Sightings03/03/2020

Harbour Update – posted 03/03/20

With numerous checks made throughout the day of various ‘bird news’ platforms to check whether the UK’s first Wheatear or Sand Martin had arrived yet, we were keen to get out our selves early doors to see what other signs of spring could be located. As it happened, no Wheatear or Sand martin were yet logged in the UK today so the first ones are still up for grabs. Our dawn vigil from Slepe Heath didn’t yield the Common Crane as hoped, but we were still rewarded with a fine female Merlin dashing along the Wareham Channel chasing a Meadow Pipit with 4-5 Skylark ascending above Arne Moors for potentially their first song flights of the season. Both Black-headed and Mediterranean Gull were out on ‘Gull Islands’ prospecting for the breeding season ahead and a very small trickle of Meadow Pipit headed north. Along Soldiers Road a small flock of 29 Fieldfare were in fields at Hartland Stud and 4 male Stonechat were on a fence line close together suggesting some sort of arrival from somewhere. There were also 2 Spoonbill out in the Wareham Channel and 3 Raven cronking out over Slepe Heath. Late afternoon saw a stunning Red Kite drift over Upton and at Swineham Point 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Marsh Harrier and the ringtail Hen Harrier were active commuting between Ridge Wharf, Swineham and Arne Moors. A nocturnal recording session at Lytchett Bay didn’t produce too much other than 2 fly over Coot which are extremely noteworthy in Lytchett Bay along with plenty of Water Rail and Wigeon calls.

Cormorant – Hatch Pond – Ian Ballam

 

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