Hengistbury - 12th May

A mild and cloudy day, but pretty windy. Highlights were Storm Petrel, Whitethroat, Wheatears, Swallows, Sand Martin and Sandwich Terns.

Fewer birds seen and heard today due to the wind. At Barn Field Greenfinches and a Linnet were singing in nearby bushes and 3 Wheatear were on the ground. A pair of Swallow are nesting in the barn and we watched them flying around. On Wick Hams, the marshy area over the path from Barn Field, was the usual Black-headed and Herring Gulls, Little Egret and Shelduck. A female Pheasant was less usual. A few Swallows and Sand Martins were feeding over here with one or two House Martin and a Great Black-backed Gull flew over. Also 2 Sandwich Terns were feeding over the harbour water.
We walked down to track towards the beach huts getting great views of a Stonechat and a singing Whitethroat on the way. A Lackey moth caterpillar was found crossing the road. We were told that there was a Little Gull on the pool, but it must have gone as we only saw Black-headed and a Herring. Further round on the shore was a group of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. 2 more singing Whitethroat were in bushes near here too.
We stopped at the beach huts and did a sea watch for half an hour. Several Cormorants were fairly close by, but other birds were pretty far out. Several of us did, however, see a couple of Storm Petrel. 2 Rock Pipits on the nearby rocks were far more visible.
We walked back seeing the Whitethroats and Stonechat again and finally saw some of the Skylarks over Barn Field.
Simon Curson.