May 6th

We spent a warm and sunny morning ringing at Reculver for the first time since January and saw an excellent range of species. We counted 2 Common Buzzards, 9 Blackcaps, 2 Chiffchaffs, 6 Whitethroats, 2 Garden Warblers, 2 Hobbies, 1 female Ring Ouzel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 5 Shelduck, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Mallard, 11 Long-tailed Tits, 4 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Jays, 6 Greylag Geese, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Yellow Wagtails, 1 Dunlin, 2 Grey Partridges, 12 Reed Warblers, 1 Coot, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Turtle Dove "purring" (164th), 2 Ravens, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Sand Martins, 1 Kestrel, 21 Red Kites flying W, 2 Swallows and 1 Sparrowhawk.

Birds ringed 19: Long-tailed Tit 6, Blackcap 6, Robin 1, Cetti's Warbler 1, Chaffinch 1, Garden Warbler 1, Reed Warbler 1, Song Thrush 1, Blackbird 1.

Male Common Whitethroat

Garden Warbler

Female Shelduck - Matt Hindle

 Dave Smith was also out this morning and spent over 3 hours at the Towers where his highlights were 2 Shelduck, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Marsh Harriers, 15 Red Kites flying W, 4 Common Buzzards, 3 Hobbies, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Wheatears and 3 Yellow Wagtails.