May 7th

On a dull, overcast morning Matt walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. We met him on the seawall and between us we counted 7 Blackcaps, 11 Tufted Ducks, 17 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Kestrels, 5 Shelduck, 1 Little Owl, 5 Yellow Wagtails W, 33 Swallows W, 4 Common Sandpipers, 4 Stonechats, 6 Little Egrets, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Swifts W, 2 Cuckoos, 7 Grey Herons, 5 Common Terns, 2 Grey Partridges, 1 Sandwich Tern, 2 Redshank, 1 Wheatear, 2 Greylag Geese with 6 young, 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Corn Buntings, 1 Whimbrel, 4 Ringed Plovers, 4 Lapwings, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Turtle Doves, 8 Oystercatchers, 1 Short-eared Owl in the Oyster Farm and 1 female/immature male Golden Oriole in bushes beside the River Wantsum.

Male Linnet - Matt Hindle

Dave Smith was out at 0520 and walked from Shuart to Plumpudding and back along the railway embankment. He recorded 3 Greylag Geese, 1 Shelduck, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Red-legged Partrdges, 2 Turtle Doves, 1 Cuckoo, 5 Oystercatchers, 2 Lapwings, 3 Redshank, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 alba Wagtails, 2 Little Egrets, 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Barn Owl, 1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 15 Swallows W, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Ring Ouzel, 2 Stonechats and 5 Yellow Wagtails.

Derek Smith was also out and walked from Shuart to Brooksend and back to Chamber's Wall and the railway embankment. He recorded 4 Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 1 Gannet E, 6 Tufted Ducks, 12 Little Egrets, 9 Grey Herons, 1 Marsh Harrier, 2 Whimbrel SW, 2 Curlew SW, 1 Cuckoo, 22 Yellow Wagtails W, 64 Swallows W, 2 Stonechats and 8 singing Corn Buntings.

This afternoon we walked at Reculver and saw 3 Whitethroats, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Greylag Geese, 8 male Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Shelduck, 10 Sand Martins and 1 Cetti's Warbler