A wonderful array of waders and new wildfowl arrivals were observed at Holes Bay today. The star of the show was undoubtedly the Little Stint, a rare bird for the Bay! A grand total of 637 Black-tailed Godwit, 155 Redshank and 54 Curlew were all observed along with smaller numbers of Dunlin, Bar-tailed Godwit, Ringed Plover, Whimbrel, Knot and Oystercatcher. Wildfowl numbers are increasing across the Harbour, and the same proved true for Holes Bay featuring 4 Pintail, 3 Shoveler, 49 Wigeon, 164 Teal, 1 Gadwall and 20 Mallard. And if that wasn’t enough species for you, a migrant Osprey was seen fishing in front of Stone Bench successfully catching a fish after four failed attempts.

Lytchett Fields also harboured its own fine selection of notable sightings including 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 2 Ruff, and singles of Whinchat and juvenilePeregrine. The wintering Spoonbill flock is slowly building with 25 individuals was recorded from Shipstal Hide, Arne this morning and the colour-ringed White Stork was still present at Sunnyside along with 2 Wheatear.