This morning was blissfully sun-filled but wow…the WSW wind was blimmin cold! That said, in sheltered areas birds made the most of the early rays and at Challow Hill many birds are already back on territory it seems with 2 pairs of Stonechat along the main track, several Yellowhammer paired up, Dartford Warbler singing and flirting in the gorse, Chiffchaff singing down in the lower copse and Meadow Pipits flitting around on the steep sided edges of the hill. At Swineham still a handful of Sand Martin were over the gravel pits and on Hartland Moor the Great Grey Shrike was still present. On Lytchett Fields the Green-winged Teal was on French’s Pools and the Lesser Yellowlegs was viewable from the Turlin Screen. Early evening saw a huge gathering of Black-headed and Med Gulls around ‘Gull Islands’ consisting of thousands of birds making an absolute racquet before bedding down for the night. Hopefully these are birds that are prospecting the islands ready for a busy breeding season ahead. At Arne, 8 Spoonbill were in Middlebere with a Marsh Harrier seen too and in the car park a Firecrest was singing. Ospreys are now turning up at traditional breeding sites across the UK now too, so when we will we see our first passage Poole Harbour bird?

Black-headed and Med Gull roost gathering, Wareham Channel, Poole Harbour 21/03/17 @ 17:45

Yellowhammer – Challow Hill – Paul Morton

Dartford Warbler – Challow Hill – Paul Morton