May 30th

This morning we completed our first visit to our 1 km Turtle Dove Survey square and failed to hear or see any Turtle Doves. The southern boundary of the square borders the Thanet Way between Wagtail Farm and St Nicholas Court Farm and then includes Potten Street Road and Potten Street and then the track leading up to Chamber's Wall car park. Birds we did see included 13 Whitethroats, 6 Goldfinches, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Common Buzzard, 4 Blackcaps, 1 singing Goldcrest, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 11 Skylarks, 9 Reed Warblers, 2 Reed Buntings, 1 Swift and 2 Oystercatchers in a maize field.

Derek Smith was out between 0630 and 1000 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and Coldharbour before returning along the railway embankment. He saw 1 male Shoveler, 5 pairs of Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Avocet in Coldharbour, 2 Cuckoos, 8 Yellow Wagtails, 5 Cetti's Warblers and 3 Lesser Whitethroats.

Avocet in Coldharbour - Derek Smith