Blue skies and north-easterly winds ensured another vis-mig morning today with several counts from across the harbour. At Ballard Down Siskin totals came in at 2530 along with 42 Crossbill, 28 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Tree Pipit, 2 Yellow Wagtail, 5 Grey Wagtail plus 3 Sparrowhawk, 2 Peregrine and many many hundreds of Swallow, House Martin and Meadow Pipit. Around the same time over South Haven there were 1010 Siskin, 160 Meadow Pipit, 9 Lesser Redpoll, 3 Crossbill, 232 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin and 7 alba Wagtail. At Swineham both Pectoral Sandpipers were in their increasingly ‘usual’ spot on the ‘Stilt Pools’ along with 1 Snipe and 43 Black-tailed Godwit, and the number of Cattle egret had risen back up to 3 once again. On the gravel pit sat 116 Coot, 18 Tufted Duck, 3 Little Egret and 2 Fulvous Whistling Ducks. Also in the area were 2 female and 1 male Marsh Harrier, and 1 Great White Egret, just as another was simultaneously viewed on the Corfe River, meaning there are currently at least two individuals in the harbour. A few more unusual occurrences included 1 Little Grebe at the Raptor Screen at Arne, 1 Grey Plover in Holes Bay amongst 27 Knot, and 7 Crossbill in the trees next to the approach fields Lytchett Bay, where an obligatory single Osprey could also be seen.
Although you couldn’t see further than 100m for much of the day, there were birds to be found…
Find out moreSo cold! Mid-week was delightful with even a hint of spring warmth, but today was proper chilly. Cold…
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