We couldn’t have asked for a better Spring Safari Cruise this morning, with the Forster’s Tern giving us close fly-bys at the end of the Wareham Channel after being active in Lytchett Bay shortly beforehand. A confiding Little Tern added to the excitement, also in the Wareham Channel near Gigger’s Island, while we had a close-up view of a Hobby catching a passerine over the boat! 3 Marsh Harrier were also active in the area, as well as 2 White-tailed Eagle on Shag Looe Head. Other highlights included c.60 Sand Martin and 10 Swallow feeding over the gravel pit at Swineham and 3 Whimbrel were foraging on the shoreline of Arne. Brownsea Lagoon featured numbers of 15 Avocet, 150 Black-tailed Godwit, 50 Bar-tailed Godwit, 30 Dunlin and 1 Dark-bellied Brent Geese. c.100 Sandwich Tern and 30 Common Tern were also active on and around the Lagoon. 1 Osprey was seen hunting in Lytchett Bay at around midday. At South Haven, 1 male Black Redstart was reported this morning, as well as a late Great Northern Diver flying in high over the harbour entrance.

Hobby – Wareham Channel, from Spring Safari Cruise – Robin Morrison