A slightly nippier day today, but pleasant all the same. Again some good coverage was received from around the harbour starting with Greenland’s Farm where there 1 Cuckoo, 21 Wheatear, 2 Whinchat, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler and 5 Chiffchaff. In Brands Bay 1 Brent Goose remains and 2 Pintail there. At Swineham an Osprey was touring the Wareham Channel for 45 minutes, also there 6+ Cetti’s Warbler, 6 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Water Rail and a drake Garganey on one of the freshwater Pools near the cottage named ‘Curlews’. At Lytchett Bay a 1^st winter Little Gull was present, also a sky-watch produced a Marsh Harrier, Ringed Plover and a Snipe. In woods between Corfe and Nine Barrow Down there was 1 Lesser and 3 Common Whitethroat, 2 Nightingale and a few Willow Warbler. In Slepe Copse a Wood Warbler sang very briefly. There seemed to be a movement of Red Kite across the county too so keep your eye’s to the skies over the next few days.

Today was a glorious spring day with some nice sightings from around the harbour. Starting with Sunnyside/Soldiers Road where there were 2 Cuckoo, 4 Wheatear, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Peregrine, 5+ Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap and a scattering of resident birds. At Swineham there was 1 female Marsh Harrier, 1 Greenshank, 100+ Black-tailed godwit, 15 Sedge Warbler, 8 Reed Warbler, 6 Blackcap and 11 Chiffchaff, 1 Spoonbill and a Yellow Wagtail. At Ballard a Peregrine, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Whitethroat and a few Yellowhammer back on territory. At Studland Church there was a Black Redstart and at Brands Bay a Whimbrel and Greenshank were present. Lytchett Bay produced another Little-ringed Plover and the Red-throated Diver remained. The PC World drain seemed much quieter today, but still Sedge Warbler, Garden Warbler, Whitethroat and Blackcap all present. On the Brownsea Lagoon there were 41 Sandwich Tern (still yet to visit their nesting islands), 1 Spoonbill, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 33 Avocet and 6 Knot. There was a Whimbrel in Holes Bay with a clam attached to its foot. An Osprey flew south over Holton Lee heath at 5pm

If you didn’t already know the Brownsea Lagoon webcam NOW HAS SOUND, so you can listen to all the chaos and mayhem live as it happens.

Spring is well and truly here with lots of nice birds around. Highlights from the last few days include…

Wednesday 17^th April had 15 Whimbrel in Shell Bay, along with 2 Common Sandpiper in the area. At Lytchett Bay the Bittern was seen again along with the Red-throated Diver where a sparse scattering of migrants included Blackcap, Whitethroat and Willow Warbler and 9 Whimbrel roosted up on the Turlin Shore.

Thursday 18^th April was a wild and windy day, where birds were certainly keeping low. However Reed Warbler were seen back at Upton CP. At the PC World drain there was 6 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 20+ Willow Warbler and 10+ Chiffchaff. In and around Swineham the usual suspects of Cetti’s Warbler, Swallow, House Martin, Great spotted Woodpecker and a few wildfowl out on the lake. There was a report that a Nightingale was back on territory near Corfe. At Lytchett Bay there was a 1^st year Little Gull, 1 Common Sandpiper and the Red-throated Diver put in appearance.

Friday 19^th of April was a real treat when Poole Harbours first Subalpine Warbler was discovered at the east end of the PC World drain. Unfortunately it was only seen by 2 lucky observers and wasn’t seen since. Also in the area a Grasshopper Warbler, Garden Warbler, Sedge Warbler, lots of Blackcap and Willow Warbler. At Middlebere there were 3 Spoonbill, 9 Wheatear at Greenland’s Farm and 3 at Soldiers Road. On Brownsea 53 Avocets, 5 Greenshank, 3 Spotted Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper. A Nightingale was singing at Corfe again this evening.

Sorry for the lack of reports over the last few days but have been away. I was keeping tabs on various sighting and reports while I was away and it looked like a bad time not to be around. Some great birds combined with great weather certainly seemed to give everything the lift it needed…

Sunday 14^th April saw lots of nice birds dotted all over the place. Starting with an Osprey and Yellow Wagtail over Swineham Point, also there 2 Spoonbill, female Marsh Harrier, 2 Greenshank, 10 Grey Plover and a steady trickle of Swallow and Sand Martin and Barn Owl and ringtail Hen Harrier in the evening. On the Brownsea Lagoon a single Common Tern, 3 Whimbrel, 29 Sandwich Tern, 6 Turnstone, 1087 Black-tailed Godwit, 47 Avocet, and 1 Sanderling. A brief sea-watch off Branksome produced 2 Great Skua and a House Martin in off the sea. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling on the west side of Holes Bay.

Monday 15^th April started off with a real cracker as a ringtail Montague’s Harrier drifted over French’s Farm, Lytchett Bay in the morning (only the 2^nd record for Lytchett Bay). The Osprey was seen again over Swineham Point and the female Marsh Harrier was over the reedbed at the point.

Tuesday 16^th April was a beauty of a day. Only a handful of reports in. One of a Red-throated Diver out on the water in Lytchett Bay, also the first Reed and Sedge Warblers there. 

Saturday the 13^th of April was wet, wet, wet, but despite the driving drain a handful of decent sightings were recorded. Starting with Swineham where there was no sign of the Long-eared Owl but a 1^st winter Little Gull was over the main pit, also 4 Sandwich Tern up the river Frome, 30+ each of Swallow and Sand Martin, 2 House Martin, 1 Greenshank, 1 (singing) Skylark, 1 (singing) Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Cetti’s Warbler and at least 6 Brambling still near the pumping station at Church Lane, Wareham. Out on Slepe Moor a Jack Snipe was flushed and an Osprey was seen carrying a fish also there a single Wheatear and many Water Rail. Along the PC World drain still many Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler, 1 Common Sandpiper and a mystery Egret was photographed out in Holes Bay, which resembles a Great White Egret, but at 500m away it was hard to clinch!

Late news came in last night from 2 local birders of a Long-eared Owl that had been spotted roosting in some trees along the main footpath at Swineham. They both headed down there and were rewarded with seeing the bird leaving its roost site. Despite it almost being pitch black they managed to get a couple record shots to confirm its identification. Long-eared Owls are a very rare occurrence in the harbour so this is a truly significant sighting. There is also a very good possibility that it’s still in the area. Also at Swineham yesterday was a Barn Owl, Marsh Harrier, 2 Sandwich Tern, 5 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler and also still 10+ Brambling and 3 Willow Warbler near the pumping station at the east end of Church Lane in Wareham.

Almost as incredible was the sighting of 11 Little Ringed Plover on the Brownsea Lagoon yesterday afternoon. We’ll have to check the records but that must be the highest spring gathering of this species on record for the harbour?

The weather over the last 3 days has certainly been a lot better, and the birds are now coming through thick and fast. Starting with….

Wednesday 10^th April where a thick fog hampered any birding for the first hours of daylight. However it soon cleared producing some decent reports. Starting at Lytchett Bay where there were 3 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Greenshank, 1 Spotted Redshank and a Woodlark was singing over on Holton Lee Heath. At Arne there were displaying Dartford Warbler on Coombe Heath, also a Great Northern Diver in the Middlebere Channel. The Red-throated Diver was off Swineham Point, also a Jack Snipe, Spotted Redshank and 2 Swallow. In a private garden in Broadstone the Common Rosefinch and 14 Brambling continue to visit a feeding station. On Brownsea there were 3 Spoonbill, 3 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank and 27 Sandwich Tern

Thursday 11^th was again fine for most of the day. Holes Bay hosted 960 Black-tailed Godwit, 62 Shelduck, 3 Med Gulls and 12 Little Egret. A really interesting sighting of a female Marsh Harrier nest building at a private site, however, unfortunately no male to be seen! There was a ringtail Hen Harrier on Arne Moors and a Ring Ouzel on Stoborough Heath. At Lytchett Bay 2 Swallow, 10 Sand Martin, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, and a Peregrine Falcon.

Friday 12^th was a mixture of sunshine and showers but fairly mild. The female Marsh Harrier continued to nest build as 2 ringtail Hen Harrier are now present around the moors area. At Lytchett Bay there was 1 Shoveler (rare for this site), 3 Swallow, 7 Willow Warbler, 2 Greenshank, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Kingfisher and 94 Black-tailed Godwit. There was also an obvious fall of Willow Warbler on the south coast today as around 50 lined the banks of the PC World drain with a few Chiffchaff still mixed in. Swallows were very much in evidence across the harbour today with twos and threes passing over many sites. Finally, at Sunnyside a ringtail Hen Harrier, 1 Wheatear, 2 Woodlark, 12 Swallow, 2 Willow Warbler and 3 Kestrel.

This is more like it…drizzle with a gentle south easterly breeze, great for migrants. Sightings over the last few days have really picked up and it looks like spring migration has FINALLY taken off?

Sunday the 7^th April was sunny but still a bit chilly, however some lovely birds about. Starting with Studland area where at Greenlands Farm there were 5 Snipe, 1 Woodcock, 9 Wheatear, 6 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing and 1 Chiffchaff. At Brands Bay only 103 Black-tailed Godwit, 52 Dunlin and 1 Chiffchaff. There were two very nice sightings from Swineham GP of an adult winter Little Gull and winter plumaged Red-throated Diver. A surveyor was out on Arne Moors and recorded 2 Spoonbill flying over the Frome Valley, 1 ringtail Hen Harrier and 1 Barn Owl. A sea watch from Branksome produced a stunning Black-throated Diver, 6 Common Scoter and 4 Common Terns. Along Shore Road at least 22 Sanderling and 30 Bar-tailed Godwit. The Yellow Wagtail remains on the little pond at Lytchett Bay, also there Green Sandpiper and White Wagtail. A Snipe was heard drumming over Hartland Moor and a Red-legged Partridge was spooked of a road there. There was also a mouth watering report of a summer plumage Red-necked Grebe of Canford Cliffs car park.

Monday 8^th April still saw some decent reports. At Lytchett Bay there was 1 Spoonbill, 2 Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 8 Chiffchaff, 18 Redwing, 20+ Song Thrush, 1 Peregrine Falcon and 7 Little Egrets. An Osprey was reported sat in a dead tree on Pergins Island, Holes Bay. A female Marsh Harrier, ringtail Hen Harrier and Barn Owl were around Swineham.

Tuesday 9^th April saw drizzle and low cloud…excellent for dropping migrants on to our coastline. A successful survey at Lytchett Bay saw 1 male Redstart, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Sand Martin, 1 Blackcap, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Gadwall, 2 Green Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Redshank, 1 Cetti’s Warbler, 1 Greenshank, 68 Black-tailed Godwit on the pools. Another mini fall of migrants occurred around Holes Bay where more Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were seen along with a Common Sandpiper, Blackcap and a good number of migrant Robins, Blackbirds and Song Thrush. A Red Kite drifted over Corfe mid afternoon.

I know, I know, today was what we’ve all been waiting for right? Well, yes and no. For a birder good weather means good weather for birds and although the glorious sunshine was a well received break from the sub zero temperatures it still didn’t herald the arrival of many (if any) spring migrants. The northerly wind, albeit light, still kept the birds at bay. Highlights from the last few days included….

Friday 5^th April saw still a scattering of Chiffchaff at the PC World Drain along with 5 Sand Martin. At Lytchett Bay a Yellow Wagtail a White Wagtail and 2 Green Sandpiper were around the Pools. A wing-tagged Red Kite flew over the Purbecks.

Saturday 6th was glorious, no doubt about that, but still not many reports. At Sunnyside there was just 1 Wheatear, 4 Chiffchaff and 2 Woodlark. At Lytchett Bay the Yellow Wagtail and White Wagtail remained on the pool with either a Rock or Water Pipit in flight, also a Kingfisher there. There was a great record of a Lesser-spotted Woodpecker drumming near Bestwall. Woodlark were singing up on Hartland Moor.

Don’t forget that the next ‘Birds of Poole Harbour walk will be taking place on Saturday 20^th of April. There are a handful of places left so don’t miss out. Word on the grapevine is that it’s due to warm up soon, so we may even have some sun and warmth! Check out the event here…

http://www.birdsofpooleharbour.co.uk/sunnyside-farm-and-soldiers-road-birds-poole-harbour

Poole Harbour Survey

We were kindly forwarded this link today by the ‘Two Owls Birding’ group (www.twoowlsbirding.co.uk) which is a survey looking at the recreational uses of Poole Harbour. It’s a specific bird watching survey so please take the time to look at it and complete it…

http://tinyurl.com/birdwatchingsurvey2013

Some sightings from the last few days…

A Stone Curlew was reported on Brownsea Island yesterday, which is a fantastic Poole harbour record. Also on Brownsea 2 Spoonbill, 3 Spotted Redshank, 54 Knot, 1 Woodcock and 8 Sandwich Tern. The Yellow Wagtail remained at Lytchett Bay for its fourth day, also there a Bittern, 19 Snipe, 28 Redwing and 29 Brent Geese.  In Holes Bay, not much change but still many 10’s of Chiffchaff, 6 Sand Martin, 2 Kingfisher 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 3 Pintail and 4 Great Crested Grebe. A single Sandwich Tern was a Shore Road. The Scarlet Rosefinch and 14 Brambling are still feeding in a private garden in Broadstone. There was a Black Redstart at Studland Church. Also in the area there was just 1 Black-necked Grebe and 8 Common Scoter at Middle Beach and an incredible 330 Med Gulls at South Beach. A Red Kite drifted over Little Sea, Studland.