Oystercatcher on Brownsea Island 29th June 2018

Oystercatcher

There is a population of Oystercatchers on the lagoon at Brownsea Island all year, though they can often be seen around the harbour area foraging for food in the mud.

This family of Oystercatcher  seemed to stay in the lagoon, on the mud outside the hide, the chicks generally sheltering by the reeds while the adults went out collecting food.


The adult birds are determined in looking after their young having fought off a Black Headed Gull who attempoted to take a chick... the chick escaped unscathed through the parents intervention.

Sandwich Tern, Brownsea Island 29th June 2018

Sandwich Tern

The Sandwich Tern return to Brownsea Island, almost exclusively to one small island in the lagoon in the Brownsea Island Nature Reserve... and only a few yards from the windows of the excellent MacDonald Hide.

They return purely for breeding, and a second visit in a month was to watch the birds with their chicks. A great deal of action in terms of fish carrying and feeding the youngsters. Something not to be missed!!