A gloomy day, but some interesting sightings none the less. There were 2 Brambling at South Haven, Studland which is a great early May record. Whilst at Greenlands Farm there were 4 Wheatear, 1 Whinchat and a Cuckoo. At Swineham this evening a fascinating vigil produced no less than 53 species whilst just standing in one spot, including passage Greenshank, Whimbrel and Common Sandpiper leaving the harbour in the dark, heading up the river valleys, also 4 Spoonbill again heading north just after dark, suggesting they roost somewhere perhaps in the Piddle Valley. Also c300 Sand Martin and and c150 Swallow feeding before going into roost. 1 Barn Owl, 2 Tawny Owl, 4 Bearded Tit, 2 Sedge Warbler, 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Cuckoo and 2 Marsh Harrier all complemented the list nicely. The first Nightjar of the spring/summer was churring from one of the heaths in between the Hartland and Rempstone. On the Brownsea Lagoon there was a newly arrived flock of c30 Dunlin and a single Spoonbill was still there and an Osprey was fishing in Lytchett Bay briefly at a Cuckoo was at Lytchett Fields.

Cuckoo – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam