Today brought a brilliant record of a singing Nightingale near RSPB Arne, the first to be reported there since 1997. 1 Spoonbill was also reported from Arne, feeding in the Wareham Channel. It was another fine morning for a Morden Bog Dawn Chorus ID Course. Three singing Cuckoo kicked off the event strong, accompanied by a couple of Yellowhammer, Spotted Flycatcher and Dartford Warbler song flights, while Skylark song was near-constant throughout. Two singing Tree Pipits then quickly followed suit, before the group enjoyed wonderful views of singing a Woodlark, 3 Redstart carrying food and a second Spotted Flycatcher! Our last Morden Bog ID Course is taking place this Thursday, and there’s still a couple of places available… more info available here.

A sea watch from Branksome Chine produced 1 Little Tern, several Common Scoter flocks, one of 22 and one of 3 and 1 single Velvet Scoter along with 4 Black Tern that passed quite close in. There were also 40 Sandwich and 30 Common Terns fishing off shore and 2 Dunlin flew west with a Peregrine huntoing out over the sea/beach too.  There were 2 Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon and there are now over 100 Common Tern nests on the lagoon too.

Dartford Warbler – Morden Bog Dawn Chorus ID Course

Redstart (male) – Morden Bog Dawn Chorus ID Course

Woodlark – Morden Bog Dawn Chorus ID Course