May 3rd
We spent a sunny morning ringing at Shuart where we saw 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 6 Whitethroats, 1 Turtle Dove, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Whimbrel, 6 Lapwings, 2 Shelduck, 6 Reed Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, 1 Willow Warbler, 14 Linnets, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Green Woodpeckers, 3 Swifts, 6 Mallard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 6 Goldfinches, 2 Kestrels, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Grey Heron, 4 House Martins W, 12 Swallows, 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Tree Pipit W (160th) and 1 Greenfinch. We also saw a Hairy Dragonfly.

Birds ringed 13: Wren 1, Willow Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 2, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Whitethroat 4, Chaffinch 1, Blackcap 1, Sedge Warbler 1.

Lesser Whitethroat

Also this morning Bob Hinge saw 1 Turtle Dove at Chambers Wall, 1 Grey Wagtail in the sluice at Reculver, 1 Common Sandpiper on the tiny remnant of land in Coldharbour, 3 Cuckoos and 30 singing Whitethroats on the railway embankment and at Chambers Wall.
Mike Roser was also out and walked the circuit and in addition to Bob Hinge's sightings had 3 Grey Partridges - one on a field margin track and two flushed as he came to the end of the railway section of the wall. He also had the good fortune to catch up with a reeling Grasshopper Warbler on the overgrown and wet Alexanders section behind the Oyster Farm. Two Cuckoos were working the Oyster Farm dykes and the Common Sandpiper was to the rear of Cold Harbour below the shingle bank. He also saw Orange Tips, Green-veined Whites and numerous Peacock butterflies along the railway embankment.
This afternoon at Reculver I found five or six newly emerged Azure and Blue-tailed Damselflies.