Summer doldrums beginning already with 5 Lapwing, 3 Whimbrel and 15 Black-tailed Godwit reported from Holton Pools and 30 Dunlin, 13 Ringed Plover and 40+ Black-tailed Godwit at Lytchett Fields. There are now lots of juvenile’s around of many different species with the first fledged Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Starlings, Long-tailed Tits and Blackcaps bringing the woodlands and hedgerows to life with the sounds of new life.

A few months ago we, ‘Birds of Poole Harbour’ began a small project at Holton Lee which involved re-furbing an existing hide, adding some screening and improving the habitat out in front of the hide. The project is now almost complete with just a few minor finishing touches to carry out. The owners of the site, national charity ‘Livability‘ have kindly stated that birders are welcome to use the site and new hide facility and request that anyone visiting to please use the new car park situated outside the main buildings at the end of the access road. Please do not park on road verges anywhere along the access road at any time. To be honest, the main car park gives you quickest access to the hide anyway. Anyone finding themselves visiting regularly should also consider becoming a ‘Friend of Holton Lee’ which is a small annual fee which goes into the running of the site. You can enquire about joining and donating in the main reception building. 

Huge thanks to Livability for allowing us to carry out this project and we hope it proves to be a successful new site for birds and birders. Through the development process we have already had Greenshank, Little Ringed Plover, Ruff, Grey Plover and Green Sandpiper on the new scrapes so hopefully in autumn it will attract a few goodies too. We will be christening it ‘Holton Pools’! Please let us know what you think in the sightings log that’s been placed in the hide. A map guiding to the hide can be found below.

Sightings from today were again few and far between, indicating that spring migration is now nearly up, however an Osprey along the southern shores near Arne was a bit of a surprise. With Marsh Harriers at Keysworth and Wytch Lake. With all the newly felled areas of conifer plantation around the harbour it seems to have had a positive increase on the Poole Harbour Tree Pipit population. There was a Cuckoo in Ashley Cross. 

This mornings strong southerly breeze and murky weather seemed perfect for a sea watch so several hours were put in watching Poole Bay from Shore Road. Highlights included 1 Pomarine Skua, 73 Manx Shearwater, 3 Fulmar, 50 Gannet, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Gadwall, 1 Common Scoter, c50 Commic Tern, 2 Med Gull and 4 Swallow. On Lytchett Fields there were 96 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Ringed Plover and 2 Whimbrel and a Cattle Egret flew out across the bay. Another Cattle Egret was reported flying out into Poole Harbour from the mouth of the Frome. Common Tern numbers on the Brownsea lagoon are building nicely but it seems some of the early nesting Sandwich Terns have already lost their eggs sadly. 

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.