April 17th

It was a glorious, sunny, spring morning as Anne and I walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. We counted 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Whitethroats, 9 Oystercatchers, 24 Linnets, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 16 Sedge Warblers, 1 Redshank, 4 Sand Martins W, 8 Mediterranean Gulls flying high W, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Stonechat, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Mallard, 3 Shelduck, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Grey Plover, 7 Ringed Plovers, 16 Mutes Swans, 1 female Wheatear, 5 Skylarks, 24 Turnstone, 2 Swallows W, 1 Cuckoo  and 1 Common Tern flying out to sea (153rd).

Female Wheatear

Derek Smith arrived at Shuart at 0600 and walked along the embankment to Coldharbour and back by way of Brooksend. He recorded 5 Grey Herons, 1 Little Egret, 9 Mute Swans, 5 Greylag Geese, 6 Barnacle Geese, 8 Shelduck, 14 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes, 4 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel E, 1 Marsh Harrier, 24 Mediterranean Gulls S, 1 Cuckoo (152nd), 8 Ring-necked Parakeets, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 25 Cetti's Warblers, 10 Blackcaps, 16 Reed Warblers, 35 Whitethroats, 1 Lessert Whitethroat, 19 Chiffchaffs, 1 Firecrest and 4 Corn Buntings.

Cuckoo - Derek Smith