It was all go today, with scorching sunshine but also a decent range of birds too. Our Summer Safari cruise left at 9am with mirror calm waters and 20+ degree heat beaming down on us. It wasn’t long before we were in the top end of the Wareham Channel where 80+ Black-tailed Godwit were back feeding in the mouth of the Frome and there were also 3 Greenshank, 5 Redshank and 50+ Curlew and 2 Marsh Harrier. Up the Frome a partial summer-plumaged Cattle Egret was in with the cows at Swineham, there was an adult Yellow-legged Gull on the scrape and 4 Reed Bunting were still in fine voice. A few Bearded Tit were heard in the reeds and one made a very brief appearance. As we left the Frome, male Osprey 022 did the right thing, turning up and began fishing in the Wareham Channel, where he then caught a fish and then soared over Keysworth for a while. Female White-tailed Eagle then put in an appearance over Arne briefly, annoying all the local Grey Herons. We also logged 3 Common Seal in the mouth of the Piddle too. On Brownsea juvenile Common and Sandwich Terns are now following around their parents, calling for food both on and off the lagoon, there was also a single Ringed Plover back and another c50 Black-tailed Godwit were on the lagoon. In Holes Bay north a big flock of 147 Redshank which is a decent total for early July. At Lytchett Bay there were 8 Green Sandpiper and 2 Little Ringed Plover. A ringing session at Lytchett Heath by Stour Ringing Group saw the first 2 migrant Sedge Warbler and 1 Common Whitethroat of the autumn ringed along with 22 Reed Warbler. 

Newly arrived flock of 147 Common Redshank – Holes Bay – Martin Adams