On a day that looked like it was going to be a complete right off, actually ended up being very productive, even producing a rarity amongst the crowd. At around 1pm we received a phone call from Ian Alexander saying he was sure he had found an adult White-winged Black Tern on the main pit at Swineham. The description sounded spot on so we shot down there, and upon arrival we were indeed treated to stunning adult White-winged Black Tern. This is a remarkable find in as much as this is the third record of this species in as many years at the same site, where previously, the only other records ever for this species in the harbour was of one on Brownsea Island 49 years ago. Also noted over the gravel pits whilst watching the Tern was 1 Hobby, 20+ Swift, numerous Swallow, House and Sand Martin, a few singing Cetti’s Warbler and one of the Marsh Harriers. A sea watch from Branksome Chine this morning produced 1 Great Skua, 1 Manx Shearwater, 2 summer plumaged Great Northern Diver, 1 Kittiwake, 2 Fulmar, 10+ Gannet and 4 Sandwich Tern. At Poole Harbour mouth a whopping 123 Sanderling were on Shell Beach along with 5 Turnstone, 3 Dunlin and 2 Ringed Plover. Also in the harbour entrance were 4 Little Tern and possibly another 2 on Shell Beach, and 2 Brent Geese on Pilots Point. On Lytchett Fields today were 80 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Redshank, 3 Lapwing, 8 Swift and 1 Peregrine.
White-winged Black Tern at Swineham 02/06/15
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