is the northernmost continuously inhabited place in the world and about 4000km away!!

Jack Snipe wandering around on Brownsea Lagoon lawn this afternoon seen from Winer Safari this afternoon – John Bishop

Great Northern Diver amongst the waves – Brownsea south shore from Winter Safari this afternoon – John Bishop

Turnstone ringing location in Alert, Northern Canada in March 2023 and over-wintering site in Poole