An absolute scorcher today. One of our followers who logs the temperature at home commented today that the temperature maxed at 27.4°C today on the outskirts of Poole Harbour, easily making it the warmest day of 2024 and the warmest day since the 7th (28.0) and 9th (28.6) of September 2023. Only last June 15th (27.9), 13th (29.3) and 9th (27.5) were warmer last year.

With this in mind the birds mainly kept their heads low today. We did receive some good data back though from local birder Rene Goad who got info back from 2 colour-ringed Sandwich Terns he logged on Brownsea recently. The photos can be viewed below and the info came back as: White ‘354’ was ringed as a nestling on 21st July 2021 at Pagham Harbour, West Sussex & Red ‘KHP’ was ringed as a chick on 12th August 2018 at Ynyslas NNR, Borth, West Wales. This is good data, especially the 8 year old. Sandwich Tern life span is usually around 12 years old, but the oldest ringing recovery was of a 30 year old individual.

There were more waders arriving today in the shape of 51 Curlew and 6 Redshank in Brands Bay and a Marsh Harrier was over the Lower Frome Valley and this evening 2 Osprey were in the Wareham Channel.

Sandwich Tern ‘354’ – Brownsea Lagoon – Rene Goad

Sandwich Tern ‘KHP’ – Brownsea Lagoon – Rene Goad

Quite quiet today with the 4 Spoonbill logged again in Middlebere which seems to show (thanks to Mark Wrights great photo) an adult breeding plumaged bird (left hand bird). Perhaps its a failed breeder thats returning early? Or maybe an individual that looked to set up territory a bit closer to home?  This evening our Purbeck Puffin cruise logged 5 individuals  off Dancing Ledge as well a the first newly fledged Guillemots and Razorbills off the cliffs at the Durlston CP colony.

Spoonbills – Middlebere – Mark Wright

Crystal clear sky’s for the most part of the day got a few birds moving around, including a pristine dark plumaged Honey Buzzard which drifted over our Osprey Nest viewing platform at Carey Secret Garden this afternoon, with 2 Hobby also logged from there. In Middlebere this morning the 3 Spoonbill were feeding again, at Swineham a Marsh Harrier was over the point and both White-tailed Eagles were seen soaring over the Wareham Channel.

Honey Buzzard – Carey Secret Garden, Piddle Valley – Matthew Hill

A few nice bits and pieces today including a Roseate Tern on the Brownsea Lagoon this morning and 3 Spoonbill were in Middlebere. A Hobby and an Osprey were over Hydes Heath, RSPB Arne and on Slepe Heath for our Nightjar walk we managed to log 8+ Nightjar, 1 Cuckoo, 4 Dartford Warbler and 4 Glow Worm. With news that the first Spotted Redshanks and Wood Sandpipers of the autumn have already been logged heading south on the east coast, it’s worth keeping an eye on traditional hot spots like Middlebere, Brownsea Lagoon and Lytchett Fields for jet black summer plumaged ‘Spot-Shanks’ which often tend to appear in Poole Harbour towards the latter part of June. A Goshawk was also seen carrying prey, and although nesting locations are never disclosed, it won’t be long before you should keep an eye out for dispersing juveniles as they start honing their hunting skills around the harbour during July and August.

Goshawk with prey getting harassed by Carrion Crow – Mark Wright

With settled weather now upon us, it was good to see some new arrivals today including a new colour-ringed Osprey, ring number 1H1 which settled on the Middlebere nest platform this afternoon. With a few quick phone calls we were able to trace this individual down as being a 2022 fledged female from the Manton Bay nest at Rutland Water. This is her first summer back in the UK and is likely to be touring around the country like all 2-year old Ospreys do, although should our 3-year old male ‘374’ suddenly make an appearance then things could get interesting. There was also an ‘intruder’ Osprey at the nest site this morning which could have been 1H1, or perhaps a different arrival? This afternoon there was a spectacular 3-way battle high above the Wareham Channel with a Common Buzzard and Osprey (male 022) tag teaming against one of the White-tailed Eagles before they all then lost interest and went their separate ways. There was also an Osprey fishing in Lytchett Bay this afternoon. Numbers of returning Curlew are starting to build with 17 out in the mouth of the Frome this afternoon, off Giggers Island. A Red Kite was high above Wareham.

A near perfect June day, which finally saw the blasting SW wind fade away. Some late news from late last week of 2 Eider off Pilots’ Point, Studland, just off the training bank. There were 2 young Eider that over-summered in the harbour last year too, which spent time both just inside the harbour and out in Shell Bay, so it could feasibly be the same two? Today the first 6 Redshank of the autumn returned to the Brownsea Lagoon and there was ‘an arrival’ of Tufted Duck on Swineham GP with 11 there. Both White-tailed Eagles were in the Wareham Channel and male Osprey 022 made several fishing trips to the Wareham Channel. Over Hydes Heath a Hobby was hassling a Common Buzzard and there was another Hobby over Holmebridge. Young waders are growing fast with the Poole Quay Oystercatchers almost doubling in size over the last week.

Oystercatcher chick – Poole Quay Marina Wall – Alison Copland