The Harbours first Swallow of the spring dashed through Poole over the office roofs as we were setting up our sound recording gear. With Chiffchaff now beginning to come through in small waves, they can now be heard from various hedgerows and woodlands. An interesting looking tristis type Chiffchaff was found at Lytchett Fields early morning giving small bouts of song as it was feeding. A Stonechat along Holes Bay suggested it was a new arrival too. It was nice to see Brownsea get a good grilling today too with 12 Meds, 4 Sandwich Tern, 2 Snipe, 10 Knot, 5 Greenshank, 3 Turnstone, 16 Grey Plover, 50 Black-tailed Godwit, 18 Bar-tailed Godwit, 14 Curlew, 60 Avocet, 15 Gadwall, 20 Shoveler, 7 Brent Geese and 238 Shelduck all on the lagoon. Away from the lagoon 3 separate singing Firecrest were found, along with 2 singing Chiffchaff and a fly over Brambling. From the western shoreline of Brownsea a tight flock of 58 Great Crested Grebe were out in central harbour with 2 Common Scoter and 20 Red-breasted Merganser. At Norden Sewage Works a Firecrest was back again next to the filter beds and in Middlebere 7 Spoonbill were roosting. From Knoll Beach, Studland a single Black-necked Grebe and 3 Common Scoter were counted.

Our night recording session was a little more productive Monday night going into Tuesday with the highlights consisting of…

Redwing calls – 284

Song Thrush calls – 5

Blackbird calls – 10

Skylark – 1

Teal – 4

Wigeon flock – 1

Redshank – 2

Curlew 4

Moorhen – 1

Skylark – Skylark – Call of a night time migrant – Old Town Poole Listening Station

Siberian (tristis) Chiffchaff – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

One of yesterdays Little Ringed Plover – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Firecrest – Norden Sewage Works – Clive Hargrave