May 1st
May dawned cool and showery as Matt arrived at Shuart early where he was rewarded by a Great White Egret (162nd) flying N at Netherhale. This is only the ninth bird of this species recorded in the area. Other birds he saw included 9 Common Sandpipers, 1 Cuckoo, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Sandwich Terns, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Shoveler, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Sanderling, 1 Dunlin, 5 Turnstone, 2 Bar-tailed Godwits and 4 Shelduck.
We met him at Chamber's Wall and we then walked along the railway embankment to the Green Wall and Coldharbour. We saw 16 Mallard, 5 Chiffchaffs, 25 Whitethroats, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 1 Turtle Dove, 5 Linnets, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 male Ring Ouzel, 2 Kestrels, 3 Whimbrel, 1 Wheatear, 3 Redshank, 7 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Little Egret, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 Common Sandpipers, 1 Great Northern Diver, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Turnstone, 12 Oystercatchers, 4 White Wagtails, 1 Grey Plover, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Dunlin, 155 Carrion Crows, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Blackcap and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Summer plumaged Bar-tailed Godwit

Derek Smith was also out and between 0630 and 0930 walked from Shuart to Netherhale and then on to Plumpudding. He recorded 2 Common Buzzards, 1 Marsh Harrier, 11 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Knot, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Grey Partridges, 2 Wheatears, 1 Whinchat, 28 Whitethroats, 3 Lesser Whitethroats, 13 Blackcaps, 11 Chiffchaffs, 3 Cetti's Warblers and 7 Corn Buntings.

Whinchat in the rain