Not much change in the theme with a Hobby over Slepe Heath, a Redstart at Arne and plenty of action out on the local heathlands as resident breeders busy themselves by feeding young. It’s also a great time of year to look out for other wildlife especially butterflies, dragonflies and reptiles. Expanding your knowledge base to try and ID these types of fauna is a great challenge, so as June and July tend to be a bit quieter for bird species why not try and get your head around some of these too.

Green Hairstreak – Holton Lee 

Common Lizard – Stoborough Heath

The low tides around the harbour can seem a bit sparse at present, but look long and hard enough and snippets of interest do appear. Shelduck ducklings are now common-place around the southern shores and quiet bays of the harbour with the parents leading out their young across the mudflats as they keep a wary eye out for hungry Great Black-backed Gulls. There are still a few Black-tailed Godwit are still lingering with a handful in Holes Bay. At Lytchett Fields Teal numbers have started to rise already with 13 present. A Barn Owl was out hunting at Middlebere and a Cuckoo was again near the Middlebere Hide. In the Arne car park the singing Firecrest is still present and learning its song is well worth it as you could easily find your own elsewhere around the harbour as we have recently at 2 previously unknown sites in the north and NW of the harbour. 

Nuthatch – Holton lee – Paul Morton

Juvenile Stonechat – Holton Lee – Paul Morton

A Cuckoo was seen briefly at Middlebere mid afternoon. 2 Hobby were over Hartland and a Peregrine was over Poole Town Centre. 

Reports show it could be shaping up to be a good Hobby year with another 5 hunting over the Slepe Heath/Hartland Moor area whilst the Marsh Harrier pair continue to feed young in Poole Harbour west. 

Another quiet early summer day with breeding birds being the only birds of note. Many birds are now fledging young with Dartford Warbler, Stonechat, Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Meadow Pipit and most tit species all fledging young in recent days. Common and Sandwich Terns are using the bays in the north of the harbour to feed with Lytchett and Holes Bay seeing both species. Around Poole Town center young Herring Gull chicks are beginning to hatch up on the roofs. And if you haven’t looked already, our Poole Harbour Sandwich Tern colony can be watched live via our Brownsea webcam. The chicks have just recently started hatching so you’ll be able to watch all the comings and goings of these charismatic sea birds. 

Sandwich Terns and newly hatched chick – Brownsea webcam

June Ospreys are pretty scarce in Poole harbour, however one was seen this morning circling and hunting above the Wareham Channel before being driven off by one of the local Marsh Harriers.

Today seemed as if it had the potential to produce something rare somewhere but to such luck. The Marsh Harrier pair in Poole Harbour west seem to be doing well with the male currently doing all the work. The female has barely left the nest to help with parental duties yet, relying on the male to feed the chicks and her…not a bad life if you can work it out that way! 

This morning was our June field trip which was hosted at Holton Lee courtesy of Livability, the charity that runs the site. Holton Lee is a wonderful reserve however it is a private site which you gain access too simply by becoming a friend of Holton Lee. It holds a good-sized piece of heathland, mixed woodland, reed beds, great views of Lytchett bay and the Wareham Channel as well as open pasture and mixed scrub habitats. Highlights from our trip included 2 Woodlark, 2 Tree Pipit, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Spotted Flycatcher, 1 Whitethroat, 5 Dartford Warbler, 5 Stonechat, 1 Hobby, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 7 Mistle Thrush, 1 Marsh Tit, family parties of Great Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch. On Lytchett Fields a single Curlew, 2 Redshank, 5 Teal and 26 Gadwall were recorded. A night recording session around the harbour produced nothing more than several Nightjar, although one did literally come down and practically sit on top of one of our microphones!

Nightjar – Churring of male – Arne Road – 04/06/16

Cuckoo – Holton Lee – Paul Morton

Holton Lee Field Trip – Barbara Bisset

Finally a bit of quality delivered its self today when a Common Crane drifted high over the A35 heading north. A male Marsh Harrier arrived at Lytchett Fields for a short while causing a bit of mischief. The Firecrest in the Arne car park is still singing frequently and a male Common Whitethroat seemed to be on territory at South Haven, Studland which doesn’t seem to be a regular occurrence. There was a large haul of Swift hawking over Poole Town and Baiter. 

Firecrest – Arne car park – Song of male – 01/06/16

Common Whitethroat – South Haven, Studland. Song and display flight of male 01/06/16

The Red Kite passage was in evidence again today when one drifted low over Canford Heath heading towards Poole Crematorium. A Spotted Flycatcher was at Arne along with a Redstart still. There are several Great Crested Grebe about with 6 still on Littlesea, 2 in Holes Bay and 2 in the Wareham Channel, whether they’re breeding or not we’re not sure as its not typical breeding behaviour or in some cases even habitat but we’ll keep an eye out.