It looks like it’s potentially going to be a bit of a late spring this year. As we all wait for various migrants to arrive back, a good indication of how late things are already was the arrival of the well known Rutland Osprey pair which got back to their nest site this morning nearly 2-weeks later than their arrival date last year. The strong northerly winds that are set in now for the next week will restrict things further, and we’ve even heard the word ‘snow’ in a recent weather report!!!

That said there were a couple of new arrivals this morning with 2 Ruff, one at Lytchett Fields and another on the Stilt Pools at Swineham, where there were also 5 Little Ringed Plover. On Wareham Common the 3 Glossy Ibis were feeding just off the by pass, and were joined by a Great White Egret. The Brownsea Lagoon now has 4 Eurasian Spoonbill and a Northern Wheatear was on the lagoon wall. Other ‘Spring’ migrants included 8 Sand Martin at Swineham GP and a Swallow over Studland Beach.

Ruff – Lytchett Fields – Mick Brooks