The secret life of the common tern is no longer hidden, thanks to a fleet of volunteers on Brownsea Island.

Every tweet and flutter is now reported online, with daily postings using Twitter.

Nature lovers can now follow all the spring action of mating, nesting and breeding on the lagoon at Dorset Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve.

“Thanks to our brilliant band of volunteers, all the latest news is being posted every day, whether it’s nesting birds, what the squirrels have been up to or news of emerging insects and reptiles,” said Nicky Hoar, communications officer for the trust.

Recent posts include sightings of a golden pheasant, black-tailed godwits and 50-plus Sandwich terns seen from the hide.

And the sun brought out a variety of butterflies including comma, peacock, brimstone, small white and orange tip in the villa garden, while blackcap and reed warblers were among birds seen.

Volunteers are on hand daily to help visitors to the nature reserve, which covers just under half of the National Trust owned island in Poole Harbour.

A nature trail across the island takes in the varied habitats, including the lagoon, which is an internationally important site for spectacular wading birds and nesting terns.

The woods are home to around 200 of Britain’s native red squirrels and the reedbeds and the flooded alder woodland are a haven for water voles, kingfishers and water rails.

The reserve is open daily until October 31. There is a small entry charge to help with vital conservation work.

This is the first of the trust’s 42 nature reserves to provide the latest sightings online and spring on Brownsea Island can be followed on http://twitter.com/DWTBrownsea