Today was the day that spring finally arrived. We’d had a few glimpses of hope with several Sand Martin arriving last week during cold windy conditions, but with the sun bellowing down today it really got things going. Wheatear’s finally arrived with 4 up on Nine Barrow Down and other 2 at Baiter. An Osprey was seen circling high above Studland before heading NE and a couple of Blackcap were in full song at Lytchett Bay and in the Piddle Valley. A Red Kite also drifted over Nine Barrow Down with a Merlin still active out in the Wareham Channel where a young male Hen Harrier was also logged. Singles of Marsh Harrier and Sparrowhawk circled over Swineham as numerous Meadow Pipit passed over head. Along Soldiers Road 12 Fieldfare were still at Hartland Stud and there definitely seemed to be an arrival of Stonechat with 6 on the fence line along Soldiers Road and 5 at Stoborough Heath.

In other good news, the Rutland Water Nest today saw their pair of Osprey’s ‘Maya’ and male 33 arrive back on the Manton Bay nest which means it could be any day now we see a Poole Harbour bird arrive back into the harbour. We’re keeping everything crossed for a positive piece of news to occur here over the next few weeks!

Mistle Thrush – Holton Lee – Tony Furnell