Thank goodness the weather turned today, dropping from 30 degrees down to only 19 by this afternoon! By far the best news today was that the first Avocet chick hatched on the Brownsea Lagoon. There are apparently currently 4 ‘sitting’ pairs, which is a good total for Dorset, in fact it’s the only 4 pairs in Dorset! Although they have tried to breed over the last few years, the chicks are frequently predated by Great Black-backed Gulls. However, this year a couple of pairs have nested well away from the gulls, so it would be great if they could actually fledge some youngsters this year. At Lytchett Fields 24 Teal are already back and the 1^st juvenile Black-headed Gull was noted, along with an adult Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper. A Red Kite drifted over Upton and a Marsh Harrier was seen at Swineham.

Nightjar – Slepe Heath 

Common Sandpiper – Lytchett Fields – David Foster