May 18th
It was great to be out on such a warm and sunny morning as we walked out to Coldharbour. Birds we saw included 15 Skylarks, 4 Goldfinches, 14 Whitethroats, 12 Mallard, 6 Sedge Warblers, 14 Reed Warblers, 1 House Martin W, 5 Cuckoos, 1 Kestrel, 8 Linnets, 8 Swallows and 1 Spotted Flycatcher flying W along the railway embankment. Other birds we recorded were 3 Shoveler, 2 Lapwings W, 2 male Yellow Wagtails, 2 Coot, 16 Meadow Pipits, 1 Pied Wagtails, 2 Little Egrets, 8 Ringed Plovers, 3 Shelduck, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 5 Oystercatchers, 5 Turnstone, 1 singing Corn Bunting, 10 Mute Swans, 3 Reed Buntings, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Common Buzzard. We also saw our first 2 Small Heath butterflies of the year.
As we drove home a Red Kite flew W over the Thanet Way near the Roman Galley.

Male Shoveler

Female Shoveler

One of five Cuckoos on the Marsh this morning