There seemed to be a mini arrival of birds today as the cold wind began to build early/mid morning. In the PCW Drain there was a single Garden Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Whitethroat along with 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcap all on territory. In Brands Bay this evening there were c50 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 4 dark-bellied Brent Geese (they still think its winter)!, 2 Whimbrel plus 2 Willow Warbler in scrub and c30 Swallow around. At Stoborough Heath a Red Kite passed over and a Cuckoo was on Slepe Heath. It’s been a tough cold spring but for some reason Sedge Warbler have been present in good numbers at some sites with more than usual around Swineham plus plenty of individual migrants popping up in scrub areas along the river valleys and one was up on top of Hartland. A Hobby was over Wareham Hospital with 13 Swift present over Wareham too. Whitethroat are certainly back on territory up on Ballard with 5 males singing but Lesser Whitethroat have been incredibly scarce this spring. There were 2 Wheatear up on Hartland with up to five Woodlark, several Dartford Warbler, 1 Cuckoo, 9 Swift, a few Swallow and (finally) 2 Lesser Whitethroat. Only 1 Little Ringed Plover was seen at Lytchett Fields.

Dunlin – Brands Bay – Garry Hayman

Common Swift – Swineham GP – Peter Moore