Another sweltering day, with most activity once again logged before midday. A morning survey along the River Frome between Wareham and Swineham by local birder Garry Hayman at dawn produced 2 Great White Egret, 1 Cuckoo, 81 Reed Warbler, 18 Cetti’s Warbler, 8 Sedge Warbler and a Yellowhammer (odd Swineham record). Above the thousands of beach goers at Branksome Chine a lone Fulmar was soaring above the beach, an odd place for one to be on a scorching May day, but not as odd as a lone Barnacle Goose that flew over Brownsea this afternoon. This afternoon 2 Osprey were hunting in the Wareham Channel, plus on the Brownsea Lagoon there was summer plumaged Sanderling and Grey Plover. The heatwave also seems to have seen an emergenace of Stag Beetles with good numbers seen in Hamworthy this evening.

Stag Beetle – Blandford Road, Hamworthy – Joe Parker