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

Much of the same today, although we were able to get a sound recording of the Redwing flock at Holton Lee early morning. The recording consists of a flock of around 100 birds carrying out ‘Community Song’ which is comprised of a whole host of sounds including song, contact call, social calls, flight calls and general chatter. It’s a sound you’ll only ever really hear in Dorset late in Feb or early March before the Redwing move off, but when you come across it, the sound really hits you. You can even hear the moment when a raptor (possibly a Sparrowhawk or Buzzard) fly’s over and the whole flock respond by going silent. Other species that carry out this Community Song this time of year include Siskin and Starling. Also at Holton Lee 2 Woodlark and again plenty of Siskin around. Spoonbills were at Arne and Lytchett Bay with 2 Marsh Harrier also at Lytchett Bay.

Redwing – Community Song – Holton Lee 26/02/16

A (or the) redhead Smew was seen off Knoll Beach, Studland, feeding 30m just off the beach. Smew in this area of the harbour are extremely rare, perhaps one final feed before heading off back home? There were also 2 Black Redstart reported between the Banks Arms and Old Harry, Studland. At Baiter late afternoon the Med Gull numbers were again fairy large with 100+ scattered along the shoreline and settled on the water. 

Today was another beautiful early spring day and news was received that there is now 4 Hen Harrier in the harbour with 2 ringtails, 1 juvenile female and a grey male present around the mouth of the Wareham Channel and Hartland area late afternoon. There haven’t been many reports of the grey male from around the harbour its self, so when news was received that one had been seen hunting at Morden Bog on Monday it could be that he is deciding to hunt inland rather that around the harbour fringes. A female Merlin was also on Hartland mid-morning. From Baiter late evening, the low tide saw a mass of gulls again with Med Gull present almost every 10 meters along the shoreline, and constantly calling. The low tides and calm waters make it really easy to look for open water species and its evident that there are still plenty of Red-breasted Merganser and Great Crested Grebe about but not so many Goldeneye. There were 2 Sandwich Tern again at Baiter too. At PCW the Chiffchaff are still enjoying the sun with several in song again. In Old Town Poole a female type Black Redstart was on the roof of Pizza Express and a night recording session from Old Town Poole picked up a flock of Redwing migrating back to their breeding grounds around midnight. At Shell Bay there were 22 Sanderling along the beach. 

It was a beautiful day today, with plenty of opportunity for some scenic photography. Calm waters and golden sunshine made everything seem very spring like and the birds certainly thought so too. At Holton Lee four species of thrush were in full voice as Blackbird, Song and Mistle Thrush belted out their familiar repertoires, as a flock of 50+ Redwing took it in turns to test out their voices out in unfamiliar surroundings. At Holton Lee Woodlark were back on territory and male Reed Buntings were also singing from the reedbeds, some in their summer finery. At Baiter late afternoon, Med Gulls were everywhere and 2 Sandwich Tern were feeding along the shore. Bar-tailed Godwit could be seen feeding over towards Sandbanks. At PCW a few of the over-wintering Chiffchaff were singing away and a Kingfisher dashed by. At Sandford Heath, 2 Woodlark were also singing and several Dartford Warbler were active. At RSPB Lytchett Fields a Merlin, Spoonbill, Spotted Redshank and an Avocet were the best of the bunch. 

Sunset over the Frome Valley – Paul Morton

Sunset over Hamworthy Beach – Michelle Collier

Grey Heron flock – Wareham Channel – Paul Morton