There’s no better time to visit Lytchett Fields than between now and September. Ok, so that a pretty big time frame but waders will now be passing down through the UK through that entire time period with peaks in August and September. However, like we’ve already seen with last weeks Ruff, today a new Greenshank and Dunlin arrived whilst Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and Lapwing numbers continued to build. At Holton Heath a Cuckoo was out on the heath briefly and a Woodlark was on the path. We should also congratulate the local RSPB for their conversion of the large arable field next to Lytchett Fields from a large mono-cultivated, fairly drab and unproductive field to a wonderfully rich and vibrant wildflower meadow. This will not only be good during the summer for bees and butterflies, but also in the winter too hopefully for large winter finch flocks and Yellowhammers. 

Wildflower Arable Field – Lytchett Bay – Ian Ballam

Kingfisher – Ian Ballam – Lytchett Bay

Tonight was our second Nightjar walk at Arne and again, they showed brilliantly for our group for around 10 minuets. Also seen prior to the Nightjars was a single Hobby, 2 Dartford Warbler, 2 Curlew, 1 Yellow-legged Gull and 10+ Little Egret heading into roost. Interestingly a Common Crane had apparently spent part of the day flying around on Hartland Moor not going anywhere very fast due to the wind. On Brownsea a Spotted Redshank showed briefly and on Lytchett Fields Redshank, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit and a Green Sandpiper were the only waders. 

Black-tailed Godwits – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

This evening we hosted our first of two July Nightjar walks at Arne RSPB reserve and the Nightjar certainly didn’t let us down. If you’ve never been on one, the RSPB host walks on Wednesday evenings which you’ll need to book onto, but they’re well worth it and to top the night off a juvenile Tawny Owl was calling in the Arne car park when we had finished (sound recording below). On Lytchett Heath the Whitethroat was seen again and was discovered to have a ring on its leg. In the reedbed at the bottom of Lytchett Heath several Bearded Tit were calling and there were 2 each of Bullfinch and Linnet and singles of Blackcap and Dartford Warbler.

Common Whitethroat – Lytchett Heath – Paul Morton

Juvenile Tawny Owl – Arne car park – 02/07/16 

The Ruff was again on Lytchett Fields accompanied with Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and 2 Green Sandpiper. On Lytchett Heath a Whitethroat was again present with Bullfinch, Siskin and a Nightjar was seen. Family parties of Long-tailed Tit are moving around various woodlands and hedgerows and are now being joined by juvenile Chiffchaff and give it another 4 weeks Willow Warbler will be joining them. Out on the Arne shoreline (viewed from Hamworthy) Curlew and Redshank numbers are building as are Little Egret number on the Brownsea Lagoon.

Bullfinch – Lytchett Heath – Ian Ballam

Siskin – Lytchett Heath – Ian Ballam

An Osprey seen drifting over the A35 near the Bakers Arms, heading towards Lytchett Bay was the presumed spring/summer lingerer that’s been around since late April, but its possible it could be a newly arrived bird as non-breeders can and have arrived in the harbour as early as late June and early July. At Lytchett Bay the summer plumaged Ruff was still present and a newly arrived Greenshank turned up, also 43 Black-tailed Godwit and 26 Redshank were present. On Lytchett Heath a juvenile Kingfisher was the first of the autumn and an adult Whitethroat was a presumed migrant there. 

Greenshank – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

Ruff – Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

A beautiful still morning gave way to a band of wind and rain by mid afternoon. A morning watch from the Hamworthy Beach shoreline saw several Redshank and  Curlew feeding over on the Arne peninsular and both Common Tern and Sandwich Tern were taking advantage of a large ‘bait ball’ of whitebait just off the beach. The Marsh Harrier nest is still giving no sign as to how many chicks have fledged with only one present/viewable at anyone time. How many more are lurking down in the reedbeds? Before the rain set in 2 Hobby there were over Slepe Heath/Arne moors area. A Cuckoo was seen again on Slepe Heath and there was late news of a Short-eared Owl sat on the Brownsea seawall 2 weeks ago, which is certainly the first June record for this species we’ve ever heard about. 

We still have several spaces left on our Nightjar walk this coming saturday in partnership with Arne RSPB Reserve. To book on and for full information CLICK HERE

More wader passage today with a gorgeous summer plumaged male Ruff out on Lytchett Fields. We rarely see them in this plumage, as most of our birds tend to be fresh juveniles in the autumn. Out in Holes Bay north there were 5 Curlew, 2 Black-tailed Godwit, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 Common Tern.

Ruff – Lytchett Fields – Shaun Robson

Without a doubt, best bird of the day was a Little Ringed Plover that turned up on a bridleway on Stoborough Heath, which is bizarre enough in its self, however this bird was a completely fresh juvenile suggesting it could have been raised locally? If it hadn’t then I can’t believe it had come from too far afield but who knows. There are certainly waders on the move already and this was evident with the first Greenshank of the autumn out in Brands Bay and 2 Green Sandpiper out on Lytchett Fields. 

Little Ringed Plover – Stoborough Heath – Jackie Broadhouse

Crossbill’s are beginning to move about now with 4 passing over the Arne car park and likely Osprey distantly soaring over the Wytch Channel. Late June and throughout July is a good time to hear local Crossbills as they begin to move about in parties containing anything from 2-20 birds. They’re call is very unique as they pass over, so we’ve included a recording of a group of Crossbill passing over Ballard Down last year so you can familiarise yourself with their calls. 

23 Crossbill over Glebelands, Ballard 10/10/15

On a what could turn out to be a sad day for the environment, we hope that what ever happens from here on in our partners, our friends and our followers will do what ever they can to help support and fight for the protection our wildlife needs now and in the future, not just in Poole Harbour but across the whole country too. Certain areas of environmental protection sit under European law such as SPA’s (Special Protection Areas) and SAC’s (Special Area of Conservation) of which Poole Harbour has several of including the rich and vibrant heathlands and sand dune systems of Studland. No one knows what will happen when (if) we leave EU, but what is clear is that our environment will need us more than ever over the coming years so please get out and enjoy, monitor and help protect our local heritage.

Not much bird news to report today other than a Roseate tern was on Brownsea again briefly.