Despite the naff weather, birds are beginning to arrive. The first Sand Martin was recorded on the Isles of Scilly and Gloucestershire saw its first Wheatear of spring. We are fast approaching the harbour’s first arrival of spring migrants. In recent years, Wheatear have been picked up making landfall at Sunnyside Farm, Baiter Park and Hartland Moor… It’s a chilly start tomorrow morning but this is an exciting time to get out into the field!

An evening of lamping at Sunnyside last night produced quality if not quantity. Large numbers of birds were out feeding in the fields, however catching any was providing difficult. Woodcock, Common Snipe, Jack Snipe and Skylark constantly encountered. The constant drizzle rendered our thermal imagers useless and the light field conditions meant the birds could see us approaching. However, despite the challenge, we still managed to produce a Jack Snipe which is always a joy to see in the hand.

More evidence of spring today, with the first territorial Redshank song heard in the Lower Frome Valley on the floods around Swineham and Arne Moors. Lytchett Fields produced 2 Water Pipit, starting to come into summer plumage, along with 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank and 2 Green Sandpiper. 1 Great Northern Diver was reported in Parkstone Bay, along with 8 Great-crested Grebe, 6 Red-Breasted Merganser, and 4 Bar-tailed Godwit on Baiter playing field.

Water Pipit – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

With numerous checks made throughout the day of various ‘bird news’ platforms to check whether the UK’s first Wheatear or Sand Martin had arrived yet, we were keen to get out our selves early doors to see what other signs of spring could be located. As it happened, no Wheatear or Sand martin were yet logged in the UK today so the first ones are still up for grabs. Our dawn vigil from Slepe Heath didn’t yield the Common Crane as hoped, but we were still rewarded with a fine female Merlin dashing along the Wareham Channel chasing a Meadow Pipit with 4-5 Skylark ascending above Arne Moors for potentially their first song flights of the season. Both Black-headed and Mediterranean Gull were out on ‘Gull Islands’ prospecting for the breeding season ahead and a very small trickle of Meadow Pipit headed north. Along Soldiers Road a small flock of 29 Fieldfare were in fields at Hartland Stud and 4 male Stonechat were on a fence line close together suggesting some sort of arrival from somewhere. There were also 2 Spoonbill out in the Wareham Channel and 3 Raven cronking out over Slepe Heath. Late afternoon saw a stunning Red Kite drift over Upton and at Swineham Point 2 Short-eared Owl, 1 Marsh Harrier and the ringtail Hen Harrier were active commuting between Ridge Wharf, Swineham and Arne Moors. A nocturnal recording session at Lytchett Bay didn’t produce too much other than 2 fly over Coot which are extremely noteworthy in Lytchett Bay along with plenty of Water Rail and Wigeon calls.

Cormorant – Hatch Pond – Ian Ballam

A nice varied day today with spring wrestling winter to the ground and trying to stamp its authority on March. At dawn 1 possibly 2 Short-eared Owls were out hunting in the Lower Frome Valley between Swineham and Arne Moors whilst the ringtail Hen Harrier dashed out across the Wareham Channel. Along Soldiers Road it was nice to hear a small flock of Redwing sub-singing and engaged in ‘community song’ before darting out of the woodland and announcing their more familiar ‘zeee’ as they headed off. A Woodlark was also high in the sky above Stoborough Heath singing and battling against the northerly wind. Without doubt, bird of the day was a Common Crane which flew in over Ridge, Wareham, heading south towards Hartland. At Morden Bog the Great Grey Shrike was near the decoy pond and on the Brownsea Lagoon saw 2 newly arrived Spoonbill drop down for an afternoon feed. At Lytchett Fields the 1^st Skylark of the summer was heard singing and there was 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Peregrine.

Adder – Ballard Down

Swineham Point produced ringtail Hen Harrier quartering beyond the mouth of the Piddle, 20 Lapwing, 6 Cetti’s Warbler, 2 Bullfinch, Meadow Pipit and 1 Reed Bunting. The nearby Gravel Pits offered 2 Pochard, c.100 Coot, 20 Tufted Duck, 15 Gadwall, 11 Shoveler, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Mallard, 26 Canada Geese and 2 Little Grebe. The scrape held 20 Curlew, 2 Gadwall and 2 Shelduck. A single Great Northern Diver was seen off north of Brownsea Island this morning.

Today’s winter sun encouraged plenty of reptile activity across the harbour, with 6 Adder recorded at Swineham and Sand Lizard, Common Lizard and Adder all observed on various Heathland across Poole.

Cracking views of Marsh Harrier from the Holton Pools hide this morning.

Marsh Harrier from the Holton Pools hide this morning. @harbourbirds @LHoltonLee @DorsetWildlife pic.twitter.com/OlivnnO0Bn

— Alison Copland (@alison_copland) March 1, 2020

3 of 6 Adders recorded at Swineham – Gary Hayman

With the Osprey season really not that far away now (several probably having already left their wintering grounds), it was great to hear that our 2019 chick 019 was seen again in Gunjar Quarry, Gambia yesterday meaning she may stay there this summer utilising this fishing hotspot.

We’ve had a quick look at the long range forecast, it looks as if things begin to settle down week commencing March 9th…will we see our first Wheatear that week? Today produced our first Slow Worm of spring.

Littlesea, Studland again featured the regular Great White Egret, however another bird was recorded near River Frome at Worget. Jerry’s Point produced 1 Black-necked Grebe, 2 Slavonian Grebe, 3 Great Northern Diver, 7 Turnstone, 4 Oystercatcher and 9 Red-breasted Merganser. Brand’s Bay held a further 2 Black-necked Grebe and single Great Northern Diver. A good site count of 32 Pied Wagtail were recorded on one of the sodden fields at Sunnyside. The 4 Scaup remain highly faithful to Holes Bay, seen again just south of the railway bridge. Middlebere enjoyed another visit from the ringtail Hen Harrier again, along with a Spotted Redshank. Poole Harbour Marsh Harrier numbers now down to 2 individuals as we come to the end of the month.

Osprey 019 – Gunjar Quarry, Gambia – Chris Wood

Plenty of activity at Baiter in the wind and rain today, featuring 8 Ringed Plover, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 11 Black-tailed Godwit, 15 Redshank , c.150 Brent Geese and c.200 Oystercatcher. A Spotted Redshank occupied Brownsea Lagoon and another 3 could be seen from Middlebere. The long-staying Siberian Chiffchaff continues to loiter around Wareham Common and the Morden Bog Great Grey Shrike remained visible just west of Old Decoy Pond. Lytchett Fields continued to hold the Harbour’s Water Pipit, with a single bird seen today along with a Green Sandpiper.

Black-tailed Godwit – Baiter Park – Ian Ballam

Bar-tailed Godwit – Baiter Park – Ian Ballam

Redshank – Baiter Park – Ian Ballam

The Wareham Channel enjoyed 2 quartering ringtail Hen Harrier and 5 drake Shoveler frequented Lytchett Bay this morning. Yesterday saw the last Sunnyside Ringing Demo of the season. The conditions made it hard work on the ground to catch the birds. The evening was exceptionally still and bright meaning birds could see us coming a mile off! Despite the challenging field conditions, two late arriving catches meant we managed to produce 3 Jack Snipe.

Jack Snipe – Sunnyside Ringing Demo

In certain, sheltered areas spring seems to be trying to take a hold, despite the wind and frequent rain taking control in the more exposed areas. A good example was at the top end of the PC World drain this AM where c15 Common Chiffchaff present and 4-5 of them in full song. Also present were 2 Siberian Chiffchaff and a male Blackcap sub-singing. Also 1 Firecrest, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 6 Goldcrest, 3 Jay’s a 1 Sparrowhawk. A School Bird Boat also headed out today and saw 4 Great Northern Diver, 2 Common Scoter (off Jerry’s Point), 6 Black-necked Grebe (central harbour), 8 Spoonbill (Shipstal). The Water Rail was again showing well on the edge of one of the islands on the main Poole Park boating lake. There were another 3 Blackcap in an Upton Garden and in the lower Frome Valley there was 1 Short-eared Owl, 1 Hen Harrier, 2 Merlin and 2 Marsh Harrier. 8 Spoonbill were on Shipstal Point, Arne.

Blackcap – PC World Drain – Ian Ballam