At Lytchett Fields there were 200+ Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank, 3 drake Shoveler and 3 Gadwall. Over Swineham GP 2 Hobby were hunting, 4 Egyptian Geese were on the flood and there was some Bearded Tit activity off Swineham Point with birds calling and moving about in the reeds. An Osprey drifted over the western part of the Wareham Channel mid afternoon and a Red Kite was over Wareham.

The main highlight today was another good passage of Red Kite through the county, most in the west near Weymouth but the harbour saw its fair share with birds over Brownsea, Upton Heath, Lytchett Minster, Lytchett fields, Wareham, Canford Heath and Arne. We were also sent a photo of some Red-eared Terrapin sun-bathing in Poole Park Lake. We weren’t aware they were present there but apparently they’ve been there for quite some time. We also received news of a Marsh tit on Brownsea Island which would be the first record on Brownsea for quite some time which is great.

Red-eared Terraprin – Poole Park – Clare Slade

With more high pressure and clear skies there were more Red Kites moving today with birds over Canford Heath, Lytchett Matravers, Morden Bog, Sandford and Greenland’s Farm. A Wood Warbler was a great find in a private garden in central Poole and at Holton Pools a Little Ringed Plover was on the scrapes before the high tide set in. On Lytchett Fields there were just c30 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank, 4 Redshank and 4 Ringed Plover.

Little Egret – Holton Pools – John Pick

Today we hosted what was going to be our last Spring boat tour of the season, however they’ve been so well received that we’re planning to run several late spring and some summer tours now too so please keep an eye out on the website for more details. Todays trip was idyllic in terms of setting….bright sunshine, calm waters and a great crew of guests. Highlights included an Osprey circling high over Arne, a Marsh Harrier was over Giggers Island briefly and out on Arne moors (not viewable from the main land) 4 Lapwing, 5 Redshank and a skulky male Ruff were on a flooded pool. Over Swineham Swifts were swooping over the boat and Reed (44) and Cetti’s Warblers (20) were really vocal in the reed beds a Cuckoo was calling near the B&B and several Reed Bunting were on territory along the northern river bank with 3 Bearded Tit at Swineham Point and a Kingfisher. Out on the water there were still several Great Crested Grebe lingering on from the winter although they’re now all in their summer finery. On the Brownsea Lagoon  there were 11 Bar-tailed Godwit and 211 Black-tailed Godwit, c40 Oystercatcher, c10 Dunlin, c100 Sandwich Tern and c100 Common Tern with 2 summer plumaged Turnstone on the Brownsea Quay. Elsewhere up to 7 Hobby were active commuting between Hartland, Slepe Heath and Arne. Over Wareham a Red Kite drifted low over the town. At Lytchett Fields there were 98 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 4 Redshank and 2 Whimbrel.

Up with the lark public bird boat – Swineham

Kingfisher – Swineham – Peter Moore

 Reed Bunting – Swineham – Peter Moore

It was another great day to be out, as although it was overcast there was zero wind making looking and listening for birds a sheer delight and much easier. We were keeping an eye on the Brownsea Lagoon all day as it felt like the kind of day when birds could just ‘drop in’ and sure enough early morning saw a mixed flock of 30 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling and 1 Ringed Plover settle on the ‘boomerang’ all day before heading out to feed on the afternoons low tide. By mid afternoon it was worrying to see that no Common Tern were settled on the main breeding island on the lagoon although several were there in the morning. Its possible they only went out to feed and breeding evidence may evolve over the coming week but several Canada Geese and Graylags are also making the islands a regular dinner and supper spot it seems so are we seeing a level of disturbance that’s preventing the terns from settling? At Lytchett Fields there were just shy of 100 Black-tailed Godwit (98) feeding all bar three were still in winter plumage, also 3 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin and 2 Whimbrel there.

Oystercatcher – Baiter – John Pick

Pretty quiet today but last night our surveyor Nick Hopper was out doing some night-time wanderings having a listen for any night singers that could well be going un-noticed. Surveying at night opens up a whole new world and you often experience things you wouldn’t see or hear during the day. Last night Nick managed to sound record a migrant Dunlin that actually began giving sections of song out on Arne Moors. Now Dunlin definitely don’t breed in Poole Harbour but you’ll often get birds that give bursts of song whilst on migration practicing and warming up for when they arrive on territory much further north. At Lytchett Fields today a single winter-plumaged Grey Plover was on French’s Pools along with c150 Black-tailed Godwit before a Peregrine flushed them off. On Upton Heath a Whinchat was photographed and on Slepe Heath 3 Hobby were overhead.

Dunlin singing – Arne Moors – Nick Hopper

Grey Plover – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

With a bit of a chill in the air, birds were keeping their heads a little lower than of late and as the wind built over the course of the day it was certainly reminiscent of the good old days i.e the spring so far! Still, there were Cuckoo calling at Holmebridge, Slepe heath, Swineham and Godlingston. An Osprey was fishing mid-morning in the Wareham Channel but wasn’t seen later in the day at any of the usual hang-out spots. Small parties of Swift were still very active above Swineham GP and small flocks of Sand Martin were feeding in amongst them. A single Red Kite was over Bourne Valley nature reserve in Poole. Despite the cold it seems there’s been a great increase in the number of displaying Tree Pipit and Woodlark with plenty of new and suitable habitat having been created on the southern shores of the harbour in recent years. As both are red data list species we can’t say exactly where they are but by learning their song you can teach your self how to locate these tuneful songsters with Tree Pipit offering a lovely varied and mixed set of notes in an excited and rather chaotic manner whilst Woodlark offer a slightly more melodic, descending set of notes…just perfect for listening to when out on a Poole Harbour heathland this spring and summer.

Tree Pipit – Poole harbour southern shores 

 Tree Pipit song – 13/05/14 – Poole Harbour, southern shores.

 Woodlark, Meadow Pipit And Great Spotted Woodpecker – May 2014 – Near Arne, Poole Harbour

Today was another fine spring morning, despite the forecast of degrading conditions. Swifts and Swallow were swooping low over Swineham and a Little Ringed Plover was on the flooded pools there. An Osprey was circling high above Arne by mid morning and was later seen in the Wareham Channel with another (or the same) resting up at Morden Bog for most of the afternoon. In the Corfe River Valley near Wytch Farm 2 Cuckoo were calling and there were plenty of common spring migrants such as Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing. Dartford Warbler and Stonechat were in fine voice on Slepe Heath and on Godlingston a single Wheatear and 2 Cuckoo. Near the chain ferry at South Haven a single White Wagtail was logged. On the Brownsea Lagoon a full high tide count was conducted and it seems there has finally been a big clear out of waders with only 6 Avocet, 1 Greenshank, 2 Common Redshanks, 105 Dunlin, 6 Ringed Plover, 2 Turnstone, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 50 Oystercatcher and 1 Common Sandpiper however Tern numbers had built with 145+ Sandwich Tern and 82+ Common Tern. The terns are however late back on to their breeding islands and although some have settled we’d thought more would be nest building/on eggs by now.

Chaffinch – Holton Lee – John Pick

Little Egret – Whitecliff- John Pick

Oystercatcher – Whitecliff – John Pick

The day got off to a cracking start when a drake Garganey was first found on the small pools just south of Swineham GP where the Glossy Ibis then also suddenly appeared for a brief preen before moving off NE towards the gravel pits. Also at Swineham were 2 singing Cuckoo’s, 4 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, c10 Swift, 1, 1 Red Kite and 6 Gadwall. At Arne there was another Cuckoo, 2 Osprey and 4 Whimbrel. At Lytchett Fields there were just singles of Spoonbill, Ringed Plover, Whimbrel and Dunlin. There were 2 Hobby active again above HartlandThere was also a report of a Black Kite over Hartland Moor kid afternoon, if anyone has any info or photos that relate to this bird we’d be really interested in hearing about it.

Today provided another day in paradise as Bank Holiday record-breaking temperatures hit the headlines. The birds, well, they didn’t mind at all and with lots of insect life now on the wing species such as Hobby took full advantage as dragonflies began emerging from heathland ponds. There were 3 Hobby over Hartland, 1 over Middlebere and another over Wareham water meadows near the bypass bridge. Red Kite were again on the move with 3 over Wareham Common, 5 over Lytchett Matravers, 1 over Sandford and 1 over Studland. Its no surprise that with these stunning summer sunsets over the Bank Holiday weekend that Nightjars suddenly began to sing at dusk with birds back at Arne and on Brownsea. There was also the first spring arrival of Ruff with a single at Lytchett Fields and 3 on the Brownsea Lagoon. An Osprey was seen fishing in the Wareham Channel and then 2 were seen early evening at Morden Bog. On Brownsea Sandwich Tern numbers are building very slowly with only one of the islands in front of the Mac Hide being used and its worrying to see that next to no Common Terns have settled yet on the other islands…are the Canada Geese imposing too much?

Sandwich Tern – Brownsea Lagoon – Rene Goad

Mute Swan – Poole Park – Johm Pick Grendon