May 13th
With a light westerly breeze blowing this morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall and along the seawall there was a steady trickle of hirundines flying W and NW. At 0905 whilst at Coldharbour a group of ten or fifteen Swallows and House Martins flew along the beach and within the group was a fine Red-rumped Swallow (155). This is only the third record of this species for the area.
Other birds seen during the morning included 4 Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 5 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 6 Cormorants, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Turnstone, 2 Common Terns, 11 Swifts W, 92 Swallows W, 56 House Martins W, 6 Sand Martins W, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Wheatear, 12 Reed Warblers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 5 Linnets and 9 Corn Buntings.

Male Wheatear

Terry Wilson was also out later this morning and walking from Minnis Bay along the railway embankment to Coldharbour and back saw 3 Shelduck, a Mallard with 5 ducklings, 1 Gannet, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Ringed Plovers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Cuckoo, lots of Swallows, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Wheatears, lots of juvenile Starlings at Plumpudding and 1 Corn Bunting.