It was a grim start to the day, but amazingly it cleared really quickly and produced some decent birding, especially for raptors. Around the Lower Piddle Valley this AM there was an adult White-tailed Eagle, 1st winter Goshawk, 2 Red Kite and 2 Peregrine, with the White-tailed Eagle opting to gently josh with the local Ospreys, before soon getting escorted out of their airspace. The Forster’s Tern was again on the Brownsea Lagoon this morning, and seems to be fast moulting into summer plumage. In Holes Bay NW the Ruff was still feeding, an Osprey flew through Lytchett Bay this morning and the years first Garden Warbler was in scrub there too. A Turtle Dove was reported flying over Middlebere yesterday which is an incredibly good Poole Harbour record these days. Finally, the Red-spotted Bluethroat was still at Swineham showing on and off all day. Over the last couple of days we’ve had a small static sound recorder located down near where the bird has been vocalising in the hope we could sound record it sub-singing. We retrieved the recorder today and have found some lovely examples of the bird performing plastic song, filled with multiple imitations of other species songs and calls. We plan to extract several examples to put on our sightings page for tomorrow, so make sure you visit this page again tomorrow to listen to some incredible mimicry!

Red-spotted Bluethroat – Swineham – Clive Hargrave

Today had lots of eastern promise which sadly didn’t deliver. But when you’ve already had Bluethroats and Hoopoes in the harbour who cares! The Red-spotted Bluethroat showed well again on and off during the course of the day at Swineham GP at the eastern end. The Hoopoe seems to have moved on, but there were 2 Northern Wheatear in it’s place. From our Spring Safari this AM were were treated to 2 juvenile White-tailed Eagle again, active in the Wareham Channel, following each other around, trying to teach themselves how to catch fish. The Marsh Harriers were active in and around Swineham too, plus a decent number of Sand Martin, 5+ House Martin and 4 Swallow were buzzing around the gravel pit. The Brownsea Lagoon had 20+ Common Tern, 20 Avocet, 15 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Greenshank and a very late dark-bellied Brent Goose. The years first Swift was seen briefly over Wareham Common, a male Pied Flycatcher was seen on private land near Middlebere during a BBS (Breeding Bird Survey), the Ruff was once again in Holes Bay NW this morning, and an Osprey (neither of our local pair) was in Lytcehtt Bay this morning seen carrying a fish. Also great news today that our local Osprey pair CJ7 and 022 laid their first egg of the 2026 season, just 24 hours later than last year. All being well another two will be laid in the coming few days, but the big question is, will we see a fourth for a third year in a row?

Finally, there are many sounds of spring that bring joy to the ears…..the first singing Blackbird, a newly arrived Nightingale…..a passage of Mediterranean Gulls? Yep….without doubt, one of the true sounds of spring for us here in the harbour is when our local, and passage Mediterranean Gulls move around the harbour, calling in small flocks, most typically during the morning. Here’s a great example recorded last week from a survey boat.

Flock of 7 Meditteranean Gull passing over Shipstal – 01/04/26 – Mark Constantine

Being a Monday, there were fewer rare birds found today, but the long staying gems were pinned down early doors with the Red-spotted Bluethroat seen at Swineham this morning and the Hartland Stud Hoopoe still favouring the field next to the entrance of the ‘Kitchen Cafe’. A small number of common migrants were grounded and saw 1 each of Willow Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Common Whitethroat, plus 6 Blackcap in the PCW Drain and in the Lower Piddle Valley at the Carey ringing station there was a good return with 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Blackcap and a pair of Lesser Redpoll ringed, plus a pair of Goosander flew over Wareham Common at first light. Also, a first milestone of this 2026 Spring season with the first fledged Robin to be out and about. Later this afternoon the Forster’s Tern was reported off ‘Blue Lagoon’, near Evening Hill. On Brownsea 3 Spoonbill were still present and a few new Common Sandpiper were recorded with individuals in Lytchett Bay and Holes Bay, plus a Ruff was also in Holes Bay.

Sedge Warbler – First to be ringed at Carey ringing station this year – Ed Betteridge

(Lesser) Redpoll ringed at Carey ringing station  – Ed Betteridge

Goosander pair over Wareham Common early this AM – Ed Betteridge

1st fledged Robin of 2026 at Carey Ringing Station

Once again, a very European vibe today, despite yesterdays cold, SW wind persisting. The Red-spotted Bluethroat showed a bit better today, but remained elusive along the enclosed track at the eastern end of Swineham GP. The Hoopoe from yesterday was still feeding in the same area at Hartland Stud, below the pine block just to the south of the entrance track of ‘The Kitchen’ cafe. And if Bluethroats and Hoopoes weren’t enough, then to top it off 2 Common Crane were seen touring high above the NW fringes of the harbour, first being seen over Holton Heath train station, then a bit later over Swineham GP. Equally rare was the finding of a male Pied Flycatcher in Kingswood, just above the Studland Road. Over the last 10 years, Hoopoe have been commoner than Spring Pied Flycatchers! Other birds of note were the 2 Whinchat from yesterday still present on Hartland Moor, at the tope end of Soldiers Road near the pick your own farm, 3 Reed Warbler were at Swineham with good numbers of Sand Martin were over the gravel pit early morning and the 3 Glossy Ibis were seen there this AM too and this afternoon the Forster’s Tern was reported off Shipstal Point, RSPB Arne.

1st of 2 Common Crane to pass over Keysworth this afternoon

2nd of 2 Common Crane to pass over Keysworth this afternoon a few minutes later

Red-spotted Bluethroat – Swineham – Peter Moore

Hoopoe – Hartland Stud – Peter Moore

Difficult not to get blown away in the harbour, but the high winds brought in new arrivals in the shape of 1 Hoopoe at Hartland Stud. It was feeding throughout the afternoon just south of the pine block next to The Kitchen at Hartland Stud. 2 Whinchat were also in the pig rootled field across the road to the south-east of here, along with a smattering of 4 Wheatear and 1 Woodlark. The Red-spotted Bluethroat was still at Swineham point. 3 Spoonbill were still on the Brownsea Lagoon along with c60 Avocet and 8 Bar-tailed Godwit. 1 Great Northern Diver was off Stoney Island in the mouth of the harbour. 1 White-tailed Eagle flew over the Wareham Channel this morning. On the low tide here there were 2 Greenshank, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 2 summer-plumaged Dunlin, and 4 Grey Plover.  At Swineham Stilt Pools there was 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper and overhead, 3 House Martin and big arrivals of Sand Martin and Swallow. 1 Osprey was in Lytchett Bay early morning and 1 was in Newton Bay. Also in Lytchett Bay there were 2 Knot and 1 Whimbrel.

Hoopoe – Hartland Stud – Phyl England

Red-spotted Bluethroat – Swineham Point – Peter Moore

Another breathtaking day across the harbour with the ‘Spring Effect’ in full force as migration begins to build up. The two highlight birds were the Red-spotted Bluethroat still being seen (very, very intermittently) at the eastern end of Swineham GP this morning and the adult Forster’s Tern was on the Boomerang around lunchtime. The harbours first Grasshopper Warbler of the year was ringed in the Lower Piddle Valley at Carey Secret Garden this morning, at Swineham there was a minimum of 5 Reed Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler along with 1 Willow Warbler and 4 Blackcap. Swallow passage really picked up mid-morning and logged 100+ right across the harbour, all moving due-north. Other passage migrants included 1 Common Sandpiper in the River Frome, 2 Whimbrel in the Wareham Channel, c400 Black-tailed Godwit, c30 Dunlin and 10 Ringed Plover also in the Wareham Channel. Common Tern totals have hit a peak of 14 and Sandwich Terns 70. Also on the Brownsea Lagoon were 3 Spoonbill, c50 Avocet, 5 Bar-tailed Godwit and 2 Greenshank. From our Spring Safari this morning we were treated by a true spectacle of 2 juvenile White-tailed Eagles hunting in the Wareham Channel close to the side of the boat. Both spent ages continuously flying around, dropping into the water trying to catch Mullet and Bass, but both failed miserably. Then, if the pain of catching no fish wasn’t enough then male Osprey 022 came in and gave them grief before then heading off himself to Middlebere to catch lunch! Our guests weren’t only treated to these two young eagles, but also an adult flying high over the Wareham Channel, then later in the trip….2 more appeared over Brownsea having come from the town direction, meaning in total we logged FIVE different White-tailed Eagles during the cruise! A few Red Kite were moving around this morning with individuals logged over Slepe Heath, the Lower Piddle Valley and Ballard. Another Sedge Warbler was found singing over on Wareham Common below North Walls.

Grasshopper Warbler – 1st of the year- ringed in Lower Piddle Valley

Despite the drop in temperature, and the swing in wind direction from a SE to NW breeze, the harbour didn’t fare too badly today, although there was a distinct drop in numbers of common migrants compared to earlier in the week. That said more Common Whitethroat were recorded today with the first of the year ringed at Carey Secret Garden, then another was on Wareham Common and 3 were up on Ballard Down. At Swineham c100 Sand Martin and c10 Swallow were feeding over the gravel pit and no less than 4 Reed Warbler were singing. Sadly no sign of the Bluethroat though. An Osprey caught a fish in the Wareham Channel about 15:00, thought to be local male 022 and an immature White-tailed Eagle was soaring over Middlebere late afternoon. On Brownsea there were 2 Spoonbill on the lagoon, along with c80 Sandwich Tern. On Stoborough Heath a male Redstart was found along with 1 Common Whitethroat and a big arrival of Med Gulls piled into the Wareham Channel this after (80+), settling down into the Wareham Channel area. You’ve also probably noticed that there’s absolutely no shortage of Chiffchaff this spring with hundreds, if not thousands spread across every area and habitat type. Not all will stay, as migrants will also sing during migration too, but it seems that currently every other tree has a singing Chiffchaff in it! Blackcap are also arriving in reasonable numbers too. They’re not quite so prolific as Chiffchaff, but at the moment most woodlands have a number of singing Blackcap, some of which are in transit, others that will stay. Late this afternoon a Hobby was reported over RSPB Arne.

Common Whitethroat – Carey Secret Garden – Ed Betteridge

Another beautiful day, and remarkable for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was quite a shock to hear of the find of another Bluethroat at Swineham this AM, just several  yards away from where one was found back on March 17th. The main difference is that todays had a stunning, full red throat, indicating todays bird was a red-spotted Bluethroat, where as it was assumed that being so early in the year, the March 17th bird ‘had’ to be white-spotted Bluethroat. There are distinct differences between the two sub-species with red-spotted opting for a sub-Arctic breeding range, and migrating to India and SE Asia to over-winter, where as white-spotted over-winter in southern Europe and Africa and breed in milder, temperate areas of Europe. The timings of their migration is also very different with ‘white-spots’ migrating much earlier in the spring, and ‘red-spots’ much later. However……in one photo taken by Trevor Warwick of the March 17th bird at Swineham, a subtle red area can clearly be seen on the throat, but also so could some white. So was todays bird a totally new arrival which just happened to make landfall in exactly the same place as another just 3-weeks previous? Not impossible, but unlikely. Having spoken to Josh Jones at Birdguides, he informed us of a similar situation regarding a 1st winter red-spotted Bluethroat which over-wintered in Lincolnshire back in 2017 and spent Feb and March moulting from 1st winter plumage to adult breeding plumage before departing on migration. Therefore, is it possible that we’ve actually had a red-spotted Bluethroat over-wintering in the Swineham/Keysworth area (great habitat) this winter which when first found on March 17th was still transitioning from 1st winter plumage, and has now completed it’s full moult. An exciting prospect indeed. Keeping with the Mediterranean theme, the 3 Glossy Ibis, which were thought to have departed re-appeared over Wareham this morning. Although they’ve been a regular feature of the Wareham area all winter, the fact they’re still here in April is interesting, and we’ll seek to keep an eye on their movements for the rest of the spring just in case there’s a breeding attempt somewhere. The Osprey (AKA Beaky) thats been on the Middlebere nest platform for just over a week  finally left today, off towards her unknown nesting area (unknown to us…not her)! It was good to hear Tree Pipit back on territory at a few traditional harbour locations and this morning a Reed Warbler was ringed at Carey secret garden. There was some noteworthy ‘vis-mig’ species this morning moving around Studland with (Lesser) Redpoll and Crossbill logged heading along the Studland Road.

Photo of March 17th Bluethroat taken by Trevor Warwick (left)

and Photo of todays April 8th Bluethroat taken by @zp-pics.bsky.social (Bluesky)

It was another mighty fine day, with a stiff easterly breeze setting in from sunrise. Although migrant numbers dipped a bit compared to the last few days, there were more NFY’s (New For the Year) records in the form of single singing Reed Warblers at Lytchett Bay and Swineham, a Common Sandpiper in mouth of River Frome, 1 Whimbrel in Lytchett Bay and a Yellow Wagtail at Greenlands Farm. Other good records from across the day included the Forster’s Tern appearing in Lytchett Bay this morning, which is interestingly the first place it visited when it was first found 3-years ago in Spring 2023! It then later today re-appeared on the Boomerang of the Brownsea Lagoon with 4 Common Tern and an adult Yellow-legged Gull. Lytchett Bay had a good day, not only because of the species mentioned above, but it also logged a Sanderling in with a Ringed Plover flock (Sanderling being a Lytchett Bay mega), plus it saw a colour-ringed Osprey, code: Y1 which is a 2016 male ringed up in Kielder Forest. From our Spring Safari this AM the most surprising find was a Black-throated Diver which pitched down near South Deep. Also logged were 3 different White-tailed Eagles over Brands Bay/Rempstone, 1 Great Northern Diver near the harbour entrance, 2 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Wheatear on RSPB Arne Moors, the Razorbill was still off the Brownsea Lagoon sea wall and 5 Spoonbill were on the lagoon with c50 Avocet. A female Common Redstart was around the Wareham Common/Carey boundary all day, there were great numbers of Swallow and Sand Martin feeding high above the Piddle Valley with c150 of each. There was a thin scattering of Willow Warbler and Wheatear in traditional areas and a few more Common Whitethroat were logged with 2 in the PCW Drain and 1 at Lytchett Bay. There were also 2 Spotted Redshank in Lytchett Bay and a couple of House Martin. Just after sunrise 11 Common Scoter passed Old Harry, and this afternoon a Hobby zipped through Sunnyside Farm and headed north. The adult un-ringed female Osprey was once again on the Middlebere platform all day.

Useful comparison of nominate ‘Northern Wheatear’ (note paler underparts) – Greenlands Farm, Studland

and sub-species ‘Greenland Wheatear’ (note more extensive rufous underparts) – Greenlands Farm, Studland

Black-throated Diver – from this AM’s Spring Safari Cruise – Benjamin Warner