The breeding season is in full swing now and migrating birds are passing through.

Migration is very interesting to watch as these birds are only briefly seen ‘passing through’ either in spring or autumn. Whimbrel are feeding along the creeks in small numbers; they winter on the African coast and breed in remote northern tundra regions.

A striking Arctic Skua, a dark and menacing ‘gull like’ bird was seen heading through the Solent; they winter mainly south of the Equator and breeds along northern coasts of Scotland and Scandinavia.

Swallows, Sand Martins and Swifts are regularly passing through here now in small numbers.

Sandwich, Common and Little Terns are feeding along our shorelines. These terns winter along the West or South Africa coasts

A Cuckoo was heard near Sturt Pond. These strange summer visitors winter in tropical Africa and are widespread across Europe. Parasitizes various hosts, each female specializing on a certain species, laying mimicking eggs.

Other non-migratory birds:

Oystercatchers and Ringed Plovers are starting to nest in their usual territories, preferring open sites of mainly shingle and close to the shoreline for easy feeding. Redshank prefer thicker ground vegetation so their nests are much more difficult to locate.

Approximately 100 Black-headed Gulls and a similar number of Herring Gulls were noisily feeding on the sea just west of the Spit; not sure what their food source was, probably a shoal of small fish.

Two Mediterranean Gulls flew over Sturt Pond, identified by their distinctive calls.

Approximately 4 – 5 pairs of Shelduck were seen on the marsh, hopefully some pairs will stay and breed, although with the marshes often completely covered by spring high tides they may move elsewhere.

Always keeping an eye on the Met Office Shipping forecast for a strong SE wind to blow migrating sea birds off-course from passing up the English Channel, eastwards, to drive them to our shores.

Herring Gull taken near Bridport 2024