The harbour has been really active over the last few days both day and night. To begin with the first Nightjars were heard last night with 2 calling at Arne and another up on Hartland Moor. There was also a Snipe drumming up on Hartland too. At Corfe (Sugar Hill Lane) yesterday and this morning the Nightingale was again in full voice whilst 1 Cuckoo, 2 Spotted flycatcher, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Yellowhammer and the first fledgling Blackcap were present. On Hartland Stud there are still two Wheatear hanging out with the Rabbits. At Lytchett Bay 2 Knot were out feeding on the fields which is a slightly odd record, also a late Snipe flushed, displaying Redshank, 50+ Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Whimbrel, 4 Lapwing and a Greenshank. At Middlebere yesterday 3 Spoonbill and a Cuckoo. There were 10 Whimbrel in the fields north of Upton CP and 2 Great Crested Grebe out in Holes Bay. There was also a moderate arrival of Swallow this morning as birds pushed through north on quite a broad front across the harbour. A newly arrived Sedge Warbler was singing up on Hartland Moor and a Peregrine was hunting over Arne moors, the latter surely breeding in the harbour somewhere? At Holton Lee Tree Pipit are back on territory. Finally some good news that the male Marsh Harrier seems to be a good provider to BOTH his females at the two different nest sites. He has been busy providing food to both females as they incubate the eggs, which are roughly half way through their incubation period. Keeping fingers crossed everything goes smoothly. 

Below is a recording of the Common Snipe drumming up on Hartland Moor last night