Sightings29/04/2019

Harbour Update – posted 28/04/19

Hoorah! Today we saw a return of Osprey CJ7 as she had gone missing for a couple of days. She didn’t return to her favoured Middlebere platform, but instead opted for another vacant nest near Arne. It could have been because the large un-ringed female Osprey that’s now been around for a week or so was still taking up residence on the Middlebere platform, eating large Mullet. 

There was plenty more on offer today too with 3 Hobby hawking up and down the Arne road and on the edge of Slepe Heath. At Swineham/River Frome a count of 44 Reed Warbler, 6 Sedge Warbler, 19 Cetti’s Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Cuckoo, Whimbrel, 1 Swift and 50 Sand/House Martin were over the gravel pit. At Middlebere there were 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Common Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Cuckoo and c10 Swallow. At Holton Lee a Cuckoo flew over Holton Pools and there were 4 Reed Warbler and 1 Whimbrel was in the bay. Away from nest platforms, Osprey were also reported over the Wareham Channel and near Ower Bay, but these relate to the 2 females that are present and a Marsh Harrier was in the mouth of the Frome. On the Brownsea Lagoon the Sandwich Terns have now begun moving onto the breeding islands and can be watched live HERE via our Brownsea webcam which was installed back in 2013 in partnership with Dorset Wildlife Trust and National Trust. On Baiter a decent small flock of waders consisting of 1 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover and 12 Turnstone were feeding along the low tide line.

Ringed Plover – Baiter Beach – Ian Ballam

Turnstone – Baiter Beach – Ian Ballam

Dunlin – Baiter Beach – Ian Ballam

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