There was exciting news that an Osprey was seen flying over Verwood late yesterday afternoon. Although slightly early, its not unusual for Osprey to start moving through in early March with their migration north carrying on right the way through March, into April and very occasionally into May too. Their migration north see them rush through areas like Poole Harbour, sometimes only staying a few hours, a day at most before moving on again.   The hope is, that eventually they’ll decide to stay to breed but when they do is anyone’s guess…2015 would be nice! The only other news from yesterday was of a Red Kite over Arne, 3 Spoonbill feeding on the Brownsea Lagoon late last night on the new night vision webcam. 2 Spoonbill were in Middlebere and a Spotted Redshank is still frequenting the Holes Bay outflow channel. 

Spring really did begin for me this morning when I heard my fist Chiffchaffs singing near Holes Bay. These aren’t summer migrants unfortunately, but are in fact our over-wintering birds prepping for the summer, and on warm March days you’ll hear their slightly weaker version of the classic Chiffchaff song as they practise for when their rivals arrive. Their migrant relatives from southern Europe and North Africa aren’t too far away though and will be arriving any day now, and you can normally tell them apart from our over-wintering Chiffchaff because their bills, foreheads and chins are often covered with a thick dark/black substance which is in fact sticky pollen obtained whilst feeding their way up through Europe.  Portland has already seen a Wheatear and White Wagtail, so any day now we’ll be hoping to see the same, along with species like Sand Martin and Little Ringed Plover.  Meadow Pipits are also piling in through the Purbecks at present heading north. In Studland bay this evening there were 31 Mediterranean Gull, 5 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Slavonian Grebe, 7+ Great Crested Grebe, 43+ Red-breasted Merganser, and 1 female Long-tailed Duck. At Lytchett Bay this evening an impressive 2000+ Black-headed Gull came into roost, also present 280 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Spoonbill flew over. 

We’ve also made some improvements to our Brownsea webcam, making the colour better on the screen, operationally easier at our end as well as it now having NIGHT VISION! Tune in now to watch ‘the night Cormorants’ – BROWNSEA WEBCAM

Studland saw most interest today with the Great Grey Shrike still showing intermittently around the Greenlands/Godlingston area, also there 1 Marsh Harrier, 10 Fieldfare, 1 Firecrest and a few Siskin. In Brands Bay there were 2 Spoonbill. Off Middle Beach there was 1 Long-tailed Duck, 2 Slavonian Grebe and only 1 Black-necked Grebe. At the houseboats were 10 Sanderling and there was 1 Spoonbill in Middlebere. Along Soldiers Road a ringtail Hen Harrier was seen. On Brownsea yesterday 2 male Golden Pheasants, 1 Firecrest, 1 Marsh Harrier and 1 Sandwich Tern were counted. 

Today was our monthly BoPH field trip, which was due to be held on Slepe Heath, but thanks to driving drizzle and a strong breeze, we headed to Middlebere instead. A well worth diversion as we saw 6 Spoonbill from the Middlebere Hide, as well as 1 Yellow-legged Gull, and good numbers of Grey Plover, Redshank, Curlew, Dunlin, Black-tailed Godwit, Teal, Wigeon, Brent Geese and a ringtail Hen Harrier about 30 mins previous. A visit to Slepe Heath later in the day produced 2 Woodlark and a 2 ringtail Hen Harrier out over Arne moors. The Great White Egret was out in front of the Brands Bay hide today with 2 Spoonbill. Spoonbill were also present in the Wareham Channel (2) and Lytchett Bay (1). At Holton Lee the lesser-spotted Woodpecker was heard again and the 2 Marsh Tit were on the feeders along with a few Siskin. Marsh Harriers were noted at Lytchett Bay and Swineham.  

Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers have been active recently at numerous spots including Brownsea Island, East Holme and Holton Lee, near the bird hide. None have been reported from Sherford Bridge yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they’re active there soon too. A Woodlark was also in song on Holton Lee Heath. The Marsh Harrier numbers have dropped right off with only one or two left after the mid-winter bonanza of 12 birds. It seems Hen Harrier are out-numbering them now, with still 3 present. Also at Holton Lee today were 2 Marsh Tit, which are also becoming a Poole Harbour rarity year by year.

Sure signs of spring today with several Black-necked Grebe almost in full summer plumage. There were two in Shell Bay and 8 in between the houseboats at Studland and Brownsea. A Great Northern Diver was also out in Shell Bay and 4 almost full summer plumaged Sandwich Terns were off Brownsea. 2 Spoonbill were in Newton Bay as well as around 400 Brent Geese in Ower Bay. A Night survey in the SW of the harbour last night produced 20 Woodcock, 30 Common Snipe and a handful of Jack Snipe, with 3 Woodcock and 2 Jack Snipe being ringed. 

This evening I went out surveying for Woodcock and Jack Snipe around the wetter fields in the north of the harbour, mainly around Lytchett Bay. Only managed one each of Jack Snipe and Woodcock, but did manage to get ridiculously close to the Jack Snipe, so close I was able to take a snap with my iPhone, same goes for a stunning Lapwing too. There were 21 Spoonbill off Shipstal, Arne and a Peregrine there. 2 Firecrest were at the PC World drain and a ringtail Hen Harrier dashed over Lytchett Bay. Brownsea Lagoon had 6 Greenshank and 2 Spotted Redshank.

Holes Bay is still attracting the usual, but inspiring crowd, including the Smew in Holes Bay NE, 1 Spoonbill, 1 Spotted Redshank and 1 Common Sandpiper at the out flow. At Arne there were 21 Spoonbill, with 5 more in Middlebere. There were 2 Purple Sandpiper in front of the Haven Hotel and 70 Bar-tailed Godwit were in Whitley Lake, Sandbanks. A Firecrest was on Brownsea as were 3 Spotted Redshank, 2 Spoonbill, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 30+ Med Gulls and the usual waders. 

Great Grey Shrike – South Haven, Studland (yesterday) Steve Smith (http://birdingpooleharbourandbeyond.blogspot.co.uk)

The Great Grey Shrike that’s been hanging around the Godlingston area was re-found today, this time on the patch of heath in between Shell Bay and Knoll Beach, Studland. The Great White Egret also flew over that site, and 6 Black-necked Grebes were on the sea. 

The last few days has been more about numbers than variety.  Near Middlebere Point yesterday c1250 Brent Geese were logged, also c500 Curlew, 537 Avocet, c460 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Spotted Redshank. At Lytchett Bay there were 2 Spoonbill, 2 Spotted redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 4 Greenshank and good numbers of Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank and Curlew on ‘Lytchett Pool’.  In Shell Bay there were 9 Black-necked Grebe and 2 Slavonian Grebe, whilst in Brands Bay 8 Black-necked Grebe and the usual Red-breasted Merganser, Goldeneye and Great Crested Grebe were present. Studland Bay saw 7 Black-necked Grebe and 1 Common Scoter.  A possible Siberian Chiffchaff was at the Holes Bay outflow. 15 Spoonbill were at Shipstal, Arne and also a Lesser Redpoll there. A Common Sandpiper was still at Holes Bay.

It also nice to see that some scrub has been cleared away at Upton CP providing better view of that part of Holes Bay.