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Gift Aid Forms - We would like to thank all members who kindly returned the Gift Aid forms that were mailed out earlier in the spring. Once processed, these will make a significant financial contribution to the funding of the Annual Report, the Website, the Indoor Meeting Programme and Practical Conservation Initiatives within the harbour. We would also like to thank those members who made additional donations when they returned the forms. The
Hengistbury Head Centre July 3rd Two things were notable about Stanpit this afternoon; firstly, how the draw of a Wimbledon semi-final kept the place almost deserted; and secondly, two low fly-pasts by the Red Arrows on their approach to Hurn. Meanwhile, 2 Whimbrel amongst up to 20 Curlew provided the only feathered interest. Tides
4th July: L02:55 H08:10 H11:00 L15:15 H20:20 H23:15
July 2nd On a gloriously warm day, Stanpit hosted 2 Common Sandpiper, 9 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel and 13 Curlew. A couple of grotty-type Shoveler were flying around Parky Meade Rail, while singles of Mediterranean Gull and Grey Wagtail were over Central Marsh. Additional news: the Stanpit Shoveler count rose to 4 birds. Tides 3rd July: L02:05 H07:20 H09:55 L14:30 H19:45 H22:20
July 1st With the turn of the month and the recent selection of waders, it should be all on the way up from now on - although this morning did keep things slightly in check. For example, the more interesting wader variety was confined to 3 Common Sandpiper and 2 Whimbrel, while the routine included 12 Curlew. A couple of eclipsing Shoveler were on Priory Marsh, as was a Grey Wagtail and a Sedge Warbler that has a fine repertoire of small plover calls. Also around Stanpit, at least 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker. The only news from Hengistbury confirmed at least 1 Marsh Tit in the Wood, along with a Coal Tit. Additional news: the early morning ringing session in the Nursery saw a Nightjar over there at 4:30.
June 30th Stanpit held a reasonable
variety of waders this afternoon, including 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel,
a Greenshank and a Bar-tailed Godwit, as well as 14 Curlew and 12 Redshank.
On Hengistbury, just one Marsh Tit was located today, also a couple
of Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Hummingbird Hawkmoth. June 29th A party of 3 Ruff were off Fisherman's Bank for a short time at lunch, but they soon headed over towards the marsh proper. Also a Greenshank feeding in Stanpit Creek and 4 Common Sandpiper in Barn Bight. In a fresh south-easterly wind, there was something of a movement of seabirds and hirundines into the breeze. Additional to 2 Mediterranean Gull over the HHC, one of which was the year's first juvenile for the site, a further 12 first- and second-summer birds moved at sea; where 2 Manx Shearwater, an Arctic Skua, 62 Common Tern, 47 Sandwich Tern, 3 Kittiwake, 70 Gannet, 29 Common Scoter and 2 Fulmar were also logged. Also moving over the water were 56 Swift and 150 Sand Martin, with at least 250 of the latter now on the wing around the breeding colonies on the Hengistbury cliffs. The 2 Marsh Tit put on a brief show by the Nursery, as did a Coal Tit and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, while singles of Peregrine and Great Crested Grebe wrap up the day's interest for the head. It does indeed seem that yesterday's Grey Heron is from a scheme based around the Severn Vale and we hope to get further details soon. June 28th The Garganey was again on Priory Marsh being seen in both the morning and the afternoon, when it was in the company of 3 equally drab Shoveler. The regular Little Gull was also on show after lunch on East Marsh, while singles of adult Mediterranean Gull, Greenshank, Whimbrel and Ringed Plover, as well as 3 Black-tailed Godwit, were around Stanpit Bight at various times of the day. A Hobby was over Stanpit in the morning and there was a Dartford Warbler, presumably a dispersing juvenile, on Crouch Hill. Off Blackberry Point, 2 Common Tern lingered, with the remaining statistics coming from 63 Lapwing 17 Curlew and 6 Redshank. One of the several young Grey Heron inside the harbour was sporting a pair of yellow wing tags, each carrying the code IA. Some initial research indicates the bird may originate from a scheme being run at the Cotswold Water Park, but confirmation and further details are being sought. Update: the 2 Marsh Tit were again in the Wood on Hengistbury, where the Little Gull had spent the morning on the HHC bar. Also, a Common Sandpiper and a Grey Wagtail in Barn Bight. Additional news:
a Common Sandpiper and second-summer Mediterranean Gull were roosting
on East Marsh in the evening. June 27th By far the biggest surprise of the day was the revelation there are actually 2 Marsh Tit in the Wood. Even before they were seen together by the Nursery, calls from locations quite disparate to each other had aroused suspicions. On Priory Marsh, a rather undistinguished Garganey was again present and seemed to be a juvenile bird, as opposed to an adult female. The first-summer Little Gull was again on the HHC bar on the morning low tide and a Common Sandpiper was between there and Barn Bight. Swift trickled over north until at least 10:00, with 100 or so estimated, but little else on the move other than 6 Common Scoter from the end of the head. Remaining interest for the day comes from: a Coal Tit in the Wood, 4 Common Tern at sea and one in Barn Bight, a single Black-tailed Godwit in the harbour and 5 Shoveler on Priory Marsh. Please check back to yesterday for some evening news. June 26th An intense overnight electrical storm saw rain continuing to at least the mid-morning. As a result, there is little to report, other than an adult Mediterranean Gull over Stanpit in the afternoon, when there was also a Common Tern off Mudeford Quay. Hopefully, you will have noticed the British Bird Food banner at the top of this page. The costs for the website are directly proportional to the number of daily visitors to the site and the amount of data stored on it; so with the former now running at 3-400 per day depending on the season and an ever-increasing photo archive, then fees have been rising steadily. Consequently, the sponsorship arrangement with BBF will be of significant help to the group. Please do visit their website and see what they have to offer. Additional news: a couple of Ruff were on Stanpit Bight in the evening and, at dusk, 2 young Tawny Owl were heard and seen by the Nursery, a Common Sandpiper was in Barn Bight and 18 Curlew lifted off and left to the west.
June 25th A party of 4 Garganey on Priory Marsh in the morning certainly livened up the month, as did an additional report from the 18th of a Marsh Tit on Hengistbury, a species that has tremendous local value. A couple of Little Tern were fishing off Mudeford Quay early on, while 8 Curlew, 8 Shelduck, around 30 Lapwing and 4 Redshank were off Fisherman's Bank. Yesterday, the Ironstone Quarry took disturbance to a new level of incredibility, when a person was seen taking a swim in it. Perhaps the signs that ask that dogs are kept out of the water need to specify humans as well! Despite this, at least one Little Grebe chick was reported. Additional news: a first-summer Little Gull was on the HHC bar this morning.
June 24th With the exception of an adult Mediterranean Gull over Solent Meads this morning, the day's only news comes from Fisherman's Bank, where a Bar-tailed Godwit, 9 Curlew, 7 Redshank and 7 Shelduck were logged. There will be another reminder closer to the time, but this year's Swan-upping will be taking place on 26th July. Additional news:
a Hobby was over Wick Fields in the morning.
June 23rd A walk round Stanpit this morning was pleasant enough with both Reed Warbler and Sedge Warbler still in song, plus a count of 11 Shelduck. Earlier, from the Argyle Road slip, a Bar-tailed Godwit could be seen close to Blackberry Point; while at lunchtime a couple of Dunlin were in Stanpit Creek. In fact, one of these birds looked to all intents and purposes to be in juvenile plumage, but it is early and the observer is willing to stand corrected. That's it for the area's birds, but of reptilian interest is the reported abundance of Natterjack tadpoles on Stanpit. Finally, as alluded to in previous posts, the New Forest is being frequently visited by some of the regulars and this morning provided great views of Honey Buzzard - click here for some photos. Additional news: a pair of Shoveler were in Stanpit Bight in the evening.
June 22nd Stanpit managed to muster a single Ringed Plover this morning, as well as 8 Curlew, just over 20 Redshank and 15 Swift north. A pair of Green Woodpecker has successfully fledged 3 young somewhere close to the North Scrubs, but sadly there are still no 'shelducklings' and the remaining adults numbered just 3 today. Additional news: the late afternoon and evening saw slightly more interest at Stanpit, where 2 Bar-tailed Godwit and a Whimbrel were present, while the Shelduck count increased to 6.
June 21st The lack of reports today perhaps reflects the disperal of most of the regulars, who once more ventured to a mixture of inland sites across Dorset and Hampshire. June 20th On another laid back Saturday, the first-summer Little Gull could be seen off South Marsh from Hengistbury. Stanpit also briefly held 5 Black-tailed Godwit, but they soon moved off westward, while 2 Ringed Plover and a Dunlin were certainly more settled. Other wader snippets involve: 9 Curlew that passed over the area on a definite westerly bearing, a big jump in Redshank numbers to 22 and a Lapwing estimate of just over 50 birds. What seems to be a pair of Common Tern are lingering in the harbour and a further 4 were also noted, but they appeared to carry on through. From the HHC, a Kingfisher rushed downriver, a Peregrine caused mayhem around Stanpit and up to 50 Swift were recorded west over The Priory. Meanwhile, on the Ironstone Quarry, the Little Grebe have 2 well-grown chicks. June 19th The quietest day of the month with only the Little Gull on the tip of South Marsh providing a spark of interest. While other breeding species are doing well, despite the presence of obvious Shelduck pairs in the area, no ducklings have yet been seen. If this is a blank season, it will probably be the first in living memory.
June 18th Firstly, please check back to 16th for some additional, evening news from Hengistbury. This morning, from Argyll Road, a Knot could be seen in Stanpit Bight, as could a sub-adult Yellow-legged Gull. Slightly later, a couple of Dunlin were logged and 91 Lapwing, 2 Curlew and 6 Redshank were counted. This season, Wick Field is being formally surveyed for breeding birds and early indications suggest the following pairs: 19 Whitethroat, 7 Chiffchaff, 4 Song Thrush, 4 Blackcap, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Long-tailed Tit and 1 Skylark. Also currently present on the fields are 3 fledgling Stonechat, but they were not raised there. Additional news: a Marsh Tit, which is a bird of immense local value, was on Hengistbury. |
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