A bit of sunshine on our Spring Safari Cruise this morning and some great birds seen too. We were delighted to see the nesting pair of Marsh Harrier perform a food pass over Giggers Island. It looked like the prey of choice was a Bank Vole. There was 1 Little Ringed Plover again on Stilt Pools, Swineham. Over on Brownsea Lagoon, there were 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, with another feeding along the northern Shoreline. We had some stunning fly-bys of Common Tern and Sandwich Tern, alongside a smart adult pair of Mediterranean Gull on the lagoon. First seen feeding in a tern flock in the central harbour, were 4 Little Tern which we later then spotted sat in amongst a flock of Sandwich Tern on Brownsea Lagoon. We don’t often see Little Tern in the harbour, with the closest nesting birds being at Chesil Beach in West Dorset. 2 Whimbrel were seen, one on the Arne shoreline and another on the northern shoreline of Brownsea Island. 3 Dartford Warbler were seen at Ham Common Viewpoint and 3 pairs of Teal were seen at Sherford Pools at RSPB Lytchett Fields. Later this afternoon, a Little Gull was sat on the Boomerang on Brownsea Lagoon. In other exciting news, the fourth and final Osprey chick has hatched on the Carey nest in the early hours of this morning! It’s fantastic to see the whole family doing well, and CJ7 and 022 carefully distributing the fish to ensure every chick is well-fed.

Dartford Warbler – Ham Common Viewpoint – @dpnotts.bsky.social

Four Osprey chicks on the nest!