Sightings - Wednesday 21st June 2017

Spoonbill - 5 Brownsea Lagoon.
Osprey - 2 Wareham Channel.
ELEGANT TERN - 1 on Brownsea mid-afternoon then late evening to roost in front of Mac Hide.
Common Rosefinch - 1 in a Southwell garden.

Some history of the Elegant Tern from Birdguides:
"Bird C has also been seen only in France during the breeding season, and primarily at Banc d'Arguin. The first sighting of this bird came on the reserve in 2002; it was caught on 3 July 2003 and fitted with a metal ring (FT67249) on the right tibia and with three plastic rings — one white on the right tarsus, and green above yellow on the left tarsus (J Gernigon). The bird, identified as a male by behaviour, bred with a Sandwich Tern for several years (2005–07, 2009, 2010, 2013) in the Banc d'Arguin colony, but also on one or two occasions in the Noirmoutier colony. Bird C has also been seen once in winter — close to Cape Town, South Africa, on 1 January 2007 (Tony Tree). Though it was ringed a long time ago, further sightings are otherwise sparse — though this is probably because of its choice of the inaccessible Banc d'Arguin as a breeding site and because it has also long been considered a hybrid because of its perceived less 'classic' appearance."

Some info on it's visit to South Africa:
http://safring.adu.org.za/story_content.php?id=189
As this bird has been DNA tested and proven to be an Elegant Tern then it should be accepted as the first confirmed British Record although there have been 3 sightings previously which will most likely prove acceptable now:
2005 Dorset, Stanpit Marsh, Christchurch Harbour, adult, 10 May
2002 Caernarfonshire Black Rock Sands, Porthmadog, 23–26 July
2002 Devon, Dawlish Warren, 18 May; same, 18–19 July.
Elegant Tern - Brownsea Lagoon © Paul Morton

Elegant Tern - Brownsea Lagoon © Paul Morton