This cold ENE wind is slowing migration right up, with not much getting through currently other than another small trickle of Osprey with at least three different birds in and around the harbour this AM. As is currently usual, CJ7 spent the early part of the morning on the Middlebere platform, whilst in the Piddle Valley, just north of Wareham, two different Osprey (one male, one female) were seen low heading towards the harbour. At Lytchett Fields there was just a single Little Ringed Plover with 54 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Spotted Redshank but the sites 1^st Common Ringed Plover of the spring was the most noteworthy sighting. A Tree Pipit was heard over Middlebere, singles of Willow Warbler were at Greenlands Farm, Swineham and Hartland and 3 Wheatear were on Hartland Stud with another 2 on Greenlands Farm. A few Swallow and Sand Martin are now arriving back at nesting sites, but there are still plenty more yet to arrive. Blackcap seem to be everywhere already, despite it only being early/mid April. Although we’re sure some have arrived from the south, is it the case that in fact some of our over-wintering birds and now staying as breeding residents?

Swallows – Stoborough