May 2nd
There was a gentle NW wind blowing this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to the Oyster Farm lagoons and this prompted a moderate westerly passage of hirundines. We counted 59 Swallows, 12 House Martins, 8 Sand Martins and best of all a Red-rumped Swallow (158th) the sixth bird of this species to be recorded in the area.
Other birds we counted included 17 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 14 Linnets, 3 Lapwings, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 16 Oystercatchers, 1 Wheatear, 2 Sandwich Terns W, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Grey Plovers, 1 immature male Eider, 2 Ringed Plovers, 42 Sanderling, 1 Whimbrel W and a family of four Stonechats (a pair and 2 recently fledged juveniles) that have successfully bred beside the seawall.

The "rubicola" male of the breeding pair

Terry Wilson heard the Nightingale still singing near the Shuart crossing.