Bittern – thought to be an adult, but any other comments would be welcome – Linda Smith (upper) & Aspen Stobart

During the morning, there was the quite incredible sight of a Bittern occasionally wandering around on the mud on the western side of the river, opposite Grimmery Bank. There has probably never been a July record in the area for the species. Also seen around Stanpit, a Common Sandpiper, a Whimbrel and a Black-tailed Godwit; as well as 5 Water Rail, one of them a juvenile.

Greenshank – Alan Hayden

…and there are now a few Gatekeeper on the wing – Peter Boardman

Stanpit was a bit more-lively today, with the best being an adult Yellow-legged Gull, a Greenshank, 5 Common Sandpiper and 2 Whimbrel. The support, meanwhile, came from a surprise of two, very small Shelduck ducklings, a Wigeon, the Tufted Duck, 2 Mediterranean Gull and 19 Curlew. On the other side of the area, the Garden Warbler was still in song in the Nursery and 150 Swift passed to the south.

Stonechat – Alan Crockard

As the seemingly, constant south-westerly wind picked up again, all the news comes from Stanpit. During the morning, a Roseate Tern passed through west and a Great White Egret went over north; while the afternoon added just singles of Whimbrel and Dunlin.

Dartford Warbler on Hengistbury breed alongside the metalled, heavily trodden pathways – Alan Crockard

Likewise, Linnet – Alan Crockard

Most of the news comes from Stanpit in the late afternoon, when the Mediterranean Gull in the South Marsh roost gradually built-up to around thirty birds. Also there, a Common Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel, six adult Black-tailed Godwit and 12 Curlew. Earlier, a single Common Tern was with the Sandwich Tern off the sandspit.

Manx Shearwater were a feature of the day – between 08:00 and 11:00, a total of 67, heading west, were seen from the Beach Huts and Mudeford Quay; while thirty minutes in the afternoon produced a further eleven from the former site. Also offshore, 8 Common Tern, 35 Sandwich Tern and 2 Mediterranean Gull. After yesterday’s bumper day for waders and the like, Stanpit was pretty dismal – a single Whimbrel being the best of the morning flood tide – but a Common Sandpiper was on the sandspit.

Juvenile Little Ringed Plover – Scott Usher

A flock of 16 Common Sandpiper – Scott Usher

Whimbrel – Jackie Smith

Marsh Harrier – Alan Hayden

…and a particularly brutish-looking, and presumably sickly, Yellow-legged Gull – Jackie Smith

No sooner than June passes and the birds are back. Waders, in particular, provided the interest with: a juvenile Little Ringed Plover and a Green Sandpiper in Stanpit Creek; a total of 18 Common Sandpiper about the marsh; a Greenshank on the HHC mudbar; 2 Whimbrel and a Black-tailed Godwit around Stanpit Bight; and site-aggregates of 24 Redshank and 7 Curlew. Over on Hengistbury, a singing Garden Warbler in the Nursery was something of a surprise and may have been there for a couple of days now. Meanwhile, a Marsh Harrier came from the north and did a couple of circuits before returning; with the rest of the news involving: a Yellow-legged Gull and up to 10 Mediterranean Gull inside the harbour; plus a Wigeon, 5 Shelduck and a Tufted Duck, the latter the regular drake.

The first, juvenile Black-headed Gull (bottom left) arrived in the area today and rested with it elders, plus a couple of Mediterranean Gull – Jackie Smith

Golden-ringed Dragonfly – Barrie Taylor

…and Marbled White – Jackie Smith

The only bird news, concerns a couple of Lesser Whitethroat at Stanpit today – one on Crouch Hill and the other in the North Scrubs. Moving to butterflies: of four skippers seen at Hengistbury, two of them were confirmed as Essex Skipper; also the first Purple Hairstreak on the wing there; while 2 Marbled White were at Stanpit.

There are plenty of Ringlet now on the wing around Hengistbury – Peter Boardman

There were more waders of interest today, all at Stanpit, including; a Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and 5 Common Sandpiper. Also, a Cattle Egret north over there and 4 Gadwall. Meanwhile, during the morning, the three Priory Peregrine chicks were putting on a good show.

Common Sandpiper – Scott Usher

Small Copper – Peter Boardman

Today saw the start of the longer-distance waders making their way back south through the area – namely, 3 Whimbrel west over Hengistbury this morning and a Common Sandpiper settled in Parky Meade Rail this evening; when around 25 Lapwing were also at Stanpit. Offshore, a 2cy Kittiwake on the sea was a really good return for the month, while a Mediterranean Gull of the same age plus an adult, as well as 2 Common Tern, were also over the water; with around 50 Sandwich Tern either there or resting in Holloway’s Dock. To finish:  a Firecrest was singing by the Double Bends; a Wigeon was settled on the marsh; a further Common Tern passed south; and a Buzzard could be seen circling over the Priory.

Lesser Whitethroat – Jackie Smith

As is their wont in the area, Lesser Whitethroat, after brief song period on arrival, invariably raise their young in secrecy. A very vocal and showy juvenile, unexpectedly in the same spot on Crouch Hill as a singing bird earlier in the season, a testament to that. Meanwhile, also at Stanpit, a pristine adult Mediterranean Gull, 8 Curlew, 2 Redshank and 2 Lapwing.

A pair of Wigeon on South Marsh – the drake presumably starting to eclipse – Scott Usher

Some Song Thrush are now well into their second brood – Scott Usher

The stand-out moment for the day, if not the month, was a pair of Wigeon at Stanpit. Although single birds have summered, or partially so, to see a couple at this time of the year is quite something. Also from the marsh, this evening, a Green Sandpiper, on a journey from its east European breeding areas, was in Mother Siller’s Channel. Elsewhere, a 40-minute look at the sea from Mudeford Quay, finishing at 09:40, produced 60 Sandwich Tern, generally west, and 4 Gannet.

Other than a very successful Peregrine day at the Priory, when over a hundred people dropped by and the birds performed impeccably, there is nothing to report.

The only news for the post comes from Mudeford Quay, where two adult Mediterranean Gull and 3 Turnstone arrived from the east, while 6 Swift passed west.

There was no news received for today.

Mediterranean Gull – Peter Boardman

Little Grebe – Peter Boardman

Five Mediterranean Gull were logged on this very warm day – four south over Wick and one offshore; with 2 Swift heading west over the Long Field. Meanwhile, the Ironstone Quarry now hosts the traditional, late-breeding pair of Little Grebe – presumably timing their activity to coincide with odonata nymphs, or the like – but no mention of yesterday’s shelduck there, meaning they have moved their family on somewhere.

Omission, a Green Sandpiper was on Wick water meadows around 07:15.

Tonight’s author can’t recall Shelduck breeding around the Ironstone Quarry before – Peter Boardman

Thanks to a visit to Hengistbury, there is a little more to write about tonight. In addition to the ten, photographed Shelduck, there was a further pair; a high count of 302 Mute Swan was managed; and what is presumably the same, half-tame drake Tufted Duck was with Mallard. There was another nice, offshore presence of Common Tern – nineteen in total, most of them lingering – as well as 12 Sandwich Tern and a Gannet. Meanwhile, a second-calendar-year Mediterranean Gull and 3 Swift passed east. To finish with the news, a male Firecrest was in the Wood and a family of Dartford Warbler, three of them fledglings, was on the top of the head. Finally, a point of detail – rather than continuing with calendar-year terminology in long hand, the convention of 1cy, 2cy, 3cy etc. will now be used.

Black-tailed Skimmer – Peter Boardman

There is no bird news, but of lepidopteral interest the first Marbled White butterfly of the season was on Hengistbury today; as were 10 Painted Lady – perhaps signalling the start of an immigration.

Small Skipper – Peter Boardman

Cinnabar Moth – Peter Boardman

The only new is of a Roseate Tern off the Long Groyne this morning; when, further out, there was a gathering of at least 50 Common Tern.

Emperor Dragonfly ‘ovipositing’ on Hengistbury – Peter Boardman

Male Blue-tailed Damselfly – Peter Boardman

There is no bird news from the harbour today, but many thanks to all those who attended the outdoor meeting at Pig Bush in the New Forest this morning.

Gannet, just out from the Run – Alan Crockard

As is occasionally the case, most often in June, there is nothing to report.

Juvenile Cormorant – Alan Crockard

Blue-tailed Damselfly – Peter Boardman

The caterpillar of Oak Eggar moth – about 70mm in length – Peter Boardman

There was a Roseate Tern at Stanpit in the morning, but there are no further details. Meanwhile, Goldcrest were back in song – one in the North Scrubs and a particularly loud individual in the Stanpit car park – also Blackcap and Chiffchaff making their presence known again, after a quiet week or so. A Cuckoo was also about the marsh, as were 3 Curlew and 12 Lapwing.

Nightjar – Steve Davies

Four-spotted Chaser – Peter Boardman

The only news from an even warmer day is of 2 Mediterranean Gull south over Mudeford Quay.

Peregrine Falcon chicks on the Priory – Susie Dalby
After these fantastic shots, we’ll now only post those showing notable events in the birds’ natural progression. If you want to showcase other images, the Priory Peregrines Facebook group is open to all.

What is believed to be the first Golden Ringed Dragonfly to be photographed in the recording area – Peter Boardman

On a glorious day of sunshine, there is no news to report upon.

Two of the Priory Peregrine chicks have left the nest – Jackie Smith

There is no news for the day of birds inside the recording area, but of those viewable from within – two of the three Peregrine chicks have left the nest and can be seen clambering around the rooves of the Priory.

Sand Martin, feeding young on the Hengistbury cliffs – Alan Crockard

A Garden Warbler in song on Wick this morning was a real surprise, while a Firecrest doing the same in the Nursery was more expected.

A fine shot of the usually skulking Cetti’s Warbler – Alan Crockard

There was an excellent count of 85 Common Scoter heading towards the Solent off Mudeford Quay between 8:00 and 9:00 this morning – including one flock of seventy birds.

Long-tailed Tit, not long out of the nest – Alan Crockard

Shelduck – Peter Boardman

Peregrine – Roger Tidball

Today’s Mediterranean Gull total was eleven – six eastbound over Wick and five heading inland over Stanpit car park – all vocal. Of breeding news, or perhaps in the case of the continuously singing Lesser Whitethraot on Wick, not, a Kestrel brood in the area fledged.

Whimbrel – Peter Boardman

A Great White Egret flew west over Stanpit this morning, while four adult Mediterranean Gull headed in the opposite direction. Elsewhere, there wasn’t much going on today, although a Whimbrel in Holloway’s Dock was a bit of a surprise, as was a House Martin around Wick. Otherwise, it’s just a Ringed Plover at the former site and a Bullfinch at the latter to mention.

Large Skipper – Peter Boardman

All the news comes from the sea, where an unseasonable Red-throated Diver headed east and 4 Common Scoter lingered. Also, 9 Common Tern, 20 Sandwich Tern and 25 Gannet – all fishing aimlessly. Meanwhile, a flock of 7 Sanderling pass the watchpoint as they travelled north.

Spoonbill – Leo Pyke

Another decent candidate for tundrae Ringed Plover – Alan Hayden

A Spoonbill was around for much of the day – seen late morning in Mother Siller’s Channel, then this evening in Holloway’s Dock before leaving to the south east. Also at the latter site, another tundrae Ringed Plover candidate and a Dunlin. Meanwhile, at least 12 Common Tern were offshore with around 35 Sandwich Tern.

The unexpected, late-Spring trickle of eastbound Mediterranean Gull continued today, when an hour-long, late-afternoon visit to Stanpit heard and saw five birds – two adult pairs and an accompanying second-calendar-year. In addition, a further four adults and a third-calendar-year were more aimless. There was a little bit of wader passage with a Sanderling and thirteen, presumed high-Arctic, Dunlin resting at Stanpit; while a Curlew and at least 12 Lapwing were back there. A female Bullfinch was on Wick, where both the Lesser Whitethroat and the Cuckoo were again relentless in their song – the latter also venturing a circuit Speller’s Point, however. The final notables for the day, all at Stanpit, are: 4 Gadwall, just one Sandwich Tern and a for-the-records count of 134 Mute Swan.