We’ve already talked about the excitement of migration, and provided a bit of information of things to come in terms of what should be appearing in the harbour over the next couple weeks, but whilst people are busy scanning headlands and hedgerows, who’s listening to what’s going on over head? Over the last 12 months we’ve been busy trying to figure out what’s happening while we’re tucked up in bed asleep by carrying out a series of night recording sessions each month and analysing the recordings. The results have been fascinating and locally, we’re only at the very tip of the iceberg with our understanding of how and when birds are migrating through the harbour. This year we have a new sound recording station based in Old Town Poole, on top of a large 3 story building which we hope will provide us with a real insight into what’s going on during peak migration times. This calender year we’ve already sound recorded Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Redshank as they move around in the dark back and forth to their feeding grounds and a passing Golden Plover but with the migration season now upon us we’re already beginning to hear birds on passage and Monday night (07/03/16) saw our first decent movement of the spring. Between 7pm and midnight there was an obvious migration of Redwing passing over our listening station and I suspect over most of southern Britain as birds made their way up from the SW and possibly even from the near continent. Totals from the whole nights recording included 102 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Blackbird, 2 Common Gull, 3 Curlew, 6 Oystercatcher and 1 Redshank. The recording below shows just how low some of these birds are migrating with this particular Redwing literally just a few meters above our microphone

Redwing – One of over 100 migrating over Old Town Poole – 07/03/16

Waders are also beginning to move now and although there could be confusion with local waders that are just moving about the harbour to feed, we’re pretty sure the Curlew in the next recording is a migrant as it was one of three that arrived over the course of the night calling from quite high up

Curlew – Passing high over Old Town Poole – 07/03/16

Finally was this Oystercatcher, which is probably the most frequent wader we encounter from the station, due to the fact they’re so vocal and numerous. This bird again passed so close to the microphone that you can even hear its wing beats after the loudest call, and which can be seen within the sonagram.

Oystercatcher – Passing low over listening station – 07/03/16

Elsewhere in the harbour, 2 Spoonbill were on the Brownsea Lagoon with a Spotted Redshank and Sandwich Tern. At the PC World Drain a Firecrest was still present but just 2 Chiffchaff. Off Baiter a Great Northern Diver was distant and nearly all Great Crested Grebes are changing into their summer plumage and good numbers of Red-breasted Merganser remain. In Middlebere there were 4 Spoonbill and at Lytchett Pools 3 Water Pipit were found. At Arne Crossbills have been reported to the VC team over the last few days.

For the gulls spring is really getting going as the islands off Holton Lee become more and more packed with Black-headed Gulls and to a lesser extent Med Gulls. From the Holton Lee viewpoint a Hen Harrier was seen down towards Swineham and a Peregrine was out over the channel. Out in the fields a party of c50 Redwing are still foraging and are now joined by Meadow Pipits. At the PC World Drain 8 Chiffchaff were counted and the Firecrest was still present there. Out on the Brownsea Lagoon 2 Spoonbill are now frequent visitors having spent most of the winter at Arne and Middlebere and c100 Avocet and c300 Black-tailed Godwit were also on the lagoon. In Holes Bay north, you can still get great views of species such as Avocet, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit and Oystercatcher as they get forced close to the cycle path by the rising tide.

Another night survey, this time around the Sunnyside area produced a good count of Jack Snipe, comfortably reaching double figures with only 3 Woodcock seen. The rise in Jack Snipe numbers is most likely due birds passing through the area on migration, which could also account for the decrease in Woodcock numbers as birds move out of their winter territory. A Red Kite passed over Lytchett Fields heading towards Holton Lee, whilst out on the fields c 60 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Avocet, 1 Green Sandpiper and still a handful of Redwing about. In the SW corner of the harbour the well-marked female Hen Harrier was still hunting mid-morning, with females of Merlin over Hartland, Peregrine on Slepe Heath and a few Marsh Harrier. Out in the harbour a Great Northern Diver was still off Baiter with 12 Turnstone on the shoreline there and 2 Ringed Plover.

Jack Snipe – Sunnyside – Terry Elborn

Jack Snipe – Sunnyside – Terry Elborn

Highlight of the day went to two Common Cranes that passed over Holton Lee and out across Lytchett Bay. Unfortunately they were lost to view by the woodland treeline and couldn’t be relocated, however the info services stated at 19:06 – 2 Common Crane – Poole. If anyone has any info about this later sighting we’d be interested in hearing where abouts ‘in Poole’ the sighting was made. Also at Holton Lee 2 Marsh Harrier were over the reedbed with a Peregrine high overhead. A Green Sandpiper was on Holton Pools and what seemed like constant calling from Siskins and Med Gulls overhead. Out on the Holton Lee heathland, Dartford Warbler and Stonechat were both active and a few Meadow Pipit passed overhead. At the PC World drain the first few migrant Chiffchaff arrived with at least one with pollen on its face/forehead, also a Firecrest there too. In Middlebere 4 Spoonbill remained and 2 Firecrest were still at Norden Sewage Works. 

Grey Wagtail – Norden Sewage Works – Paul Morton

A cold, bright start to the day made a few birds active. At Norden Sewage Works the 2 Firecrest were present again along with several Goldcrest, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Grey Wagtail. In Middlebere the 4 Spoonbill remained with another 1 on Brownsea and a Spotted Redshank was also in Middlebere. Out on Arne Moors a large 1^st year female Peregrine was causing trouble and a late night survey there saw 4 Woodcock and 6 Common Snipe. At Holton Lee another 4 Woodcock were counted during the survey and at Lytchett Fields a Barn Owl was out hunting over the fields. In Holes Bay north mid morning there were good numbers of common waders and wildfowl near the cycle path and a Spotted Redshank was at the mouth of the outflow. 

Still no sign of any migrants arriving in the country let alone Poole Harbour. The usual affair of 2 Firecrest at Norden Sewage Works and another in Broadstone LNR, 4 Spoonbill in Middlebere with a Spotted Redshank, a female Merlin on Hartland and a Great Northern Diver out in harbour central was all that could be mustered. 

It was noted today that the first Osprey was recorded in the UK with a bird seen up in Argyl around midday. Although still relatively early, Osprey are another species that will be passing through right throughout March and into April. However, spring passage is much quicker and if fine weather prevails then birds will just pass through/over and go straight to their breeding grounds, with birds often only getting delayed and held up in Poole Harbour by bad weather, or….if not paired up yet and possibly looking to scope out a new territory. We’re keeping our eyes peeled.

Sightings today only produced 2 Merlin, one over Slepe Heath and another at Upton CP with a Peregrine. A Great Northern Diver was off Poole Quay with a Guillemot and the Spoonbills were again in Middlebere. A Sandwich Tern was off Baiter, Firecrests were in the Arne car park and up to 7 Chiffchaff were at the PC World drain.

Its certainly got colder, just as we thought spring was about to explode! At Lytchett Fields just a single Water Pipit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Greenshank were of note. At Upton CP the Bearded Tits were again in the reedbed near the boardwalk. There is still at least 1 Hen Harrier in the harbour and 5 Spoonbill were in Middlebere with 15 Grey Plover and 3 Spotted Redshank.

Another fairly quiet day with 2 female Goldeneye, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 10 Pintail and 2 Spotted Redshank in Holes Bay. At Lytchett Bay 2 Spoonbill were feeding and on the pools field 8 Water Pipit remained with a Firecrest in bushes next to the Waterworks. The diminishing flock of Spoonbill (now only 8 birds it seems) were on Shipstal briefly before the low tide. Interestingly, one (which has been several times over the last few days) is almost in full adult breeding plumage, with a fine crest and bright yellow throat and dark black bill. It will most likely move off soon, but worth watching out for if viewing any of the Poole Harbour Spoonbills over the coming weeks. 

They’re coming! A Little Ringed Plover was found up in the Midlands today providing us with a taste of things to come. Although not quite there yet, March tends to provide the first flurry of summer migrants with species such as Little Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, Ring Ouzel, Chiffchaff and Wheatear all appearing first before the next big wave of arrives throughout April. Certainly from mid-March onwards keep an eye out for all the species mentioned above in suitable habitats. Lytchett Fields will most likely host the first Little Ringed Plover, whilst places such as Greenland’s Farm, Hartland Moor, Holton Lee fields and the Holes Bay/Baiter shorelines could all see Wheatear over the coming 4 weeks. Chiffchaff can literally turn up anywhere, Sand Martins will arrive and start feeding over open bodies of fresh water such as Poole Park lakes and Swineham Gravel Pits, whilst the secretive Ring Ouzel may be found at places such as Hartland Stud, Challow Hill, Corfe or on the short open pasture along Soldiers Road. Basically…keep your eyes peeled everywhere as we’re now entering the beginning of the exciting spring migration season.

Sightings from today are a bit thin on the ground (all the more reason for spring to roll on) with just the 10 Water Pipit and a Merlin reported from Lytchett Fields. As the Avon Valley in the east is currently drying up we’ve seen an increase in Black-tailed Godwits arriving back onto the Brownsea Lagoon and a ringed Herring Gull (F-161) that was seen at Hamworthy Beach in the morning has been traced back to Flat Holm Island, Cardiff. It was ringed as a chick on the 5^th July 2014.

Herring Gull – Hamworthy Beach – Paul Morton