May 5th
On another beautiful morning we had an early start ringing at Reculver. During the time we were there we saw 4 Whitethroats, 2 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Siskin, 1 Goldcrest, 12 Reed Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Kestrel, 30 Sand Martins, 9 Tufted Ducks, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Swift W, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 2 Mallard, 3 Canada Geese E, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Jays, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Grey Partridges, 4 Sedge Warblers, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet and 4 Goldfinches.

Birds ringed 14: Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Cetti's Warbler 2, Blackcap 2, Whitethroat 2, Chaffinch 1, Reed Warbler 1, Great Tit 2.

Sedge Warbler

Following ringing we had a look for raptors from the layby at Shuart and saw 5 Common Buzzards but at 1115 a Black Kite flew W about 50 feet above our heads and was soon circling and gaining height above Chamber's Wall. This was almost certainly the same bird seen by Barry Matlock over Margate earlier during the morning. This was the fourth Black Kite recorded for Reculver Marshes following the previous one on May 17th last year.
This afternoon a walk around the Oyster Farm produced 2 Little Egrets, 2 Cuckoos, 20 Whitethroats, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Ringed Plovers and 1 Sandwich Tern E.