Another check at Swineham this evening to see if the Cattle Egret came in was successful but sadly no Bittern tonight, however 3 Goosander flying towards the Wareham Channel was interesting and several Redwing and a Ringed Plover went over after sunset. The 4 Waxwing were again at Hanham road, Corfe Mullun and at Lytchett Fields the Green-winged Teal was still on Sherford Pools. 

Today was fairly quite migrant wise today, although we finally managed to get in on the Cattle Egret action when one was found going into roost on the big main island at Swineham GP. Where it goes to feed during the day is anyone’s guess but worth checking any cattle fields locally. Also at Swineham, incredibly a minimum of 3 Bittern left at dusk, calling as they went. At Lytchett Fields a Red Kite lofted low over flushing everything off the fields and a male Wheatear was also in the approach field with some Redwing and a single Fieldfare along the lane and both the Green-winged Teal and Lesser Yellowlegs were on Lytchett Fields. 

The first and second week of March often produces just the first singles of common migrants, however today it was obvious that quite a substantial arrival of Chiffchaff had made landfall with birds singing from pretty much every corner of the harbour. It’s estimated that several hundred were present today, really earmarking the first decent spring fall of the year. Back in 2013 we experienced another big Chiffchaff arrival but that didn’t occur until March 23^rd, so todays fall is certainly an early occurrence. Its not only the Chiffchaff arriving early, today we encountered our second Little Ringed Plover of the spring, this time at Lytchett Fields. This beat the previous earliest record of Little Ringed Plover at Lytchett Bay by 8 days! The small flurry of arriving Wheatear continued too with birds making land fall at Studland, Lytchett Fields and Slepe Heath. Again, the Lytchett Bay Wheatears today arrived 3 days earlier than any other previous records for this species at this site and a Blackcap was also seen near Upton CP so it seems things really are getting going early this year. Goodo and long may it continue. The Hartland Great Grey Shrike spent the afternoon on telephone wires up behind Scotland Farm, chomping on Lizards and the Wytch Causeway bird was also seen distantly. 8 Spoonbill were feeding in the Wytch Channel and off Middle Beach, just a single summer plumaged Black-necked Grebe was feeding. The 4 Waxwing were feeding in Northbrook Road again, this time fly-catching from the top of the tall Poplar Trees. At Lytchett Fields the Green-winged Teal was still present and out in the bay, viewed from the Turlin Moor viewing screen the now almost full summer plumaged Lesser Yellowlegs was looking fab. Also around the Lytchett Bay/Fields area  were 4+ Greenshank, c4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Bearded Tit and 1 Marsh Harrier. At Upton CP (Holes Bay NW), The Ruff was still feeding out in front of the stone bench with Black-tailed Godwit.  A ringtail Hen Harrier flew across the Middlebere entrance track early morning and a Goosander was on the main Poole Park boating Lake. There was also some late news of a Ring-billed Gull in the Wareham Channel, seen during a late afternoon WeBS count. 

On the night of March 10^th/11^th we had our night recording gear out at our Old Town Poole Listening Station. Despite the thick fog, which seemed to hamper most types of movement getting underway we still got two interesting recordings. Firstly, was (a flock?) of Pintail passing over at just gone midnight, a species we’ve never recorded from our listening station before.

Pintail 11/03/17 @ 00:07 – Calls of night time migrants – Old Town Poole Listening Station

Secondly was a call we recorded at 01:33 that we just couldn’t put our fingers on. It was only a single call, but was very defined. Having discussed it with Magnus Robb from the Sound Approach he concluded that it’s most likely a snippet of Common Chiffchaff song. We’ve provided the full call below. With the number of Common Chiffchaff arriving in the harbour over the last couple of days it sounds like a good bet, and another first for our night listing station. 

Chiffchaff – 11/03/17 @ 01:33 – Snippet of song of night migrant – Old Town Poole Listening Station

Wheatear – Shell Bay – Debbie

Well with the shift in the wind and the lingering low cloud cover it definitely had that hint of spring migration in the air. It wasn’t long before Wheatears began to get reported with males seen on Shell Beach, South Haven, Coombe Heath, Arne and Middlebere just after dawn. Then not before long, the bird of the day was found, although sadly on a piece of private land. However, todays Hoopoe (as anti-social as it was) was a good message to get and try to find others of your own as there will be others…they just need finding. The whole day was themed all around arrivals and departures when at dusk at Swineham the springs first Little Ringed Plover flew down towards the point calling as it went, when roughly at the same time, the 11 Swineham Barnacle Geese upped and left in the dark, heading north. At Lytchett Fields both the Green-winged Teal and Lesser Yellowlegs were on the fields and it seems the 4 Corfe Mullen Waxwing have finally decided to move when they (some) were found on Northbrook Road, Poole BH18 8HD. The Pilots Point Snow Bunting did put in a couple of appearances, but the fog and murk made it tricky to track down. Also at Pilots Point were the Eider, several Black-necked Grebe and a Fulmar with 5 Common Scoter south from South Haven also 25+ Sanderling and 1 Sandwich Tern. Its always great seeing birds out of context too, which was highlighted perfectly this morning when a freshly arrived Stonechat decided a dog poo bin was a good substitute for a pine tree as it made landfall at the Baiter car park, Poole. A cracking adult male Hen Harrier was seen near Hartland heading towards Corfe early morning. In the Wytch Channel 9 Spoonbill were feeding. Great Grey Shrikeswere on Hartland Moor and another near the Wytch Causeway. There was also a great count of 10 Great Crested Grebe at Hatch Pond today. 

Freshly arrived Meadow Pipit – Studland

Freshly arrived Stonechat – Baiter car park, Poole

This evening the winds turn easterly which could be interesting and should get migration underway a bit more. That was in evidence today when at South Haven a total of 155 Meadow Pipit came in off the sea during an hours watch at South Haven along with 3 newly arrived singing Chiffchaff and the Snow Bunting putting in a few appearances for good measure along Shell Beach, but it was also seen south of Pilots Point too where 3 Black-necked Grebe were just off the beach. At Arne 9 Spoonbill were on Shipstal and on Lytchett Fields the Green-winged Teal was still present. 

Well, the spring migrants are still working their way up through Europe and although the UK has already seen its first few Ring Ouzel, Garganey and Little Ringed Plover, things won’t really get going for at least another week yet which is good as the winter birds keep on coming. Today a female Scaup was photographed at close quarters in Poole Park as it hung out with the now shrinking Tufted Duck raft. At 18:35 another Bittern was seen/heard departing from the Swineham area as it lifted from the back end of the gravel pits, calling as it circled high before disappearing off NE. Also noted at Swineham were 2 ringtail Hen Harrier, 2 Marsh Harrier, a Jack Snipe flushed from Swineham Point, 11 Barnacle Geese were still on the pit and both Chiffchaff and Reed Bunting were singing. A Barn Owl was also heard calling near Swineham Farm. At Studland, the Snow Bunting still showed well up near Pilots Point and the Eider, 8 Black-necked Grebe and 3 Great Crested Grebe were all in the Shell/Studland Bay area. On Hartland Moor the Great Grey Shrike was still hanging around out on central Moor and on Lytchett Fields the Green-winged Teal was still on Sherford Pools. A Red Kite passed over Upton CP nad Poole Town centre. A night sound recording session at Holton Lee produced 114 Redwing calls plus single fly overs of Green Sandpiper, Water Rail, Little Grebe, Moorhen and Common Snipe along with plenty of background calls of locally moving Redshank, Oystercatcher, Wigeon, Teal and Shelduck with a few Tawny Owl calls thrown in for good measure. 

Scaup – Poole Park Boating Lake – Sharon Eden

After a bit of discussion with a few locals we think we may have come to a conclusion to the 2 Snow Bunting at Studland theory. On the 6^th another bird was feeding with the Snow Bunting and at long range was ID’d as a second bird. However, it now looks upon closer inspection that the second bird was in fact a Linnet. Oh well, still good to hear the single Snow Bunting is still performing well, showing down to a few tens of meters today. The Studland faithful of  Eider, 2 Black-necked Grebe and a Sandwich Tern all stayed put. At Swineham there were 2 Sand Martin struggling in the wind and rain at dawn and the 11 Barnacle Geese were still on the pit. Despite the crud weather, Cetti’s Warbler were really getting going in the Frome Valley and a walk at Swineham or along the Frome public footpath can reward you with great listening experience. Along Holme Lane a large finch flock is forming in the first cattle field on your right consisting of mainly Chaffinch, Linnet and Goldfinch but could easily draw in a Brambling (or better?) over the next few weeks. On Lytchett Fields the Green-winged Teal was still feeding with Teal and at Arne 8 Spoonbill were on Shipstal where a Whimbrel was also reported. 

We’ve also just put on 2 BRAND NEW SPRING BOAT TOURS. Click the link below for full details…

Birds of Poole Harbour – DAWN DISCOVERY BOAT TOUR

Snow Bunting – Shell Beach – Andy Copleston

There is still confusion as to whether there are 2 Snow Bunting or not on Pilots Point, Studland. Can anyone that’s actually seen them together (and even better, has photos) let us know so we can put a lid on this mystery! Otherwise, it was much of the same as yesterday with the Eider, 4 Black-necked Grebe and a Sandwich Tern in Shell Bay, 3 Hen Harrier and 2 Merlin in Poole Harbour west and the 4 Waxwing were still on Hanham Road, Corfe Mullun. At Holton Lee, several Linnet were back on territory and Woodlark were again singing on heathland sites in Poole Harbour north. 

Black-necked Grebe – Shell Bay – Simon Kidner

Snow Bunting – Shell Bay – Nick Mudge

Today saw a good mixture of spring and winter birds rubbing shoulders as some arrive whilst others leave. The highlight was not one, but now 2 Snow Bunting are residing on Pilots Point, Studland with both seen feeding together briefly at 2pm. There was a good supporting cast of birds at Studland too with a 1^st winter drake Eider very close in shore, up to 5 Black-necked Grebe, some in near full pristine summer plumage, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Razorbill, 46 Sanderling, 3 Common Scoter, several Meadow Pipit coming in off the sea, 15+ Med Gulls and a Sandwich Tern feeding in Shell Bay. The first 2 Sand Martins of the spring were feeding over Swineham GP as they flew low over the heads of the 11 Barnacle Geese and the first Northern Wheatear was near Ower Bay (Greenland’s Farm area). At Poole Park 2 Goldeneye remained with 7 Red-breasted Merganser, 4 Little Grebe and a single poorly Dunlin feeding just 1m from the footpath. The 4 Corfe Mullun Waxwing were still feeding around the Hanham Road area on and off throughout the day.  In Poole Harbour west there are still 3 ringtail Hen Harrier, one of which has been present all winter, the other two being fairly recent arrivals and they were joined by a male Merlin. 

Snow Bunting – Shell Beach, Studland – Ian Ballam

Black-necked Grebe – Shell Beach – Paul Morton

Eider – Shell Beach – Paul Morton

The statement ‘a mixture of sunshine and showers’ has never been so true with heavy down pours and bright sunshine battling it for most of the day. A strong stiff SW wind made things quite tricky too. The Snow Bunting was again present on Shell Beach, feeding on beach cast seaweed with 2 Stonechat, up near Pilots Point with the imm drake Eider just off Pilots Point and a Sandwich Tern fishing in the bay. Also 30 Sanderling were feeding on the beach. The Lesser Yellowlegs and Green-winged Teal were both still on Lytchett Fields with 2 Water Pipit, 23 Gadwall (where have they come from)? And both Marsh Harrier and Peregrine over. A Scaup was again reported from the main Poole Park boating lake and on the Brownsea Lagoon 9 Pintail, 127 Grey Plover, 42 Knot, 7 Greenshank, 5 Spotted Redshank and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. On Shipstal 15 Spoonbill were roosting. The 4 Waxwing were still in Corfe Mullen at Hanham Road.

We’ve also just put on 2 BRAND NEW SPRING BOAT TOURS. Click the link below for full details…

Birds of Poole Harbour – DAWN DISCOVERY BOAT TOUR