Well a new month and a not so new cold wind still blows from the east, but…not for much longer I hear on the news! Apparently the weather is on the turn by the weekend but please don’t hold me to that. Yet again, despite the cold wind some hardy spring migrants battled through to reach the harbour over the Easter bank holiday.

Saturday 30^th March was fairly quiet. There was just 1 Spoonbill at Holes Bay. 44 Knot and 83 Med Gulls at Shore Road. A ringing session at the PC World drain produced 9 new Chiffchaff and 5 re-traps.

Sunday 31^st March wasn’t much better with a Red Kite that drifted over Lytchett Matravers heading towards the harbour.

Monday 1^st April where the only joke was the cold wind but there were some decent birds about. At Lytchett Bay a cracking count of 4 Little Ringed Plover, 1 male Marsh Harrier, 1 Bittern, 1 stunning male Yellow Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail, 3 Wheatear and 4 Green Sandpiper.  At the PC World drain 12 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Sand Martin and a Grey Wagtail. Out in the bay 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Peregrine and a male Pintail.

Tuesday 2^nd April was a gloriously sunny day, which in turn produced a whole chorus of 7-8 Chiffchaff that started singing at the PC World drain, with at least 30 birds present in total.  Still plenty on the Brownsea Lagoon with 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 15 Knot, 50 Bar-tailed Godwit, 100 Black-tailed Godwit, at least 6 pairs of Med Gulls, and 1 Ringed Plover.

There should be lots of exciting birds starting to arrive in the next few weeks so be on the look out for possible Redstart, Whinchat, Pied Flycatcher and even listen out for a wandering Nightingale!