Despite a really cold start to the day, the bird numbers were once again top draw with what seemed like a few ‘top ups’ in certain areas after yesterdays fall. The south end of the PCW Drain was hopping with birds this morning and included 1 Lesser Whitethroat, c20 Common Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Willow Warbler, 4 Blackcap and 5 Swallow. The Lower Frome and Piddle Valley (either side of Swineham GP) was really productive all day and included 2 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Spotted Redshank, 6 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, the 1st winter Little Gull, plenty of Sedge and Reed Warbler singing, 2 Marsh Harrier, c200 Sand Martin and c30 Swallow. At Sunnyside c20 Whimbrel were in the field next to the farm and there were 7 Wheatear, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Whinchat and 1 Hobby in the fields south of the Sunnyside Scrape. The Brownsea Lagoon had a good number of passage waders including c20 Sanderling, c150 Dunlin, c10 Bar-tailed Godwit, c10 Turnstone, 5 Knot and 12 Avocet. In the Arable Field at Lytchett Fields there were still 6 Wheatear and 3 Whinchat with 17 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover and 1 Spotted Redshank out on the fields. A Spotted Flycatcher was seen at RSPB Arne and a White-tailed Eagle was soaring over Parkstone late morning before heading off north.

Sanderling flock – Brownsea Lagoon Beach – Alison Copland (taken from Spring Safari Cruise)

Bar-tailed Godwits – Brownsea Lagoon Beach – Alison Copland (taken from Spring Safari Cruise)

Common Whitethroat – Nine Barrow Down

Fresh juvenile Pied Wagtail – PCW Drain, Poole