Earlier this week we released our last two chicks, LS2 and LS4. Both have had an excellent five days flying time and have fitted right in with the other six. So, as it stands all eight of this years birds are now flying and doing brilliantly. Already many of them have spent time touring the SW and southern areas of the harbour with Arne/Middlebere being a particularly good place to try and see them. Phew! We’re so happy to be at this stage now and to see them all doing so well is just fantastic.

There was another good suit of birds today with the highlight being a Melodious Warbler at Greenland’s Farm, Studland down behind the empty barn at the western end with 1 Pied Flycatcher, 11 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Redstart, 4 Wheatear, 2 Whitethroat and several Willow Warbler. On Brownsea the Bonaparte’s Gull was seen again and the Little Stint was with Dunlin out on the central mud bank also 3 Spotted Redshank, 1 Whimbrel and 1 Firecrest on the island. Migration through Ballard this morning included 2 Grasshopper Warbler (one adult, one juvenile), 10 Willow Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler and 3 Whitethroat. At Swineham migrants included 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 13 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Reed Warbler and an adult male Marsh Harrier. At Lytchett Fields there was evidence Teal had bred on site with a female and 4 young still in tow on Sherford Pools, also 78 Lapwing, 92 Teal and 4 Common Sandpiper.

Pale, worn adult Grasshopper Warbler – Ballard – Olly Slessor

Olive, fresh juvenile Grasshopper Warbler – Ballard – Olly Slessor