What started off as a stunning still (but cold) spring morning, with frost on the ground turned into an even colder and chilly rest of the day, with birds few and far between. Best bird of the day (although you still can’t count them) was a Great Bustard that flew low over Sea View Road, Upton and headed towards Lytchett Minster. This will almost certainly be one of the birds from the Salisbury Plain reintroduction scheme, possibly making its way back to the site for the summer. The harbour’s first Lesser Whitethroat was heard in Boarder Road, Lytchett Bay. There was a nice record of a Common Sandpiper at Hatch Pond with another in the PCW Drain. At Arne, a Cuckoo was calling at dawn and there were 3 Whimbrel in the mouth of Middlebere plus a constant trickle of Swallow, House and Sand Martin overhead all day with 2 Tree Pipit and a Peregrine. A Hen Harrier was in Poole Harbour west at dawn and a Ring Ouzel was on Stoborough Heath. Common migrants are still passing through each day with Blackcap and Willow Warbler arriving on territory as each day passes. Its well worth keeping your eye out in the garden as migrants will often pass through, feeding along the way.

Blackcap – Holes Bay  – Colin Moyes