The first Sandwich Tern chicks have arrived on Brownsea, with at least eight counted by the DWT team from the Avocet Hide islands this afternoon! And there was also more promising signs from the new Osprey couple in town (2-year olds 6J8 & 5R0) as early pair bonding continues. Highlights from across a relatively quiet day’s birding around the harbour featured a Honey Buzzard drifting over Canford Heath early afternoon and a Little Ringed Plover on Lychett Fields – the latter noteworthy given their near-complete absence at the site this spring. Out of area, but news of a Roller in New Forest might just spark the motivational inspiration needed to stay out and about, scouring those local patches and keep birding through this heat. Meanwhile slightly closer to home, a Bee-eater at over Durlston CP this morning also provided a splash of colour along the Purbecks.

Recently hatched Sandwich Tern chick, Brownsea Lagoon © Nikki Tutton