April 22nd

The overnight rain had moved away as Matt made an early start on his walk from Bishopstone to Plumpudding. We met him at Chamber's Wall and between us we saw 14 Blackcaps, 20 Whitethroats, 2 Grey Partridges, 4 Common Sandpipers, 11 Yellow Wagtails, 21 Cetti's Warblers, 5 Whimbrel, 4 Wheatears, 3 Little Egrets, 2 Shoveler, 57 Mediterranean Gulls mainly flying E, 3 Greylag Geese, 5 Reed Warblers, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Shelduck, 2 Grey Plovers, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 4 Grey Herons, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Avocet flying W (146th), 2 Stonechats, 2 Corn Buntings, 38 Swallows flying W, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 12 Chiffchaffs, 6 Teal, 2 Jays, 1 Nightingale singing along the embankment (147th), 1 Common Buzzard, 7 Tufted Duck, 4 Sand Martins flying W, 1 Rock Pipit displaying, 2 Snipe, 1 Lapwing, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Pochard.

Dave Smith was also out at daybreak and walked from Shuart to Minnis Bay and on the Coldharbour. He counted 3 Greylag Geese, 2 Shelduck, 2 Gadwall, 11 Teal, 9 Tufted Duck, 1 Velvet Scoter, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Grey Plovers, 5 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 3 Common Sandpipers, 2 Green Sandpipers, 39 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Lesser Black-bacled Gull, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Common Buzzards, 2 Barn Owls, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sand Martin, 45 Swallows flying W, 2 Willow Warblers, 12 Chiffchaffs, 17 Blackcaps, 2 Lesser Whitethroats (145th), 11 Whitethroats, 1 Firecrest, 1 female Common Redstart, 2 Stonechats and 3 Yellow Wagtails.

Derek Smith was also out and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and the embankment before going on to Brooksend. He found 1 Tree Pipit flying W (144th), 1 female Common Redstart (148th)., 5 Grey Herons, 6 Little Egrets, 5 Tufted Duck, 3 Shelduck W, 3 Marsh Harriers, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Avocet W, 5 Bar-tailed Godwits, 1 Green Sandpiper, 35 Mediterranean Gulls, 1 Barn Owl, 16 Swallows W, 5 Yellow Wagtails W, 1 Wheatear, 19 Cetti's Warblers, 34 Sedge Warblers, 2 Reed Warblers, 36 Whitethroats, 35 Blackcaps, 26 Chiffchaffs and 7 Willow Warblers.