May 21st

Dave Smith was out in the Minnis Bay and Plumpudding area between 0450 and 0920 and his undoubted highlight was finding a Red-rumped Swallow flying W (169th) at the Shuart crossing. This is the eighth record of this species for the area. Other birds he saw were 3 Greylag Geese, 4 Mute Swans, 2 Shelduck, 7 Tufted Duck, 1 Eider, 3 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Turtle Dove, 48 Swifts W, 5 Oystercatchers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 1 Turnstone, 18 Sanderling, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Common Terns, 3 Sandwich Terns, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Kestrels, 2 Jay, 4 Sand Martins, 17 Swallows, 4 House Martins, 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Spotted Flycatchers, 2 Stonechats and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

 

Red-rumped Swallow - Dave Smith

 Matt was also out early and walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and Chamber's Wall. He saw 17 Swifts W, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls W, 17 Swallows W, 10 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Common Sandpipers,  8 Shelduck, 8 Little Egrets, 1 Canada Goose, 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Stonechat, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Blackcaps, 3 House Martins, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Turnstones, 1 Kestrel, 2 Common Buzzards, 20 Sand Martins and 1 Marsh Harrier.

Derek Smith was out at Shuart where he had a female Golden Oriole (168th) flying W at 0600. Other birds he saw included 2 adult and 6 juvenile Greylag Geese, 1 Canada Goose, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 4 Little Egrets, 12 Ringed Plovers, 18 Sanderling, 2 Dunlin, 22 Swifts W, 38 Swallows W, 11 House Martins W, 1 Wheatear, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Stonechats with juveniles, 1 Willow Warbler and 3 Corn Buntings.