When waders begin passing through there tends to be nowhere better than the Brownsea Lagoon or more recently now, Lytchett Fields. Today the latter site saw 49 Ringed Plover arrive along with a summer plumaged Knot, 29 Dunlin, 8 Grey Plover, 248 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Oystercatcher along with a freshly arrived Arctic Tern hawking in Lytchett Bay. On the Brownsea Lagoon a freshly arrived Black Tern also hawked over the area for a short while before exiting the harbour mid-morning and there was another decent showing of Sanderling with c30 present on the lagoon. At South Haven a Little Tern was out feeding with 65 Common Tern near the harbour mouth, also there a Cuckoo, 1 Spotted Flycatcher and a modest passage of Swift and House Martin.

Sanderling – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Grey Plover – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Knot – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Wader totals increased again today with 44 Ringed Plover on Lytchett Fields along with 24 Dunlin, 4 Greenshank, 242 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Redshank. On the Brownsea Lagoon 26 Sanderling were now present with c50 Dunlin and 8 Grey Plover again. A Marsh Harrier drifted over the west of the harbour near Swineham and a Red Kite drifted over Lytchett Minster. At Sunnyside a late Wheatear was present as was a Sedge Warbler and a Reed Warbler was singing in the Arne overflow car park suggesting some passerine passage had also taken place today. There were also 2 Cuckoo at Middlebere.

Reed Warbler – Swineham – Keith Rawling

Reed Bunting – Swineham – Keith Rawling

Cuckoo – Middlebere – Keith Rawling

Finally there’s been a shift in the circumstances and waders seem to be getting through a bit now with 1 Sanderling (very rare here), 23 Ringed Plover on Lytchett Fields along with 8 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank, 1 Whimbrel, 213 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Oystercatcher and 1 Redshank. On the brownsea Lagoon there were 17 Sanderling with 36 Dunlin along with 5 Grey Plover. Here’s hoping more come through over the coming days.

Sanderling – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

As we mentioned the other day this spring has been one of the best in recent years for migrating Osprey through Poole Harbour, with birds beginning to pass through from early April and here we are in late May and there are still birds using the harbour on migration. We mentioned that this ‘bodes well’ for when our translocated Osprey chicks that were released in 2017 begin to arrive back in the spring of 2019 as they will hopefully encourage some of these passage birds to hang around a bit longer and eventually stay to breed. There are several possibilities when it comes to Osprey beginning to nest in and around Poole Harbour as a result of our translocation project. The first is obviously that some of our translocated birds arrive back and begin nesting at some point over the coming years. This will with out doubt happen at some point down the line. However, by releasing Osprey chicks into the harbour each year over the coming four years it can totally change the dynamics of how passage/migrating Osprey see the area. When migrating Osprey pass through the harbour in autumn and begin seeing lots of newly fledged (released) youngsters in the harbour, some of these migrating birds will very quickly get drawn to this area as an obvious successful place to raise young. Last year when our first eight chicks were released an unpaired two-year old ringed migrant Osprey called CJ7 who was originally born and hatched at Rutland turned up in the harbour and for just under a week began associating her self very closely with our translocated chicks, often feeding and once even roosting with them. She was clearly happy to see them and liked what she saw in terms of habitat and friendly faces. This last week two Osprey have been present in the harbour but frustratingly they’ve not been close enough to see if any had rings on their legs. Then, finally today we managed to track one of the two down, only to find it was CJ7 back again! She’s obviously been drawn to Poole Harbour again, perhaps looking to see if there are any other chicks or nesting birds around this year, as Osprey are semi-colonial and like nesting in areas where other Osprey are nesting. Now, its way too early to get excited but its very significant that CJ7 has returned to Poole Harbour as it could be the beginnings of her taking a liking to the area and hoping/waiting for a male, perhaps one of our returning chicks next year to settle down with? Or, she could just as simply head off back to Rutland and we never see her again. Either way we’ll be watching things very carefully from here on in.

Elsewhere around the harbour today there were 2 newly arrived Ruff on Lytchett Fields and another on Brownsea. Also on Lytchett Fields were 181 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin and 1 Greenshank. At Arne 3 Cuckoo were calling, one at Shipstal, one at Middlebere and one on Arne Hill and a Red Kite drifted over Coombe Heath. With the heat attracting insects up into the stratosphere Hobby were again active over Slepe Heath and the western end of Middlebere.

 Osprey CJ7 having a good preen at Arne

Yet again Red Kites were active with individuals passing over Canford Heath/Hatch Pond, Parkstone, Upton and Slepe Heath. At Lytchett Fields there were 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank, 1 Dunlin and c130 Black-tailed Godwit. Again, Nightjar activity was pretty intense last night, certainly on some of the heathlands along the southern and south-western shores with the end of May seeing peak activity as males arrive on territory and begin to court females. There were Hobby over Slepe Heath and Wareham Water Meadows and 1-2 Osprey were around Middlebere and the Wareham Channel.

We’d also like to bring to your attention an issue that relates to two species we mention frequently on our sightings blog. In recent weeks Red Kite have become a regular feature for us here in Poole Harbour and during the winter Hen Harriers are one of star species, providing immense excitement for those lucky enough to see one quartering over the spartina saltmarsh. However, both species are ruthlessly under attack and today the RSPB investigations team issued a press release relating to three more sat-tagged Hen Harriers that have gone missing in suspicious circumstances in northern England. Likewise, at least half a dozen Red Kite have been found trapped, poisoned or shot at various sites in the north of England in recent months. You can read about the Hen Harrier issue HERE and the latest Red Kite issue HERE. Now, we don’t know about you but we’re getting sick of reading these stories which seem to be almost daily now. It seems illegal persecution of birds of prey is occurring systematically on or near shooting estates in the UK and if something isn’t done about it now then it won’t be long before they’re gone for good. Please read the articles and show your support for getting these heinous crimes stopped.

Nuthatch – Upton CP – John Pick

Blackbird – Upton CP – John Pick

With this long period of good weather it was inevitable that a heathland fire would occur somewhere around the harbour, but we weren’t quite expecting it to be Arne. Despite the number of visitors that visit the Arne peninsular each summer, fires here are (thankfully) very rare and it usually tends to be the urban heathlands of Poole Harbour north that suffer this time of year. Regardless, please remember that having any kind of small camp fire or BBQ creates an extreme high fire risk, so to reduce that risk simply don’t have one and certainly not on, in or near any heathland sites. Luckily fire crews were able to get on top of it and extinguish the flames fairly quickly, but a few avian casualties were found sadly. On a slightly happier note, 2 Osprey were seen again over the Arne peninsular. At Lytchett Fields there were 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 37 Black-tailed Godwit. Nightjar are certainly back in numbers with birds vocal at all traditional breeding sites, including on Lytchett Heath where their presence has been a bit sporadic over recent years.

Fire damage at RSPB Arne today – Photos RSPB Arne team

A really productive day today and fine weather to boot and lots of birds now with young. Up on Hartland Moor there were 3 Cuckoo calling also Mistle Thrush with newly fledged young. At Challow Hill, Yellowhammer, Common Whitethroat and Red-legged Partridge were along the main track and on the top ridge.  At Ower a single Crossbill, 6 Tree Pipit, 4 Cuckoo, Siskin, Linnet, Woodlark and another 3-4 Cuckoo calling. On Shell Beach, Studland there were still a few Sanderling, most of which were in full breeding plumage. At Lytchett Fields a Cuckoo was calling near the waterworks at the end of Slough Lane and out on the fields were 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and c70 Black-tailed Godwit. Over Slepe Heath and the Arne road area 5 Hobby were hunting/displaying with what looked like 2 pairs and a singleton. There were also 2 Osprey over the Wareham Channel and then Arne for most part of the day. This has to have been one of the best springs in recent memory for passage Osprey in Poole Harbour with birds present/passing through most days from the beginning of April. This alone bodes well for when the chicks from our Poole Harbour Osprey translocation project begin to arrive back next spring (2019) and start prospecting for new breeding sites.

Reed Warbler – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Common Whitethroat – Upton Heath – Rene Goad

 Stonechat – Upton Heath – Rene Goad

Today we had a selection of Moths in our HQ on Poole Quay which had been caught, collected and recorded from Holton Lee as part of our on going moths of Poole Harbour study. Each Saturday (when weather permits) we’ll be showcasing a selection of species that are common (and some not so common) place in gardens and sites around Poole Harbour. Its not only until you start learning about the variety of species you can find and then begin looking at them in detail that you realise just how incredible and interesting moths are. Moth trapping has become incredibly popular and it’s a great way of carrying out your own piece of citizen science by catching, recording and then reporting the species you catch in your very own garden. There are numerous sites you can buy equipment from but we’ve found ASL Anglian Lepidopterist Supplies very good and efficient and have found Robinson Traps the most effective. With the weather warming up but the nights still cold catches are still pretty slim but towards the end of May and into June and July ‘bumper hauls’ of moths can be common place and a fascinating challenge for any beginners taking up this hobby. Bird-wise today 130 Black-tailed Godwit and 3 Bar-tailed Godwit on Brownsea were logged. With the sun beaming down across the harbour Dartford Warbler were widely reported and very active across the heathlands and Sand Lizard were very conspicuous on heathland path edges. At Lytchett Fields a single Cuckoo was calling and there were 4 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Dunlin and 7 Black-tailed Godwit. Two more Red Kite drifted over Upton headed towards Upton Heath and Nightjar were churring at Sunnyside, Arne, Hartland and Studland.

Eyed Hawkmoth – BoPH HQ

Moth selection – BoPH HQ

With spring now leading into summer and migration now tailing off (not that its really got started this year) the drive is just to be out and to enjoy Poole Harbour’s spectacular scenery and diversity. There are still plenty of good birds to see and a visit to any of our local heathlands at dusk will reward you with ‘churring’ Nightjar and up until the end of May calling Cuckoo still too. Common and Sandwich Terns are now well established on some of their islands on Brownsea, most of which are now on eggs. There has also been a call out from the BTO asking for House Martin sightings over the coming weeks. There’s been a big decline in the number of House Martin reported this year, along with several other summer migrants and the  RSPB and BTO are asking for information on any House Martin that are now settled and breeding at traditional or new sites. For mor information or if you see or know of any within our Poole Harbour recording area (or beyond) then please report them HERE.

Today we carried out our annual gull census on ‘Gull Islands’ in Poole Harbour. Its fair to say the colony has had its ups and downs over the last few years with a mass illegal harvest of eggs in 2016, flooding in 2015 and a cold late spring in 2017. Not quite sure what to expect we headed out and were pleased to find that we arrived just in time as some of the chicks were just beginning to hatch out of their eggs. Since the first survey in 2008 where 87 Med Gull nests were found we’ve always struggled to better that total and have in fact seen a year on year decline of Med’s on the islands. However, this year felt different and one of the islands was definitely ‘Med Heavy’, which was proven in the overall totals with 155 Med Gull nests located, which is an incredible total. Although we saw no signs of illegal activity/egging Black-headed Gull nests were down to 4115 but we think this was down to a set of natural causes and could well be in part down to the increase of Med Gull which have a habit of bullying and often predating gull (and tern) nests.

Mediterranean Gull nest totals

2008 – 87

2015 – 64

2016 – 38

2017 – 33

2018 – 155

Black-headed Gull nest totals

2008 – 8951

2015 – 6400

2016 – 2589 (illegal harvesting of eggs occurred)

2017 – 5736

2018 – 4115

Elsewhere around the harbour today an Osprey was again in the Wareham Channel although only seen this afternoon so could have been a new migrant passing through? On Brownsea a Nightjar was visible from the heathland hide, up behind the villa, which is always nice to see before the bracken takes over. In the Corfe River Valley leading down to Wytch Lake 2 Cuckoo were calling. On Lytchett Fields a Spoonbill appeared out of nowhere! With no reports for a week or two it’s good to know that maybe one is trying to over-summer? Around midday a few Red Kite passed over too (they’re almost becoming to common to even mention now) with birds over the Arne Road and Slepe Heath and Lytchett Minster. At Hatch Pond 2 Common Sandpiper flew across the lake indicating some kind of wader passage had taken place if nowhere else showed signs of this! Along Hartland Moor Cuckoo and Woodlark were singing and a Hobby was over central Hartland.

Different stages of Black-headed Gull hatching on ‘Gull Island’ 2018 survey