May 8th

We had our first ringing session of the year this morning at Reculver where the undoubted highlight was ringing a male Ring Ouzel, our first for eighteen years. Other birds we saw during the morning were 2 Gadwall, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Tufted Duck, 15 Sand Martins, 4 Chiffchaffs, 10 Blackcaps, 4 Long-tailed Tits, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Mallard, 1 Jay, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Little Egrets W, 7 Reed Warblers, 1 Turtle Dove, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel, 6 Swallows, 3 Common Buzzards, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Sedge Warblers, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1 Mediterranean Gulls. We also saw a Hairy Dragonfly.

Birds ringed 20: Long-tailed Tit 3, Chiffchaff 1, Reed Warbler 1, Blackcap 7, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Whitethroat 1, Song Thrush 4, Ring Ouzel 1, Sparrowhawk 1.

Male Ring Ouzel

Second calendar year male Sparrowhawk

Dave Smith birdwatched for three hours on the Marsh this morning and his highlights included 6 Greylag Geese, 3 Shelduck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 3 Stock Doves, 18 Swifts W, 5 Oystercatchers, 1 Lapwing, 3 Ringed Plovers, 8 Whimbrel, 1 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Sand Martins, 28 Swallows, 1 House Martin, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Corn Bunting. He also saw a Red Kite flying W at Shuart during the afternoon.