Despite the strong breeze, there was some definite movement today with an intermittent trickle of Swallow and Sand Martin arriving in all day across the entire harbour. This afternoon off Middle Beach, Studland House Martin, Swallow and Sand Martin all arrived in off the sea as did small numbers of Meadow Pipit. There was also still a full summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe in Studland Bay and a 1st winter Kittiwake was off South Beach with 1 Great Northern Diver. There were also 3 Great Northern Diver sheltering in Shell Bay this afternoon and 2 Willow Warbler in the Shell Bay car park. The Forster’s Tern showing well off Shipstal Beach this morning and was seen well from this mornings cruise. There were 4 Marsh Harrier at Swineham, the Brownsea Lagoon held 1 Spoonbill, 11 Sanderling, 9 Avocet, c300 Black-tailed Godwit, c20 Bar-tailed Godwit, 6 Wigeon, 1 Greenshank, c20 Sandwich Tern and later this afternoon the lagoons first Common Tern of the year arrived. Female Osprey ‘Beaky’ was on the Middlebere nest platform for a few hours this morning but then seemed to catch a thermal during late morning and proceeded to leave. At Lytchett Fields there were 2 Spotted Redshank and 2 Wheatear, with another 2 Wheatear at Greenlands Farm.

Sandwich Tern arrival – Brownsea Lagoon – Clive Hargrave

Not many new arrivals today, ‘just’ the Forster’s Tern off Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne which then later deployed to the Brownsea Lagoon, 2 Spotted Redshank and 4 Greenshank were on Lytchett Fields, the female Osprey was in Middlebere and another was at Morden Bog where the Great Grey Shrike was also still present. There was a Willow Warbler in the PCW Drain and around Upton CP (and many other woodland sites) Blackcap song is now starting to build and ‘wind up’. A handful of Swallow and Sand Martin were over Lytchett Fields and Swineham GP. There was a Great Northern Diver off Shell Bay Beach, Studland and a single Spoonbill on the Brownsea Lagoon.

Forster’s Tern – Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne – Aspen Silvaana

Another breezy day. In fact the breeze looks like its here to stay for a while, so don’t put your winter coats away just yet. Not a huge amount reported today, but Ospreys were well represented with male 022 seen on a different harbour nest platform near RSPB Arne with an un-ringed female. This is likely to be the female that landed on his nest last week, and shows she’s keen to stay in the area…..we just need male 374 to turn up! Female ‘Beaky’ was again on the Middlebere nest platform again all morning, an un-ringed Osprey was in the dead trees at Morden Bog this evening and late this afternoon a mystery Osprey briefly visited CJ7’s and 022’s nest site. In the Frome valley, up near Holmebridge there were 17 Cattle Egret, 1 male Mandarin Duck and 618 Black-tailed Godwit feeding on the floods. In Lytchett Way, Upton the Lesser Redpoll was in Alders again, the seasons first Whimbrel was on Patchin’s Point, on RSPB Arne and a full summer-plumaged Black-necked Grebe was off Middle Beach, Studland Bay. There was also another season first with a Hobby over Slepe Heath and a Spotted Redshank was on Lytchett Fields. Finally, we’re not sure what time but apparently the Forster’s Tern was seen again off Shipstal Beach.

Male Osprey 022 on a harbour nest platform near RSPB Arne with un-ringed female early this AM

It was tale of two halves today, with glorious sunshine and some actual warmth during this morning, which then descended into something more familiar by the end of the day as wind a rain rolled on in. Thankfully our Spring Safari was during the sun and warmth and returned a good selection of birds including newly arrived White-tailed Eagle G644 in the Wareham Channel which highlighted perfectly that it was less than 1-years old as it failed spectacularly to land in a pine tree, falling through several branches before sorting her self out and finding a comfortable place to sit along the RSPB Arne shoreline. The Marsh Harrier’s were in fine voice, displaying and courting high above Swineham, demonstrating their spectacular Skydancing skills to the awe-inspired crowd. We also had the first 2 migrant Tree Pipit of the season fly past over Swineham and there were 2 House Martin over Swineham GP. There were still 3 Great Northern Diver on show stunning summer-plumaged Black-tailed Godwits continued to move up the Frome Valley, over the boat. Elsewhere there were 2 Osprey over Middlebere, both with fish, and one of which was ‘Beaky’ as she soon settled on the Middlebere nest platform. There was another Osprey at Morden Bog in the dead trees south of the pond, eating a fish. Another White-tailed Eagle flew in over Holes Bay this afternoon and then headed over Upton, this time it was an adult, and was likly our resident female G466 returning from the Isle of Wight having been on a day trip there yesterday. The Forster’s Tern was off Shipstal Beach this morning for about 30 minutes but couldn’t be relocated sadly later in the day.

Female Osprey ‘Beaky’ looking like how we all felt by the end of the day!

The start of the month got off to a flyer (literally) when a White Stork was found and tracked south over the Piddle Valley by Mark and Mo Constantine, only then for it to appear a few minutes later over Nick Hopper in Stoborough who also watched it move south. It later sounded like it must have then tracked east, as it (or another) was then seen over Christchurch Harbour about an hour later. The Forster’s Tern was once again off Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne moving between Middlebere and Shipstal. A new White-tailed Eagle appeared today, this time a 2023 IOW female translocated chick, G644 (as apposed to G466 our resident female). Most amazingly, after she was first spotted in the Wareham Channel she was then found and photographed on Pergins Island in Holes Bay north, giving anyone driving down the Holes Bay dual carriage way a potential shock, should they have looked over in that direction. On Lytchett Fields there were 2 Spotted Redshank and 4 Greenshank. On the move this morning a House Martin and 2 Swallow were over the Piddle Valley along with 2 Red Kite. The Little Gull was still on the floods just north of Swineham GP, a Swallow went through Sunnyside and un-ringed female Osprey ‘Beaky’ was on the Middlebere platform for most of the day.

White Stork – Stoborough – Nick Hopper

White-tailed Eagle – Pergins Island, Holes Bay – Rene Goad

Red Kite – Osprey nest platform – Private Site

Finaly some Spring-like weather today in the harbour, with the birds certainly responding, and you never know what’s going to turn up at this time of year! The Forster’s Tern is back! Having wintered over in Brittany, France we think, it was spotted this morning off Shipstal Point on it’s favourite post next to the beach. It’s still in it’s winter plumage making identification a little easier with the characteristic eye mask. However, if it stays in the harbour long enough and moults into it’s breeding plumage, it will be nearly impossible to tell apart from the Common Terns.

The Forster’s made a great addition to our action-packed Spring Safari this morning which felt like everything was getting active and ready for the breeding season. We had 3 Osprey throughout the trip, with one fishing in the Wareham Channel (likely Beaky who was photographed catching another enormous fish) as well as two more in the Wareham Channel. One bird, an unringed female, was actively hunting while 022 our resident male was seeing her off and alarm calling! Not something you get to see let alone hear that often. We also had male White-tailed Eagle, G463 in the Wareham Channel as well as c400 Black-tailed Godwit flying overhead and 4 Marsh Harrier, including skydancing and loads of interaction. Elsewhere in the harbour we had 5 Great Northern Diver spread around the north shore of Brownsea and Ball’s Lake. On the Brownsea Lagoon to top of the trip were 3 Spoonbill, c20 Grey Plover, c20 Sanderling, c20 Sandwich Tern and c20 Bar-tailed Godwit. One of the strangest sightings we had for the time of year was a Guillemot on the north shore of Brownsea. All in all, making for a fantastic Spring Safari!

In Lytchett Bay 2 House Martin went through, 1 Willow Warbler was singing on Slough Lane and 1 Spotted Redshank were on the Fields. The 1 Bar-headed Goose is still at Holme Lane gravel pit along with 1 Barnacle Goose. At Holmbridge 16 Cattle Egrets were on the flooded fields.

Forster’s Tern – Shipstal Point – @BirderJB on Twitter

Male Osprey 022 – Wareham Channel from our Spring Safari Cruise – Rene Goad

Guillemot – North shore of Brownsea from our Spring Safari Cruise – Alison Copland

Well, it seems most of the harbour is still in one piece after yesterdays battering and down pours. In fact by the end of today it started to feel spring-like again! There wasn’t too much in the way of spring migrants today but an adult Little Gull on the Brownsea Lagoon was one of several across South Dorset today. Out off Jerry’s Point/Redhorn Quay there were still 5 Great Northern Diver out on the water and a Black-necked Grebe was in Studland Bay. On the Brownsea Lagoon a massive arrival of c3400 Black-tailed Godwit settled, perhaps now because the Avon Valley in ‘too’ flooded. They’re very fickle these birds, unable to decide whether they like it ‘west-side or east-side’. However we do like it when they’re here because the plumage of these late March individuals is just stunning. Up on the top of Wareham Common/Worgret 17 Cattle Egret were feeding with cattle behind the sports centre. Late this evening a welcome visitor arrived and settled in her favourite spot in the Middlebere Channel. It was of course female Osprey ‘Beaky’ who we affectionally named several years ago when she began staging here on her migration north. Her pattern is exactly the same each year. She arrives late March/early April, stays for a few days and feeds up on the Middlebere nest platform, and then departs. Then in mid-August she arrives again, stays for a few days and feeds up on the Middlebere nest platform, and then departs. She’s almost certainly a northern breeder, perhaps Scottish and obviously loves the fish supply here, as she notoriously catches huge fish during her short stays in Middlebere. She’ll be around for a few days, and without doubt the best place to try and see her will be from Coombe Heath, at RSPB Arne. Our breeding pair weren’t up to much today other than carrying out nest repairs and upgrades after yesterdays storm. We did see 3 successful mating attempts which hopefully bodes well for an earlier than normal laying of eggs this spring.

Black-tailed Godwit – Brownsea Lagoon – Martin Adams

Migrant female Osprey ‘Beaky’ arriving on Middlebere nest platform late this evening – Middlebere

Was today the worst day of the winter/spring so far? Quite possibly, with torrential rain and and strong winds for almost the entire duration of the day. There were certain moments where we weren’t even sure our Osprey nest tree would be standing by the end of the day. Pretty grim! To add to the weather drama, there was Osprey drama on the nest cam this morning around 8:30am when a visiting un-ringed female Osprey dropped down briefly onto the nest. 022’s instant reaction was to try and ‘court’ her, but CJ7 couldn’t have been too far away as they soon both scarpered after a brief ‘interaction’ with one another. Looking at the plumage of todays new female, we’re pretty sure it’s the same female that caused trouble on the nest this time last year, and was (unfairly?) nick-named Jolene! Despite her interruption today, it’s good that she’s returned as all being well, last summers newly returned male single ‘374’ should be back soon, and she’d be a perfect match for him. Lets hope that a) she sticks around, and b) 374 arrives back soon! Despite the weather, there was also another arriving Osprey logged with one over Holes Bay heading north. Out in Poole Bay 8 Great Northern Diver were counted, on Wareham Common 21 Cattle Egret were still present and both Peregrines were on the Asda building.

Male Osprey 022 having brief ‘fling’ with visiting un-ringed female