Finally the cold wind subsided today and the warmth encouraged a few more spring migrants to arrive, however the news of the day only happened about 19:50 this evening when CJ7 laid her first unfertilised egg of the season. If she hadn’t of paired up this spring it was always likely she’d go through the same process as last spring and tonight she did. It may seem sad or frustrating to watch, but this is all great experience for her when Mr Right does come along as she perfects her nest building skills and learns how to care for her eggs. It’s great to see her bond to the harbour is still so strong and her time will come, she (and we) just need to be patient. From a scientific point of view, this is fascinating behaviour that is teaching us much about Osprey biology when colonising a new area. Females setting up territories and laying annual clutches of unfertilised eggs is relatively unknown, if known about at all so we’re getting a great insight into new and fascinating part of the project we were never expecting to see. Lets see how May and June pan out, and who knows, she may even meet Mr Right later this spring??

Other sightings from today included a Garden Warbler, 2 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 Blackcap in the PCW Drain. At Lytchett Fields there was a decent passage of Swallow with c20 House Martin back on territory now and a Swift passed over. A Wryneck was also reported near the SANG car park at Lytchett Fields but sadly couldn’t be relocated. At Lytchett Fields there were 28 Whimbrel went over and there were 6 Little Ringed Plover, 6 Greenshank, 3 Ringed Plover and a Spotted Redshank. On the Brownsea Lagoon there was a Spoonbill plus good numbers of Sandwich and Common Tern, several Knot, Dunlin and Ringed Plover and c20 Bar-tailed Godwit.

CJ7 with newly laid unfertilised egg this evening