An absolute scorcher today. One of our followers who logs the temperature at home commented today that the temperature maxed at 27.4°C today on the outskirts of Poole Harbour, easily making it the warmest day of 2024 and the warmest day since the 7th (28.0) and 9th (28.6) of September 2023. Only last June 15th (27.9), 13th (29.3) and 9th (27.5) were warmer last year.

With this in mind the birds mainly kept their heads low today. We did receive some good data back though from local birder Rene Goad who got info back from 2 colour-ringed Sandwich Terns he logged on Brownsea recently. The photos can be viewed below and the info came back as: White ‘354’ was ringed as a nestling on 21st July 2021 at Pagham Harbour, West Sussex & Red ‘KHP’ was ringed as a chick on 12th August 2018 at Ynyslas NNR, Borth, West Wales. This is good data, especially the 8 year old. Sandwich Tern life span is usually around 12 years old, but the oldest ringing recovery was of a 30 year old individual.

There were more waders arriving today in the shape of 51 Curlew and 6 Redshank in Brands Bay and a Marsh Harrier was over the Lower Frome Valley and this evening 2 Osprey were in the Wareham Channel.

Sandwich Tern ‘354’ – Brownsea Lagoon – Rene Goad

Sandwich Tern ‘KHP’ – Brownsea Lagoon – Rene Goad