Rarities...
The first Whiskered Tern for The Swannery and The Fleet was discovered on the 2nd and it lingered to the 8th. Presumably this was the same bird that was seen initially at West Bay, Bridport on the 28th April and then subsequently at Longham Lakes, Ferndown from the 9th to the 14th May.
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Whiskered Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2021 © Charlie Wheeler |
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Whiskered Tern (with Common Tern), Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2021 © Charlie Wheeler |
Waterfowl...
The resident Whooper Swan and up to three Black Swans still lingered with the herd of around 500 Mute Swans; whilst the Canada Geese flock numbered 55 on the 16th but had at least doubled by the end of the month. The only other goose species seen was a Barnacle Goose that was present on the 14th/15th.
All the expected ducks were present with peak counts of 33 Shelduck, 2 Shoveler, 3 Gadwall, 58 Mallard, 1 Pintail, 4 Pochard and 20 Tufted Duck.
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Shelduck, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2021 © Steve Groves |
Shorebirds...
Three pairs of Oystercatchers were present on territory throughout but there were at least 11 individuals present on the 8th; two Ringed Plovers were noted on the 1st followed by four on the 4th but there were no more until singles on the 27th and 30th, the latter two no doubt being of the tundra form.
Whimbrel passage continued in the first half of the month with a peak of over 50 seen on the 8th but none were seen after the 16th; the only Bar-tailed Godwits seen though were four on the 2nd and one on the 6th; Black-tailed Godwits however were seen regularly with a peak of seven on the 27th.
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Whimbrel, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2021 © Charlie Wheeler |
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Black-tailed Godwit, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2021 © Charlie Wheeler |
Turnstones were seen regularly, with a peak of 16 on the 13th; a single Knot was present from the 13th to the 15th; Sanderlings were seen on four dates, all in low single figures save for at least 20 on the 21st; Dunlin though, as expected, were seen regularly, often in double figures but with 150 on the 4th, 200 on the 5th and 100 on the 6th.
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Dunlins, Turnstones & a Knot, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2021 © Steve Groves |
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Turnstone, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2021 © Steve Groves |
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Dunlin, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2021 © Steve Groves |
Three Common Sandpipers were seen on the 1st, two on the 7th and one on the 13th; single Redshanks were present regularly from the 1st to the 15th but not subsequently; whilst single Greenshanks were seen on the 22nd and 25th.
Gulls & Terns...
The three regular smaller gull species were present throughout, or at least seen regularly, with peak counts of 44 Black-headed Gulls, 30 Mediterranean Gulls and 1 Common Gull. In addition single Kittiwakes were seen on the 3rd and 23rd; and single Little Gulls were present on the 4th and on the 24th/25th.
The three regular larger gull species were also present throughout, or at least seen regularly, with peak counts of 60 Great Black-backed Gulls, 200 Herring Gulls and 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Both Common Terns and Sandwich Terns were pretty much present throughout with a peak of around 150 of the former on several dates and 13 of the latter on the 22nd. Two Little Terns were present on the 1st/2nd and again on the 28th and a single Arctic Tern was seen on the 1st. Apart from the aforementioned Whiskered Tern, the highlight was a Roseate Tern present on the 9th.
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Whiskered Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2021 © Steve Groves |
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| Arctic Tern, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2021 © Joe Stockwell |
Other Water Birds...
Coots and Moorhens were present in single figures, at least, throughout.
Single Little Grebes were seen on five dates whereas the usual non-breeding flock of Great Crested Grebes peaked at 55 on the 22nd.
A Great Northern Diver that flew north on the 3rd was the second of the year, following one in February but only about the 5th in the last 30 years (although they are far more regular on the seaward side of the beach of course).
A Fulmar on the 25th (a species that is also more regular on the seaward side) was also the second of the year but unlike the previous species, it has been annual for the last ten years at least.
Cormorants were present throughout, with a regular roost of around 30.
A Great Egret was present briefly on the 7th (the first since January); four Cattle Egrets continued to roost nightly until the 13th but none were seen subsequently; Little Egrets were present throughout, peaking at 13 on the 25th; and up to three Grey Herons were seen daily.
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Cattle Egrets, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2021 © Steve Groves |
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Little Egret, Abbotsbury Swannery, May 2021 © Steve Groves |
A Kingfisher on the 27th was the first since February.
Predatory Birds...
Single Ospreys were seen on the 2nd and 14th; single Sparrowhawks were seen on three dates, single Marsh Harriers were seen on four dates; three Red Kites were seen on the 28th/29th and two on the 27th and again on the 31st; and Buzzards were seen in single figures daily.
Single Barn Owls were seen on the 13th and 28th; a Short-eared Owl flew over on the 11th; and at least one Tawny Owl was seen regularly.
At least one pair of Kestrels were seen daily; singles of a Hobby were seen on the 2nd and 14th; and single Peregrines were seen on three dates.
Other Non-passerines...
At least one pair of Red-legged Partridges were seen regularly and there were regular double figure counts of Pheasants, Feral Pigeons and Wood Pigeons, whilst a few pairs each of Stock Dove, Collared Dove and Green Woodpecker were also present.
Swifts were seen regularly but no count exceeded around a dozen and a Cuckoo seen on the 1st was the first since May 2020.
Passerines...
A hundred or so Rooks and at least single figures of Magpies, Jackdaws and Carrion Crows were seen daily.
At least two Sand Martins were seen on the 9th, with singles on the 19th, 24th and 31st; Swallows continued to arrive in the first couple of weeks at least, with a peak of at least 50 noted on the 9th/10th and up to 30 still around (with a few pairs nesting) in the last week; House Martins also continued to arrive, peaking at around 50 on the 22nd and with at least 20 (presumably nesters from the village) still being seen regularly at the month's end.
Several pairs of Great Tits, Blue Tits and Long-tailed Tits, were present throughout.
A few Willow Warblers continued to pass through with the last noted on the 9th; a Garden Warbler was heard on the 2nd; and a Lesser Whitethroat on the 16th.
The numerous breeding pairs of Reed Warblers, along with several pairs each of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps effectively masked any further passage of their congeners, as did the few pairs each of Whitethroats and Sedge Warblers.
Several breeding pairs of Cetti's Warblers were also present and there was at least one pair of breeding Goldcrests in the lower grounds and others were heard in the upper grounds.
Wrens were relatively numerous throughout of course but a Nuthatch on the 28th was a surprise (the first since June 2020) and surprisingly the only Treecreeper was heard on the 17th. Both the latter presumably wandering from breeding sites in the near vicinity.
A single Starling on the 19th was followed by two on the 29th, presumably wanders from the dwindling breeding population in the village and on nearby farmsteads (none have nested in the grounds now for around twenty years).
Breeding Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and Robins were relatively numerous and at least one pair of Stonechats were present. A single Wheatear was noted on the 1st and two were present on the 8th; whilst single Spotted Flycatchers were seen on the 19th and on the 27th.
Several pairs of Skylarks and at least one pair of Meadow Pipits were present on the surrounding pasture; and at least one pair of Pied Wagtails were present throughout. A single Yellow Wagtail was seen on the 3rd, whilst on the 8th a singing male attracted a mate and both were then present to the 10th at least, raising hopes of breeding. Only the male appeared to be present on the 11th however and he was last seen on the 14th. The only Grey Wagtail was noted on the 31st.
Dunnocks and House Sparrows, were relatively numerous, although the latter as usual were mostly frequenting the very edge of the recording area in the cottage gardens of Grove Lane.
Breeding Reed Buntings, Chaffinches, Goldfinches and Linnets were relatively numerous and at least one pair of Bullfinches were present. The only Greenfinch though was heard on the 21st.
... And that's it for this post except to thank, Alan Barrett, Kev Butler, Joe Stockwell, Nick Urch, Charlie Wheeler and visiting birders for additional sightings, with an extra thanks to Charlie and Joe for the use of their photos.
I'll leave you with a couple of shaky videos of the Whiskered Tern and a Dunlin flock...
June 2021 sightings to follow shortly.
Steve Groves.
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