A day of mixed weather, starting off feeling very spring-like this morning but the hail and rain certainly put a dampener on our Spring Safari Cruise this afternoon. Nevertheless, we had 4 distant sightings of White-tailed Eagle during the trip, which were determined to evade us. 2 White-tailed Eagle were also seen this morning high over Corfe at later over Poole Town. At least 2 Great Northern Diver were present in the Central Harbour this afternoon, as well as a third in the North Channel. The Long-tailed Duck was still present off Jerry’s Point throughout the Day, as well as 1 Slavonian Grebe and 1 Great Northern Diver. The spring arrivals are still pushing through with 1 Wheatear also at Jerry’s Point, and 175 Sand Martin gathering pre-roost at Swineham this evening. At least 2 Osprey were using the harbour today, with one catching a fish in Lytchett Bay during the early afternoon, and a second seen over Poole Town shortly after. Both Peregrines were seen again today moving between the Barclays and the Asda building in Poole Town. A Garganey was reported ‘at Wareham’ which was possibly at Swineham, but couldn’t be re-located, but there was a Willow Warbler at Swineham.

White-tailed Eagles – Poole Town – Daniel Nash (@DanielNash1987)

A cold, nippy spring day, starting of grey, but ending with a stunning sunset, and in fact a day that provided plenty of ‘odds and sods’ right across the area. Starting off with best bird of the day which came in the shape of an Alpine Swift that flew in over over Studland Heath and out towards Brands Bay, but unfortunately it couldn’t be relocated. The springs second Osprey of the season was fishing in Middlebere and off Shipstal and was photographed as it patrolled up and down the channel. Over Swineham GP c50 Sand Martin were feeding this evening, there were singles of Swallow over RSPB Hydes Heath and another over Ham Common viewpoint. Out on Wareham Common a Little Ringed Plover was flushed by a Peregrine and there were 18 Cattle Egret and 2 Mandarin Duck. There was a Wheatear at Baiter, 3 at Holes Bay and 3 at Greenlands Farm. The White-tailed Eagle pair were doing the rounds, first sitting out on the gulls islands this morning before being seen heading south and then circling over Brands Bay late afternoon. There were 4 Spoonbill flying around Brands Bay this afternoon and this evening 5 seemed to come down behind Swineham GP. A Spotted Redshank crossed Lytchett Bay this morning and there were 2 Red Kite over Middlebere this afternoon.

Osprey – Middlebere – Kate Plater

Female Northern Wheatear – Holes Bay – Rene Goad

The day started off mild but ended up really quite chilly. For our team it was a day of two boat trips, with this mornings School Bird Boat which was with Winchelsea School, being treated to a stunning view of White-tailed Eagle G466 flying in over RSPB Arne, past our boat before heading off over Lytchett Bay and Upton. Then, this afternoon we hosted our first Spring Safari of the season which was jam packed including good views of both White-tailed Eagles in the Wareham Channel with G463 giving us a good fly by as he flew in and joined female G466. Up to 6 Marsh Harrier were really active in and around Swineham, with plenty of interaction between one another. Also in the Wareham Channel were 2 Spotted Redshank, 17 Knot, c100 Black-tailed Godwit and c50 Redshank. The Long-tailed Duck was still off Jerry’s point and up to 4 Great Northern Diver were still between the harbour entrance and Sandbanks. Up to 6 Sandwich Tern were on the Brownsea Lagoon where there were still 8+ Avocet and 4 Spoonbill. Elsewhere 25 Cattle Egret flew in and roosted on the islands on Swineham GP, a female Merlin was on Hartland, 2 Northern Wheatear were along the cycle path in Holes Bay south with another on Redhorn Quay. A Swallow flew over Hartland Moor.

Great Northern Diver – North Channel (off Baiter) – Alison Copland

White-tailed Eagle pair – Wareham Channel – Alison Copland

Perhaps our despondent tone in yesterday’s sightings was detected by some birding higher power and they took pity upon us, because the story today couldn’t have been more different! With warm, calm conditions right from the get go raptor activity was high and thermals were evidently abundant as they could be seen kettling in their scores. In the airspace north of the harbour alone this morning there were at least 25+ Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 1 Red Kite, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Goshawk and 2 White-tailed Eagles! We felt sure that by the end of the day at least one migratory species would be added to that list, and sure enough much to our delight the first Osprey of the season was seen fishing in the Wareham Channel near Rockley Point late afternoon! Other migrant species were turning up all over the place too with Chiffchaff singing right across the harbour, 8 Wheatear at Ballard Down, 2 at Hartland, 2 at Lytchett Fields and 1 on Wareham Common, 2 Willow Warbler at Ballard and another in Lytchett Bay, where there were also 2 Little Ringed Plover. There’s still plenty of winter species hanging around too though, with a single Water Pipit in Lytchett Fields, Long-tailed Duck and 2 Slavonian Grebe of Jerry’s Point, Studland and 2 Great Northern Diver nearby: one each in Bramblebush Bay and Shell Bay. The Great Grey Shrike also back in the same spot in Wareham Forest, just north-west of Woolsbarrow Hillfort, having reappeared yesterday after last been seen on 12th March. Also still present were the 16 Cattle Egret on Wareham Common. Let’s hope these conditions keep up, especially as they may deliver something even rarer, like the Alpine Swift that was seen just along the coast today over Portland!

Wheatear – Ballard Down – Nick Hopper

Long-tailed Duck – Jerry’s Point, David Camp

Yet another grey day! We’ve been trying to think back as to when the last two or more consecutive days of sunshine occurred, and we think it was October 1976!? Or at least it feels like it. However, we’re not one to moan (much), so it was good to hear of a Black Redstart being found today on a fencepost at Greenalnd’s Farm, Studland where there was also a Wheatear. Also at Studland, the weekends newly arrived Long-tailed Duck was off Jerry’s Point again with 2 Slavonian Grebe and 1 Great Northern Diver. There was a single Spoonbill in Brands Bay, with 4 on the Brownsea Lagoon again. There were 2 Sand Martin over the Lower Piddle Valley near Swineham, 2 Mandarin Duck were at Holmebridge with another 2 at Carey Secret Garden. Both the Peregrines were on the Asda flats again, but still no sign of any real courtship or mating attempts yet. Red Kite are still mingling/moving about in small numbers with 1 over Wareahm Train Station and another over Hartland. The lone Barnacle Goose was still at Holme Lane GP trying to befriend Egyptian Geese.

Barnacle Goose (right) and Egyptian Goose (left) – Holme lane GP – Clive Hargrave

Another Spring Day, another new arrival (or several) including a drake Garganey on RSPB Lytchett Fields briefly this morning. Although they’re typically annual, over the last decade we have had a few years where they’ve been absent in both spring and autumn, so it’s good to get one logged so early in the year. At Swineham this morning there were 10 Sand Martin along with a Cattle Egret in trees next to the B&B. Plus 4 Marsh Harrier were off Swineham Point, both White-tailed Eagles were in the Wareham Channel along with an adult male Hen Harrier and a Peregrine was hunting over RSPB Arne Moors. At Holme lane GP the Barnacle Goose was present again, off Jerry’s Point, Studland the Long-tailed Duck was still there and 2 Slavonian Grebe were off Redhorn, a Spotted Redshank was on Lytchett Fields where there was also another Sand Martin, 4 Spoonbill were on the Brownsea Lagoon, the redhead Goosander was still in Holes Bay NE and up to 25 Cattle Egret were still out on Wareham Common.

Drake Garganey – RSPB Lytchett Fields – Ian Ballam

There were some more signs of passage and bird movements this morning when a Corn Bunting dropped down onto Ballard, sung for 30 seconds, before then moving off north again. Although Corn Bunting are making a good come back in Dorset, they’re still are rare bird in Poole Harbour with only 1-2 records per year. Also noted moving at Ballard this AM included 3 Yellowhammer, 7 Siskin, 27 Meadow Pipit and a few alba Wagtails. At Holmebridge the 2 Mandarin Duck were still present, a Barnacle Goose was on Holme Lane Gravel Pit, a Long-tailed Duck was seen off Jerry’s Point with a Black-necked Grebe, 1 Slavonian Grebe and 3 Great Northern Diver, in Middlebere there was a Merlin and 2 Marsh Harrier, with another 2 Marsh Harrier in the Wareham Channel plus a White-tailed Eagle eating a fish. A Wheatear was out on Greenlands, Studland and the redhead Goosander was still in Holes Bay NE.

Northern Wheatear – Greenlands Farm, Studland – Rob Johnson

Stonechat – Ballard Down – Nick Hopper

We’ve now hit mid-March meaning we’re entering the full spring migration period with the next 2-months (mid-March to mid-May) offering the best variety of spring migrants, as well as seeing summer breeding species return. With each day that passes, the more chance something ‘new’ could turn up, and although this period isn’t as long-lived as the 5 month autumn migration period, spring migration offers the chance to see some incredible birds at their best. With yesterdays Hoopoe at Durlston, thoughts of other southern wanderers begin to manifest with Alpine Swift, Red-rumped Swallow and Great Spotted Cuckoo all possible in late March. Today didn’t quite live up to that standard, although 5 Sand Martin at Swineham was a good start and there seems to have been some decent Chiffchaff arrivals already with plenty singing around the harbour. There were 10 (newly arrived?) Spoonbill which dropped into the Wareham Channel this evening. This morning 2 Mandarin Duck were at Holmebridge, with another 4 in the Lower Piddle Valley over Wareham Common. A Golden Plover was in fields at Middlebere with 2 Lapwing. On Wareham Common 23 Cattle Egret were feeding, a Green Sandpiper and 3 Cetti’s Warbler were logged. At Middlebere this evening there were 2 Spotted Redshank.

Cattle Egrets – Wareham Common