May 19th

We had an uneventful morning's ringing at Reculver although we did manage to ring our first juvenile Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Robin of the year. Birds we saw during our stay included 5 Blackcaps, 3 Cuckoos, 2 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 14 Mallard, 3 Little Grebes, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Chiffchaffs, 3 Whitethroats, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 28 Sand Martins, 2 Sparrowhawks, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Common Buzzards, 1 Common Tern, 1 Shelduck, 1 Jay, 6 Red Kites moving W, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Ravens.

Birds ringed 7: Chiffchaff 4, Blackcap 1, Robin 1, Cetti's Warbler 1.

Dave Smith was out at 0445 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour and back along the embankment. He counted 1 Canada Goose, 3 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 3 Cuckoos, 3 Swifts, 3 Avocets, 6 Oystercatchers, 16 Ringed Plovers, 5 Lapwings, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Turnstone, 3 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Tern, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Barn Owl, 6 Swallows, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Spotted Flycatcher (163rd) and 1 Stonechat.

Derek Smith was out for a shorter walk than normal from Shuart to Brooksend and Plumpudding and back. He recorded 6 Greylag Geese with young, 1 Shelduck, 8 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Cuckoos, 6 Ring-necked Parakeets, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Cetti's Warblers and 6 singing Corn Buntings.

Male Long-horned Bee at Bishopstone this afternoon