Very windy today and still pretty cold. Cuckoo’s were at Canford heath, Arne and Slepe Heath. Hobby were over Middlebere and Arne Moors. Waders were few and far between with just 3 Whimbrel in Brands Bay and a handful of Grey Plover in Middlebere. There was a Spotted Flycatcher at Arne. 

Today was our first ever ‘Birds of Poole Harbour’ Spring bird boat tour which saw us take a group up the Wareham River, into the mouth of the River Frome and head up towards Redcliff. This was a really unique experience, offering views out across the river valley’s which aren’t normally accessible from the mainland. Obviously all our winter species have now departed so the focus was spring birds and Cetti’s, Reed, and Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, Swift, Swallow, Sand Martin, Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwit, Curlew, Marsh Harrier, Sandwich Tern and Kestrel, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Great Crested Grebe and Med Gull were all enjoyed as well as spectacular scenery keeping us entertained for the full 2.5 hours. Sadly we have no more running this spring but we’ll certainly be putting more on next year. On Lytchett Fields there were 138 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Dunlin. 

Spring Bird Boat Tour – Barbara Bissett

The Cattle Egret run continued with an absolute corker in summer plumage at Lytchett Fields. Whether any are nesting in the UK after this winters influx into SW Britain is still unknown but with many turning up around the region looking like the below bird, its hard to believe they’re not nesting somewhere. Also at Lytchett Fields 7 Grey Plover, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff, Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 3 Greenshank, 1 Lapwing, 100+ Black-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel. Up the Frome Valley good numbers of Sedge Warbler still seem to be on territory with a Cuckoo being seen off by several Reed Warbler. Also plenty of Swift and Hirundines over Swineham GP. Up on the Hartland road 2 Spotted Flycatcher were feeding in the treeline and a Cuckoo was singing. 

Cattle Egret – Lytchett Fields – Shaun Robson

Spotted Flycatcher – Hartland – Ian Ballam

Just a few reports today with summer plumaged Grey Plover, 9 Ringed Plover, 4 Dunlin and 3 Greenshank at Lytchett Fields. Cuckoo’s at Arne and Hartland. Avocets at Middlebere and Brownsea Lagoon.

There was a nice scattering of common migrants across the harbour with Spotted Flycatcher along the Arne Road, at Arne and Middlebere. At Lytchett Bay a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling. A Garden Warbler and 2 Common Whitethroat were reported along the Hartland Road. Swifts were still passing through in three’s and four’s but there seemed to be fewer Swallow and House Martin. There was a Hobby at Arne, 2 over Slepe Heath and 1-2 reported over Hartland. Cuckoo’s were calling at Studland, Hartland and Upton Heath. At Lytchett Fields there were 10 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 1 male Ruff, 1 Whimbrel, 1 Avocet, 1 Spotted Redshank calling over the bay, 145 Black-tailed Godwit and 5 Greenshank. With the full moon rising over clear sky’s last night too and the wind dropping right off it seemed perfect for our first venture out of the summer to listen to Nightjars and sure enough at around 9:15pm between 3-4 males started ‘churring’ at Arne, giving great if not brief views. We also saw Barn Owls at Arne, Middlebere and Swineham too. 

A perfect Nightjar night – Arne RSPB

Nightjar – Song of male – Arne RSPB – 10/05/17 @ 21:02 

 Grasshopper Warbler – Song of male – Lytchett Bay – 10/05/17 @ 8:50am

A very quiet day today with Lytchett Fields seeing 9 Ringed Plover, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 8 Greenshank, 1 late Snipe, 3 Dunlin and 83 Black-tailed Godwit. A full count was made on Brownsea and comprised of 94 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Greenshank, 6 Avocet, 3 sum plum Grey Plover, 2 Whimbrel, 10+ Teal, 2 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, 4 Redshank, 2 Curlew, 1 Sanderling, 1 Turnstone, 5 Med Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, plenty of Sandwich Tern but still fairly short of Common Tern. Also 12 Swift through with good numbers of House Martin today, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Garden Warbler and a Nightjar ‘churring’ at dusk. 

Little Ringed Plover (left) and Ringed Plover (right) – Lytchett Fieds – Ian Ballam

Today we completed our survey of ‘Gull Islands’ and despite no evidence of egging which we’re thrilled about, the number of nests counted was still very low. However, having spoken to other wardens on the south coast of Britain who are monitoring other Black-headed Gull and Med Gull colonies, the general consensus seems to be that the breeding season is a minimum of 2 weeks late, which would add up from what we’ve counted over the last couple of days. With this in mind we’re considering a re-survey in a couple of weeks time to hopefully get a more accurate count. The Hen Harrier was again out over towards Swineham.  There were several reports of Spotted Flycatcher today with birds on Upton Heath, Arne, Slepe Heath, Middlebere and South Haven. At Lytchett Fields the wader count consisted of 6 Dunlin, 9 Greenshank, 2 Whimbrel, 108 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Swift. The warm weather got Hobby active again hunting high above Arne Moors, Arne RSPB reserve and Slepe Heath. A single Whinchat was on Hartland. Cuckoo’s were heard and seen at Swineham, Hartland, Slepe Heath and Upton Heath. 

This morning we had a team out surveying ‘Gull Islands’ in the Wareham Channel to see what impact last years egg thefts had had on the colony. Early indications show there has been zero evidence off egg collecting this spring so far which is great, however productivity still seems very low, most likely due to the cold, dry spring, meaning birds haven’t been able to feed properly. The largest island had very good numbers of Med Gulls on it, but only returned 11 Med Gull nests with eggs. We’ll be completing the survey tomorrow and will report our findings then. Other sightings from around the harbour included yesterdays Hen Harrier again out over Hartland and towards Swineham. There was again a huge push of Swallows going through with a likely final total of many thousands over the course of the day. Interestingly the flocks contained several Sand Martin and Swift but no House Martin. With the high number of hirundines going through it was sure to draw the attention of Hobby and sure enough over Arne, Slepe Heath, Swineham and Middlebere there was a minimum of 8 hawking after flying insects and the odd hirundine. At Lytchett Fields there was 1 Ruff, 7 Ringed Plover, 5 Greenshank, 45 Black-tailed Godwit and the Grasshopper Warbler was having a burst of song again. 

Approaching ‘Gull Islands’ for our annual survey

Today saw a stiff NE wind to begin with which eased off and swung around to the SW by late afternoon. The east in the wind early doors provided good lift for migrating birds throughout the day as hundreds (if not thousands) of Swallow  arrived in through the harbour from the south which were joined by Sand Martin and to a lesser extent Swift but strangely no House Martin.  A ringtail harrier seen at distance over Swineham/Keysworth was initially thought to be a Montagu’s Harrier, however it was later found out over Arne Moors and was confirmed to be ringtail Hen Harrier, a really late Poole Harbour record. There were a minimum of 5 Hobby between Slepe Heath and Arne with Tree Pipits also at the former site. At Lytchett Fields the Grasshopper Warbler that was found along Slogh Lane as still singing suggesting its on territory whilst out on the fields there were 2 Grey Plover, one in full summer plumage, 6+ Greenshank, 5 Ringed Plover, 12 Black-tailed Godwit and 1 Wheatear with a Red Kite also over Holton Lee. Middlebere was also busy with 1 Spoonbill (the first in quite a while), 5 Ringed Plover, 50+ Grey Plover, 250+ Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 summer plumaged Spotted Redshank, Greenshank, c40 Knot and 300+ Dunlin.

Hen Harrier – Arne Road – Nick Hopper

Hen Harrier – Arne Road – Nick Hopper

Grasshopper Warbler – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam

A pretty quiet day with just a few reports from Lytchett Fields which consisted of 4 Greenshank, 2 Grey Plover, 1 Redshank and 8 Black-tailed Godwit. Swift continued to pulse through in good numbers. At Arne there were reports of Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Whimbrel, Knot, Ringed Plover, Yellow Wagtail and Garden Warbler. There was also a report of a Black Kite over Brownsea Island today too. 

Grey Plover – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam