A nice (and long over due) first for the spring today with a pair of Garganey on the Stilt Pools, Swineham, as first seen from our Spring Safari Cruise this afternoon. There were also 3 Little Ringed Plover and 1 Common Sandpiper here. An unusual record of 1 Spotted Redshank was on Arne Moors and then, in the mouth of the River Frome, on the low tide. The Red-spotted Bluethroat was still at Swineham Point. Up on Ballard Down this morning there were 3 Lesser Whitethroat singing. 3-year old male Osprey 5H3 was still active in the Middlebere Channel along with 2- year old 5R0 in the morning. There was 1 Hobby was hunting in the Wareham Channel along with 2-year old Osprey 5R0 this afternoon. On Brownsea this morning there was 1 Peregrine sat on the north west sand bank and 3 Whimbrel on the north shore. On the Lagoon there was still 1 Spoonbill, c10 Avocet, c15 Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Turnstone (in nice summer plumage), 1 Ringed Plover and 1 Dunlin. Last night the first Nightjars of the year were logged at RSPB Arne and near Burnbake, Studland. A survey of the lower-Frome (Wareham to Swineham) by local birder Peter Moore produced 85 Reed Warbler, 42 Cetti’s Warbler and 7 Sedge Warbler.

2 Garganey and 1 Little Ringed Plover – Stilt Pools Swineham – Paul Morton

Spotted Redshank – Mouth of the River Frome from our Spring Safari – Joe Parker

2-year old Osprey 5R0 – Wareham Channel from our Spring Safari Cruise – Joe Parker

Nightjar at RSPB Arne last night on one of our Osprey nest platforms.