High winds, rain and hail have no doubt hampered birding opportunities today, but a few weather windows provided some nice sightings… A scan of Brownsea Lagoon before the high winds set in reported 24 Sandwich tern and 6 Common Tern on the islands, along with several pairs of Black-headed Gull now getting settled to breed. An early morning count at Swineham showed a minor arrival with 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, c80 Sand Martin, c20 Swallow and c10 House Martin with the single Barnacle Goose was still present, as well as 18 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 10 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 1 Curlew, 4 Lapwing, 11 Black-tailed Godwit and 6 Redshank. At Lytchett Fields, 1 Cattle Egret was seen in flight this morning heading west, and 1 Spotted Redshank was present on French’s pool. From Rock Lea Viewpoint at Lytchett Bay, 87 Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Redshank, 3 Curlew, 2 Sandwich Tern and 12 Mediterranean Gull were counted. A nice sighting of 2 Eider were reported off Middle Beach mid-morning. 150 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Avocet were also counted at Holes Bay.

Black-headed Gulls – Brownsea Lagoon – Nicki Tutton