Despite being cold still this morning, the drop in wind allowed the first UK spring migrants to arrive with a Sand Martin at Lodmoor, Weymouth and an adult male Wheatear seen in Wales today. Don’t get too over excited though as it’s due to remain cold next week, and we won’t see the first proper arrival for at least another 2-3 weeks yet. However, the first migrant Ospreys usually arrive back at the their nests site at Rutland around March 15th, which really isn’t that far away. Then the countdown can begin to when our harbour pair may arrive back. As much as we love winter, we have to admit, we’re quite excited about this coming spring and summer.

Today, sightings were pretty similar from previous days with White-tailed Eagle G463 in the Wareham Channel, 3 Black-necked Grebe in Studland Bay and 2 off Jerry’s Point. On Lytchett Fields there were 4 Water Pipit togther, Middlebere had 3 Spotted Redshank and 2 Spoonbill. Across the harbour c100 Red-breasted Merganser remain. At Norden Sewage Works 13 Chiffchaff were feeding in the scrub at the back and on the filter beds with 3 Firecrest. A Red Kite passed over Wareham train station. On the groynes near the haven Hotel 8 Sanderling were roosting. A Sandwich Tern was on the Brownsea Lagoon, perhaps providing a hint of early return spring passage and 3 Common Scoter remained in the Wareham Channel.

Sanderling – North Haven, Sandbanks