March 16th

It was a glorious early spring morning as we walked from Chamber's Wall to Coldharbour and on to the Oyster Farm. We recorded 5 Mallard, 10 Cetti's Warblers, 6 Greylag Geese, 1 Corn Buntings, 3 Common Buzzards, 3 Lapwings, 11 Skylarks, 9 Reed Buntings, 8 Chaffinches, 17 Linnets, 2 Golden Plovers, 1 pair of Bearded Tits feeding beside the Wantsum, 15 Oystercatchers, 3 Redshank, 2 Curlew, 78 Carrion Crows, 14 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 1 Little Ringed Plover flying W and calling loudly (132nd), 120 Starlings, 1 Stonechat, 1 Raven, 10 Meadow Pipits and 2 Shelduck.

Male Stonechat

Derek Smith was out between 0730 and 1215 and walked from Shuart along the embankment and back via Plumpudding and Brooksend. He counted 4 Grey Herons, 1 Cattle Egret at Netherhale, 113 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 11 Canada Geese W, 1 Greylag Goose W, 2 Shelduck,  5 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, 4 Common Buzzards, 3 Red Kites at Upper Hale,12 Lapwings, 2 Curlew E, 1 Snipe, 1 summer plumaged Mediterranean Gull, 1 Raven, 20 Cetti's Warblers and 22 Chiffchaffs. He also saw one or Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies.

This evening we saw a Merlin hunting near the Roman Galley.