Another breathtaking day across the harbour with the ‘Spring Effect’ in full force as migration begins to build up. The two highlight birds were the Red-spotted Bluethroat still being seen (very, very intermittently) at the eastern end of Swineham GP this morning and the adult Forster’s Tern was on the Boomerang around lunchtime. The harbours first Grasshopper Warbler of the year was ringed in the Lower Piddle Valley at Carey Secret Garden this morning, at Swineham there was a minimum of 5 Reed Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler along with 1 Willow Warbler and 4 Blackcap. Swallow passage really picked up mid-morning and logged 100+ right across the harbour, all moving due-north. Other passage migrants included 1 Common Sandpiper in the River Frome, 2 Whimbrel in the Wareham Channel, c400 Black-tailed Godwit, c30 Dunlin and 10 Ringed Plover also in the Wareham Channel. Common Tern totals have hit a peak of 14 and Sandwich Terns 70. Also on the Brownsea Lagoon were 3 Spoonbill, c50 Avocet, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Greenshank. From our Spring Safari this morning we were treated by a true spectacle of 2 juvenile White-tailed Eagles hunting in the Wareham Channel close to the side of the boat. Both spent ages continuously flying around, dropping into the water trying to catch Mullet and Bass, but both failed miserably. Then, if the pain of catching no fish wasn’t enough then male Osprey 022 came in and gave them grief before then heading off himself to Middlebere to catch lunch! Our guests weren’t only treated to these two young eagles, but also an adult flying high over the Wareham Channel, then later in the trip….2 more appeared over Brownsea having come from the town direction, meaning in total we logged FIVE different White-tailed Eagles during the cruise! A few Red Kite were moving around this morning with individuals logged over Slepe Heath, the Lower Piddle Valley and Ballard. Another Sedge Warbler was found singing over on Wareham Common below North Walls.

Grasshopper Warbler – 1st of the year- ringed in Lower Piddle Valley

Despite the drop in temperature, and the swing in wind direction from a SE to NW breeze, the harbour didn’t fare too badly today, although there was a distinct drop in numbers of common migrants compared to earlier in the week. That said more Common Whitethroat were recorded today with the first of the year ringed at Carey Secret Garden, then another was on Wareham Common and 3 were up on Ballard Down. At Swineham c100 Sand Martin and c10 Swallow were feeding over the gravel pit and no less than 4 Reed Warbler were singing. Sadly no sign of the Bluethroat though. An Osprey caught a fish in the Wareham Channel about 15:00, thought to be local male 022 and an immature White-tailed Eagle was soaring over Middlebere late afternoon. On Brownsea there were 2 Spoonbill on the lagoon, along with c80 Sandwich Tern. On Stoborough Heath a male Redstart was found along with 1 Common Whitethroat and a big arrival of Med Gulls piled into the Wareham Channel this after (80+), settling down into the Wareham Channel area. You’ve also probably noticed that there’s absolutely no shortage of Chiffchaff this spring with hundreds, if not thousands spread across every area and habitat type. Not all will stay, as migrants will also sing during migration too, but it seems that currently every other tree has a singing Chiffchaff in it! Blackcap are also arriving in reasonable numbers too. They’re not quite so prolific as Chiffchaff, but at the moment most woodlands have a number of singing Blackcap, some of which are in transit, others that will stay. Late this afternoon a Hobby was reported over RSPB Arne.

Common Whitethroat – Carey Secret Garden – Ed Betteridge

Another beautiful day, and remarkable for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was quite a shock to hear of the find of another Bluethroat at Swineham this AM, just several  yards away from where one was found back on March 17th. The main difference is that todays had a stunning, full red throat, indicating todays bird was a red-spotted Bluethroat, where as it was assumed that being so early in the year, the March 17th bird ‘had’ to be white-spotted Bluethroat. There are distinct differences between the two sub-species with red-spotted opting for a sub-Arctic breeding range, and migrating to India and SE Asia to over-winter, where as white-spotted over-winter in southern Europe and Africa and breed in milder, temperate areas of Europe. The timings of their migration is also very different with ‘white-spots’ migrating much earlier in the spring, and ‘red-spots’ much later. However……in one photo taken by Trevor Warwick of the March 17th bird at Swineham, a subtle red area can clearly be seen on the throat, but also so could some white. So was todays bird a totally new arrival which just happened to make landfall in exactly the same place as another just 3-weeks previous? Not impossible, but unlikely. Having spoken to Josh Jones at Birdguides, he informed us of a similar situation regarding a 1st winter red-spotted Bluethroat which over-wintered in Lincolnshire back in 2017 and spent Feb and March moulting from 1st winter plumage to adult breeding plumage before departing on migration. Therefore, is it possible that we’ve actually had a red-spotted Bluethroat over-wintering in the Swineham/Keysworth area (great habitat) this winter which when first found on March 17th was still transitioning from 1st winter plumage, and has now completed it’s full moult. An exciting prospect indeed. Keeping with the Mediterranean theme, the 3 Glossy Ibis, which were thought to have departed re-appeared over Wareham this morning. Although they’ve been a regular feature of the Wareham area all winter, the fact they’re still here in April is interesting, and we’ll seek to keep an eye on their movements for the rest of the spring just in case there’s a breeding attempt somewhere. The Osprey (AKA Beaky) thats been on the Middlebere nest platform for just over a week  finally left today, off towards her unknown nesting area (unknown to us…not her)! It was good to hear Tree Pipit back on territory at a few traditional harbour locations and this morning a Reed Warbler was ringed at Carey secret garden. There was some noteworthy ‘vis-mig’ species this morning moving around Studland with (Lesser) Redpoll and Crossbill logged heading along the Studland Road.

Photo of March 17th Bluethroat taken by Trevor Warwick (left)

and Photo of todays April 8th Bluethroat taken by @zp-pics.bsky.social (Bluesky)

It was another mighty fine day, with a stiff easterly breeze setting in from sunrise. Although migrant numbers dipped a bit compared to the last few days, there were more NFY’s (New For the Year) records in the form of single singing Reed Warblers at Lytchett Bay and Swineham, a Common Sandpiper in mouth of River Frome, 1 Whimbrel in Lytchett Bay and a Yellow Wagtail at Greenlands Farm. Other good records from across the day included the Forster’s Tern appearing in Lytchett Bay this morning, which is interestingly the first place it visited when it was first found 3-years ago in Spring 2023! It then later today re-appeared on the Boomerang of the Brownsea Lagoon with 4 Common Tern and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. Lytchett Bay had a good day, not only because of the species mentioned above, but it also logged a Sanderling in with a Ringed Plover flock (Sanderling being a Lytchett Bay mega), plus it saw a colour-ringed Osprey, code: Y1 which is a 2016 male ringed up in Kielder Forest. From our Spring Safari this AM the most surprising find was a Black-throated Diver which pitched down near South Deep. Also logged were 3 different White-tailed Eagles over Brands Bay/Rempstone, 1 Great Northern Diver near the harbour entrance, 2 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Wheatear on RSPB Arne Moors, the Razorbill was still off the Brownsea Lagoon sea wall and 5 Spoonbill were on the lagoon with c50 Avocet. A female Common Redstart was around the Wareham Common/Carey boundary all day, there were great numbers of Swallow and Sand Martin feeding high above the Piddle Valley with c150 of each. There was a thin scattering of Willow Warbler and Wheatear in traditional areas and a few more Common Whitethroat were logged with 2 in the PCW Drain and 1 at Lytchett Bay. There were also 2 Spotted Redshank in Lytchett Bay and a couple of House Martin. Just after sunrise 11 Common Scoter passed Old Harry, and this afternoon a Hobby zipped through Sunnyside Farm and headed north. The adult un-ringed female Osprey was once again on the Middlebere platform all day.

Useful comparison of nominate ‘Northern Wheatear’ (note paler underparts) – Greenlands Farm, Studland

and sub-species ‘Greenland Wheatear’ (note more extensive rufous underparts) – Greenlands Farm, Studland

Black-throated Diver – from this AM’s Spring Safari Cruise – Benjamin Warner

In true Easter Bank Holiday weekend fashion, a change in the weather allowed for a decent arrival of birds right across the UK, with multiple ‘firsts’ of the year arriving in. The wind swung round to the south last night and then easterly this morning, and with the clear sky’s last night it provided great migration conditions for plenty of birds. Dawn was welcomed in with the first singing Cuckoo of the year, not just for Poole harbour, but the whole county, and was heard on the Osprey webcam by early webcam watchers. Talking of Ospreys, there was an obvious morning arrival/passage of multiple individuals with the local pair settled at their nest, whilst at the same time 2 were soaring over the Wareham Channel, another was on the Middlebere platform eating a fish, another was at Morden Bog eating a fish and around 11am one was seen flying north over Lytchett Matravers, and there were a few sightings in Lytchett Bay too. Just outside the harbour recording area a Hobby was seen to come in off the sea at Durlston and in terms of grounded passerines the years first Common Redstart was logged with a male at South Haven, Studland, a Common Whitethroat was on Hartland Moor where there were 10+ Northern Wheatear and 3 Willow Warbler. Goshawk are becoming so frequent now, and whilst adults are settling down to breed, non-breeding young 2nd calendar year birds are roaming the landscape with one seen getting harassed by gulls over Wareham Town Centre this afternoon and another was seen buzzing the Ospreys at Carey. An adult White-tailed Eagle was in the Wareham Channel this morning and this afternoon 2 2nd cal year eagles flew high over the harbour heading towards Brands Bay. Swallow were arriving in in small numbers high above the harbour during the course of the day, the 2 Spoonbill were still on the Brownsea Lagoon and there were 2 Yellow-legged gull too, the Spotted Redshank was still at Lytchett Fields and there was a decent count of c1080 icelandic Black-tailed Godwit in Holes Bay.

2nd cal year Goshawk – Lower Piddle Valley – Alison Copland

With the wind easing off by this morning there had been a small fall up on Ballard Down/Old Harry with 15 Willow Warbler and 4 Wheatear logged. As April creeps on some scarcer waders are already appearing at sites they’re not typically found at, for example at Lytchett Fields this morning there were 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Spotted Redshank, plus a single Ruff. There was also 1 Osprey and c800 Black-tailed Godwit logged. This afternoon a White Stork flew over Holes Bay north. A photographed was obtained but it was unclear if it was the ringed individual that’s been hanging out at Throop the last couple of days. At Swineham there were still 2 Little Ringed Plover on the pools, and c20 Sand Martin and 5 Swallow were over the gravel pit. The Osprey thats been on the Middlebere Channel platform the last 4-5 days was still on there today, but will likely move off this week with the fine weather thats forecast.

White Stork over Holes Bay – Rene Goad

A struggle not to get blown away in the harbour today. The wind seemed to bring in a big movement of hirundines though, with hundreds of Sand Martin and Swallow passing south to north around the harbour. The wind had also brought in a winter plumage Razorbill along the north shore of the Brownsea Lagoon along with 1 Great Northern Diver here, and one on the east side of Round Island. 1 Ruff was at Swineham Stilt Pools and then later at Swineham Point with Black-tailed Godwit. 2 Little Ringed Plover were on Arne Moors and 2 were briefly in the Middlebere Channel. 4 Marsh Harrier were active in the Wareham Channel. 2 Great White Egret flew over Wareham towards the harbour and 42 Cattle Egret were at Holmebridge. 1 Osprey was in Newton Bay and 1 was in the Middlebere Channel. The Forster’s Tern was again in Holes Bay south west, viewed from Harkwood Drive. 2 Spotted Redshank were at RSPB Lytchett Fields. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 4 Spoonbill (including 2024 Dutch ringed NHB9), c40 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Greenshank, c50 Avocet, 1 Ringed Plover and 1 Little Gull.

Ruff – Swineham Point from our Spring Safari Cruise – Harry McBride

Black-tailed Godwit – Wareham Channel from our Spring Safari Cruise – Harry McBride

Today was a perfect early April day, and despite the remaining cold WNW breeze there were so many good birds around today for all to enjoy. Osprey season has certainly hit with a bang with a good arrival of passage migrants during the course of the day. There were no less than 5 in and around the area today, with 4 different individuals logged in Lytchett Bay within an hour this afternoon, plus individuals were seen in the Wareham Channel and Middlebere this morning. During our Spring Safari this morning we were also lucky enough to have 3 different White-tailed Eagles over the Wareham Channel with 1 adult and 2 juveniles. Not only that, the local Marsh Harriers took an instant disliking to them being there all started having a high altitude tussle high above the channel. The Brownsea Lagoon saw the first 2 Common Tern of the year logged, plus there was a 1st winter Little Gull on the lagoon with 2 Spoonbill, 51 Avocet, c30 Bar-tailed Godwit and c20 Sandwich Tern. An adult male Goshawk was high over Brownsea too and tracked over to Rempstone, a Little Ringed Plover was on RSPB Arne Moors, a Red Kite passed high over RSPB Arne, a Spotted Redshank was in Middlebere, 2 Cattle Egret flew over Swineham Point and 3 were at Worgret. There was also a report of a/the White Stork flying over Hamworthy at 3pm this afternoon. Yesterday morning the Golden Pheasants were heard calling on Furzey Island during the stillness of the early morning and both White-tailed Eagle (Goathorn) and Osprey (Middlebere) were seen during a survey boat after first light.

Osprey – Middlebere – John Thorpe

Juvenile White-tailed Eagle over our Spring Safari Cruise this AM – Wareham Channel – Rene Goad

Little Ringed Plover from our Spring Safari Cruise this AM – RSPB Arne Moors – Rene Goad

The first Sedge Warbler of the spring was singing today with a single bird on the Brownsea Lagoon. Also present were 2 Spoonbill 58 Avocet 416 Black-tailed Godwit and 27 Bar-tailed Godwit. 2 Osprey were in the Middlebere Channel this morning, both looking to be unringed. Another unringed bird was also in Lytchett Bay. 2 Spotted Redshank were still in Lytchett Bay from Rock Lea View, with both starting to get some darker summer plumage. There was also 1 Wheatear and 1 Goshawk. At Swineham there was 1 Willow Warbler singing and 2 Little Ringed Plover were still present on Stilt Pools. At Shipstal Point there were 2 Ruff amongst c200 Black-tailed Godwit.

Dartford Warbler – RSPB Arne – John Thorpe