May 31st

Recentlyfledged Chiffchaff - Alan Hayden

Grey Plover Jackie Smith

Other than the photographed birds, there are no reports for today. 

May 30th

Mute Swan Jackie Smith

We have some news, at last! Stanpit hosted a number of waders timing their run for the best of the Arctic summer and these included: a Grey Plover, 4 Sanderling and three, rather-dark-and-small Ringed Plover, which sound like candidates for tundrae. In addition, there was a Greenshank, 6 Whimbrel and a further 6 Ringed Plover, which were paler; all of which may be tardy travellers to lesser longitudes. 

May 29th

Once again, no news has been received. 

May 28th

No reports have been received for today. 

May 27th

Once again, there is now news for the day. 

May 26th

Songflighting Whitethroat - Alan Crockard

The only news for the day is of a Cuckoo on Wick. 

May 25th

Jackdaw Alan Crockard

There are no reports for today. 

May 24th

Probably the most out-of-place bird right now is a drake Pintail, which has been at Stanpit for the last few days. Meanwhile, the waders there included 8 Sanderling, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ringed Plover, 75 Dunlin, the Curlew and 3 Lapwing; the first couple of the latter actually returning yesterday. This evening, the sandspit hosted 9 Sanderling. The only other news involves singing Cuckoo, of which there could well be two on site. 

May 23rd

May 22nd

Reed Warbler Jackie Smith

Whitethroat Jackie Smith

There are, unfortunately, no reports for today.

May 21st

Jay Robert Gray

Herring Gull Robert Gray

As we returned to finer weather, the waders may well have peaked. From Fishermans Bank this morning, there was a marked reduction in numbers and variety the return being: a Knot, 2 Whimbrel, 7 Ringed Plover, 60 Dunlin and the Curlew. A Spotted Flycatcher was in the stunted oaks, while a Cuckoo sang nearby and a further 35 Mediterranean Gull continued their somewhat puzzling, for the date, eastward passage. 

May 20th

There was another scarce-egret experience today, when a party of 5 Cattle Egret briefly settled on Stanpit, just after dawn, before it headed off to the north. Almost as notable, however, was a count of 51 Mediterranean Gull moving east. It seems too late for them to be travelling towards the Solent colonies, so one wonders if they have deserted one to the west? At least 5 Spotted Flycatcher were on site one in the No Dogs Field and four in the Stunted Oaks a Willow Warbler continues to belt it out by the Ironstone Quarry and a Cuckoo was singing from the Salt Hurns. Back to Stanpit and its waders, which included: a Greenshank, 3 Grey Plover, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Ringed Plover, 58 Dunlin, 2 Turnstone and the Curlew. 

May 19th

Another day, another out-of-the ordinary egret this time a Great White Egret on East Marsh. Waders from Fishermans Bank included 5 Grey Plover, a Sanderling, 20 Black-tailed Godwit, 35 Dunlin, 6 Turnstone, 2 Redshank and the Curlew; while Holloways Dock hosted a further one and two of Sanderling and Grey Plover respectively, 45 Black-tailed Godwit, 24 Dunlin and 2 Turnstone. A total of 28 Mediterranean Gull passed to the east, which is a high count for such a late date, and the sea returned 7 Common Tern, 6 Common Scoter and a Fulmar. 

May 18th

A Cattle Egret in breeding plumage was in Stanpit Creek for a few minutes early on, but it soon headed off to the north-east. At least one Little Stint is still about, initially at Stanpit but then into Holloways Dock, where there were 10 Grey Plover, 5 Knot and 40 Black-tailed Godwit. A further 12 Grey Plover passed over to the east, there were 9 Sanderling on the sandspit and 55 Dunlin were on site. At sea, a Kittiwake and at least 7 Mediterranean Gull moved into the Solent, a Hobby came in-off and 5 Common Tern were lingering. Finishing up, a Willow Warbler was around the Salt Hurns and a Cuckoo was on Wick.

Omission: the Turtle Dove was again at Stanpit.

May 17th

Grey Plover Alan Hayden

Knot Alan Hayden

It was more of the same in terms of the waders, which at Stanpit included: a Little Stint, 6 Knot, 7 Grey Plover, 2 Sanderling, 11 Bar-tailed Godwit, 70 Black-tailed Godwit, 30 Dunlin, 8 Turnstone and the unseasonable Curlew. Meanwhile, between them, Holloways Dock and the Salt Hurns hosted 11 Grey Plover, a Knot, a Whimbrel, perhaps a further 68 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Dunlin. A total of 3 Spotted Flycatcher were on Hengistbury, one of them settled in the Stunted Oaks, and Cuckoo was heard from there and Wick. In addition to 5 Mediterranean Gull passing through the area, the sea produced a Fulmar, 30 Common Scoter 17 east and 13 west around 10 Gannet, 5 auks and 13 travelling Sanderling.

May 16th

Turtle Dove Jackie Smith

The undoubted highlight of the day, given its fast-declining population in the country, was a Turtle Dove on Crouch Hill late this afternoon. That aside, the wader variety was again receiving the attention, with todays peaks of mainly Arctic-bound birds at Stanpit being: a Little Stint, 5 Avocet, 11 Greenshank which left east, 9 Grey Plover, 3 Knot, a Common Sandpiper, 7 Whimbrel, 18 Bar-tailed Godwit, 38 Black-tailed Godwit, 66 Dunlin, 11 Ringed Plover, a Turnstone, 2 Redshank and a Curlew. Meanwhile, a flock of 4 Grey Plover in Holloways Dock may well have been additional birds and, at 9:45, a Spoonbill drifted by to the west. To complement all of this, there were 6 Shoveler and 3 Gadwall inside the harbour; Cuckoo song came from the North Scrubs and the Batters; at least 2 Mediterranean Gull moved through; and singles of Buzzard and Raven were in the airspace. 

May 15th

Knot Jackie Smith

The fine run of waders continues on the pristine mud of Stanpit Bight, although it is now taking on an ominous, green tinge in places. There were an exceptional 3 Little Stint with the Dunlin flock, which contained around 70 of those and up to 4 Sanderling. A Curlew Sandpiper dropped in with a Ruff, but soon disappeared to view; while other returns, some of them in resplendent plumage, came from: 8 Greenshank, 10 Grey Plover, 4 Knot, 4 Sanderling, a Common Sandpiper, some heard-only Whimbrel, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit, 55 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Ringed Plover and 8 Turnstone. Less expected for the date, however, were 2 Redshank and a Curlew. Sticking with Stanpit, a duck Garganey was on the tip of South Marsh, the Shelduck came to 45, including nine youngsters, and a Cuckoo was singing. Elsewhere, there was an influx of Blackcap at Hengistbury with an estimated 50 there as well as 3 Garden Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Willow Warbler; plus 5 Swift over. 

May 14th

There were 2 Little Stint at Stanpit this morning one with the Dunlin, the other with Knot and Grey Plover. First thing, a Spotted Redshank and 10 Greenshank upped and left, while a Knot, 7 Whimbrel, 2 Sanderling, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit and 80 Dunlin were present throughout. Seen to arrive slightly later, was a flock of four pristine Grey Plover and then 4 Ringed Plover. The remaining news comes from Wick, where singles of Cuckoo, Lesser Whitethroat and Bullfinch, presumably all breeders, were logged. 

May 13th

Spotted Flycatcher Jackie Smith

Most of the remaining Blacktailed Godwit are now first-summer birds - Jackie Smith

There was a good selection of waders seen from Fishermans Bank this morning, including a Little Stint in breeding plumage; but also: 5 Greenshank, 7 Whimbrel, 4 Bar-tailed Godwit, 60 Black-tailed Godwit, 3 Ringed Plover and 138 Dunlin. Slightly later, a couple of Greenshank high over the Barn Field may have been additional birds. Also at Stanpit, a party of four young Spoonbill that spent ten minutes settled before leaving to the south west; a couple of Common Tern; three each of Shoveler and Gadwall; and, amongst the 18 Shelduck, the years first nine shelducklings. On Hengistbury, a Cuckoo was in the Nursery, while 2 Spotted Flycatcher were around the Double Bends, a Yellow Wagtail passed over and a Willow Warbler sang. The sea was quiet, although 2 Red-throated Diver and 7 Whimbrel moved east, and a Fulmar was off the Barn Field. Small numbers of Swallow and Swift trickled in throughout, and a Peregrine patrolled the area. 

May 12th

Dartford Warbler adjacent to a welltrodden, public path - Alan Crockard

There were a couple of Spotted Flycatcher this morning one in the No Dogs Field and one in the stunted oaks as well as singing Lesser Whitethroat, Garden Warbler and a trio of Willow Warbler. Otherwise its just over-flying birds, namely a single Mediterranean Gull, 2 Swift and 4 Swallow. 

May 11th

The only definite passerine traveller this morning was a Spotted Flycatcher in the stunted oaks, while it seems the 4 Willow Warbler which are continuously singing around Hengistbury have been at it for a couple of days at least. A total of 5 Mediterranean Gull were logged, including a pair of westbound adults and an arriving one-year-old bird. Around 100 Dunlin were on site, as well as 6 Whimbrel and 70 Black-tailed Godwit. 

May 10th

 Flycatching Longtailed Tit - Robert Gray

From Fishermans Bank this morning, there were: a Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Whimbrel, 3 Ringed Plover (always raise an interesting race discussion on a date like this) and 77 Dunlin, plus 2 Common Tern; while the site-wide Black-tailed Godwit total came to 52. The only other return is of a Cuckoo on Hengistbury. 

May 9th

Sparrowhawk David Faulkner

This morning saw a total of 2 Arctic Tern, a Little Tern, 9 Common Tern and 71 Sandwich Tern about the area. There was little evidence of movement, save for a steady trickle of incoming Swallow and a couple of Common Sandpiper, and the rest of the post relates to birds that may now be with us for some time, including: 29 Whitethroat, 23 Blackcap, 9 Chiffchaff, a Little Grebe, 2 Guillemot and 92 Black-tailed Godwit. On Whitepits, the first fledgling Stonechat of the season were out. 

May 8th

A Storm Petrel was lingering off the Beach Huts for around 20 minutes this morning, but strong sunlight made it difficult to keep close tabs on the bird. Also at sea, 4 Common Scoter, 6 Guillemot, four unidentified auks, a couple of Common Tern, 15 Sandwich Tern and 15 Gannet; as well as 4 House Martin and 15 Swallow seen to arrive. Close by, there were 63 Black-tailed Godwit in Holloways Dock.  

May 7th

We don't normally post photos from outside of the recording area, but this is an unashamed plug for the Barn Owl camera that CHOG is partially sponsoring in the Avon Valley Joe Gillespie

Blue Tit Roger Tidball

Green Hairstreak Roger Tidball

Its now very much bits and pieces, as the migration period draws to a close. At least 7 Wheatear, presumably headed for Atlantic islands, were on site, as were a Wheatear and 4 Willow Warbler; while continuing their so-far dismal spring, just 8 Swallow headed north. A female Pochard at Stanpit is quite a record for the date, and a Hobby passed over there and Whitepits. Wader totals came to: 9 Whimbrel, 17 Bar-tailed Godwit, 125 Black-tailed Godwit and perhaps as many as 175 Dunlin, but certainly 120. A look at the sea came up with 11 Common Tern a further four of those in the harbour - and a Guillemot; 6 Mediterranean Gull travelled south west; and, of breeding interest, a vocal Little Grebe was noted and twenty-six occupied Sand Martin holes were counted. 

May 6th

Sand Martin Alan Crockard

Nearly all the news comes from Stanpit, where a Cuckoo could be heard singing from the other side of the water and a Hobby passed through. In addition, there were 2 Ruff, 2 Grey Plover, a Common Sandpiper, 7 Whimbrel, 22 Bar-tailed Godwit, 175 Black-tailed Godwit and 45 Dunlin there; so a marked improvement on a previous wader comment. The only other news involves a Garden Warbler and Willow Warbler on Wick, plus five scattered Wheatear. 

May 5th

Bullfinch Samuel Levy

It was a well-recorded day, which saw another Osprey use the area a bird seen at 12:45 carrying a fish before heading off north. Earlier, a Wood Sandpiper had been flushed from somewhere on Stanpit and left to the east. The pick of the passerine migrants was a Siskin over the Coastguards, but also a Lesser Whitethroat by the HHVC, a Garden Warbler at Whitepits, 5 Willow Warbler and 7 Wheatear across the site. Meanwhile, a Yellow Wagtail, 3 Swift, 3 Swallow and 8 Mediterranean Gull headed over. At least 5 Little Tern were about, as well as 11 Common Tern and 63 Sandwich; nearly all of those offshore from the sandspit. Given the date, one should really expect more from the waders just 2 Whimbrel, 7 Bar-tailed Godwit, 105 Black-tailed Godwit and 4 Turnstone being returned today. Finally, there were some good counts of birds across Hengistbury and Wick, which are likely now resident, although it is possible the numbers are augmented by some transient individuals, and included: 54 Whitethroat, 80 Sand Martin, 29 Blackcap, 16 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler and 2 Bullfinch.

May 4th

It was fairly quiet this morning the only passerine news being of 2 Wheatear on the Barn Field. A seawatch from the Beach Huts produced 16 Common Scoter east, 10 Common Tern, around 25 Gannet and 35 Sandwich Tern all fishing aimlessly, a Fulmar and a couple of auks. Earlier, 5 Mediterranean Gull moved west over Hengistbury, while a couple of Whimbrel, 110 Black-tailed Godwit and 20 Dunlin were in Holloways Dock. In case you havent noticed the new link at the top-right of the page, we are now streaming live from a Barn Owl box a few miles north of Christchurch. The female is currently sitting on two eggs. 

May 3rd

The only news for today is of 7 Wheatear on Hengistbury. Of butterfly interest, there were 3 Green Hairstreak on the wing. 

May 2nd

A Black Tern, 5 Little Tern and over 40 Common Tern were seen from Mudeford Quay prior to 10:00 this morning, while around 25 Swift arrived over there. Its turning into an extraordinary spring for Wood Warbler the fourth of the season was on Hengistbury this morning along with a Spotted Flycatcher, a Whinchat, 7 Wheatear and 3 Willow Warbler. In addition, a Garden Warbler and 2 Yellow Wagtail were at Stanpit, and a further 6 Wheatear were across the site. A Garden Warbler, on Wick, may well have been there since mid-April, which could constitute a first breeding record. Osprey have also been well represented in the period one high over the harbour this morning when 7 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Black-tailed Godwit and 10 Dunlin were also logged. 

May 1st

There is limited news today, but a Serin did fly over the Beach Huts. There was an estimate of 70 Whitethroat across Wick and Hengistbury, of which perhaps twenty may be breeding birds. Otherwise, its just 2 Whimbrel in Holloways Dock.