Sightings for July 2021
June 29th
For obvious reasons, it's an early post today. Around 1:30, two flocks of Mediterranean Gull - fourteen and eleven - headed high west over the north of the area.
June 28th
Shelduckings – Clinton Whale
There were quite a few Meadow Brown on the wing today – Clinton Whale
It was another reasonable day in terms of weather that didn’t really mesh with what the forecasting Apps had suggested. Over 200 Sand Martin were about Hengistbury, including at least one hundred in the reeds around Barn Bight – birds already on their way south perhaps? Meanwhile, 3 Curlew high to the west were certainly on the move towards their winter quarters. There was a little interest at sea, with 10 Common Tern by the Long Groyne and a couple of Guillemot off the end of the head; as well as 3 Swift over. Of breeding interest: two male Bullfinch were on Wick; a family party of Dartford Warbler was on the top of the head; two of the three young Kestrel were on the Barn Field; and 6 shelducklings were logged at Stanpit.
June 27th
The only news for the days is of a Cuckoo in the No Dogs Field, Wick, and a Cuckoo over there.
June 26th
Common Sandpiper – Matthew Barfield
Adult male Kestrel feeding on the sandspit – Matthew Barfield
...and Common Seal inside the harbour – Matthew Barfield
On a day of better-than-forecast weather, a Common Sandpiper in the fenced area on the sandspit was a nice record; as was, for the date, a Yellow Wagtail over Stanpit. Meanwhile, other numbers about the marsh included: 8 Common Tern, around 30 Sandwich Tern, 2 Redshank, 9 Curlew and 38 Lapwing; as well as a Cuckoo. Shelduck put in a good appearance – in addition to six adults and seven very small ducklings, so presumably a new brood, nineteen overflew. Later in the day, there were 2 Mediterranean Gull – an adult and a second-calendar-year in Christchurch Bay – when the Mute Swan herd was counted at 336.
June 24th
Cinnabar Moth – Jackie Smith
The first juvenile Sedge Warbler were out and about today at Wick, where the Cuckoo was again present. Otherwise, it’s just 2 Curlew and a Redshank at Stanpit to mention.
June 23rd
There were some nice records for the time of year. A Hobby soared over Wick this morning, while a Little Tern, 3 Common Tern, 2 Bar-tailed Godwit, 4 Black-tailed Godwit and a Snipe were seen from Fisherman’s Bank.
June 22nd
There was a little wildfowl interest today, not least from a drake Pochard – a species that is nowadays a premium record about the area – in Barn Bight, but also a drake Shoveler at Stanpit. The marsh also held a few more waders than of late, including: 3 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Dunlin, 9 Redshank, 4 Curlew and 6 Lapwing; as well as eighteen, resting Sandwich Tern.
June 21st
The wettest, longest day or the longest, wettest day – take your pick! The rain of the last few days has displaced large numbers of Swift in search of food, with groups frequently noted above the area. For example, this morning, a flock of forty passed rapidly east over Mudeford Quay.
June 20th
The day started to more drizzle, but soon got much drier and even some sunshine. An adult Yellow-legged Gull on Blackberry Point was the best, but also a heard-only Whimbrel at Stanpit; while a Firecrest was on Hengistbury. Other counts from the marsh included: the first returning Curlew, 4 Lapwing, 3 Sandwich Tern, 9 Shelduck and a minimum of 293 Mute Swan.
June 19th
The news for the day is of a Treecreeper in the strange location of the Wooden Bridge on Wick, so no doubt a bit of post-breeding dispersal going on. Also, a Peregrine over there.
June 18th
Hobby – Scott Usher
After a day of incessant rain, there were a few bits and pieces at Stanpit late on. The best being a Hobby and 7 Black-tailed Godwit - the latter heading off in the direction of Iceland; but also a Tufted Duck and a pair of Gadwall.
June 17th
The Garden Warbler was logged again this morning, as usual in the Nursery. Later in the day, a Hobby was seen a couple of times over Stanpit.
June 16th
Juvenile Stonechat – Gary Foyle
The only news for today involves the Muntjac, which had relocated to Wick Fields.
June 15th
Kestrel – David Faulkner
Cetti's Warbler – Clinton Whale
...and the very elusive Muntjac that resides on Hengistbury – Clinton Whale
No reports have been received for today.
June 14th
Skylark – Paul Turton
Shelducklings – Clinton Whale
The Lapwing on Stanpit have now built-up to seventeen birds, while a brood of 7 Shelducklings was off Fisherman's Bank all day. Of mammal interest, a Stoat was seen on Hengistbury.
June 13th
Lapwing – Clinton Whale
Mallard – Clinton Whale
Other than 7 Lapwing at Stanpit, there is nothing to report for today.
June 12th
On a warm day, there were 2 Cuckoo on Wick – one of them in song. Also singing was a Lesser Whitethroat along Roebury Lane, while a male Bullfinch was near Solent Meads car park.
June 11th
Kestrel – David Faulkner
Green Hairstreak – David Faulkner
The only news today is of the Garden Warbler still in song around the Nursery; while some Green Hairstreak butterfly were on the wing.
June 10th
Shelduck in the afternoon sea fret – Jackie Smith
... and Common Scoter off Hengistbury a couple of days ago – Alan Crockard
After not being reported for a couple of days, the Garden Warbler was again trying his best around the Nursery this morning; while, close by, a Cuckoo was in the Stunted Oaks. The only other news is of the first, post-breeding Lapwing to return – four at Stanpit during the afternoon.
June 8th
Whitethroat – Mark Taylor
Speckled Wood – Clinton Whale
The only bird news is of a Reed Warbler singing along Roebury Lane, so presumably a transient male. Observations of other wildlife, all from Hengistbury, include: increased activity from Adder and Common Lizard; more Four Spotted Chaser dragonfly around the Ironstone Quarry; but still very few butterflies on the wing.
June 7th
Kestrel – Clinton Whale
A recently fledged House Sparrow with it's Dad – Gary Foyle
Red Admiral – Cinton Whale
A couple of Avocet at Stanpit this afternoon were something of a surprise, while a Cuckoo sang on Wick all day. Otherwise, it’s just a pair of Bullfinch, also on Wick, to mention.
June 6th
Male Kestrel leaving the box, where there are at least two young – Roger Tidball
Stock Dove – the present incumbents of the tawny owl box - Clinton Whale
Adult and recently fledged Great Spotted Woodpecker – Clinton Whale
...and Four Spotted Chaser – after a cold Spring, odonata have been thin on the ground, so it's nice these have emerged from the Ironstone Quarry - Clinton Whale
Other than the photographs, there is no news for the day.
June 5th
It’s always good when Shelduck breed in the area – a brood of eight was seen today in Stanpit Bight, while two unaccompanied ducklings were in Stanpit Creek. The traditional Mute Swan herd is starting to gather – 232 inside the harbour – with the only other bird news coming from a Bullfinch on Wick. Of butterfly interest, an Orange Tip was also on Wick
June 4th
Skylark – Clinton Whale
Small Heath – Clinton Whale
The only news from a fine day of weather is of 14 Sanderling heading east past Hengistbury.
June 2nd
Late this afternoon, there seemed to have been an arrival of Reed Warbler – as three birds sang in locations well away from reeds; two in Roebury Lane and one in the Barred Warbler Bush. Earlier, a Cattle Egret, that heading north, a Marsh Harrier, a Common Tern and 2 Gadwall were at Stanpit, while the Garden Warbler was again on Hengistbury. A total of twenty-six, westbound Mediterranean Gull over Wick were presumably failed breeders from nearby areas already heading back to their winter quarters, but of breeding success in the area a couple of juvenile Sparrowhawk were on Wick.
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