May 1st

The month began with a mild, sunny and still morning as we walked from Reculver to Coldharbour and back. Birds we saw included 1 Blackcap, 1 Red-throated Diver, 2 Shelduck, 19 Oystercatchers, 17 Linnets, 12 Cetti's Warblers, 14 Mallard, 10 Whitethroat, 2 Common Sandpipers, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 3 Stonechats, 2 Cuckoos, 13 Sedge Warblers, 8 Reed Warblers, 4 Ringed Plovers, 2 Avocets, 11 Sanderling, 26 Turnstone, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Lawings, 1 Greylag Goose, 6 Skylarks, 2 Sandwich Terns, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 8 Meadow Pipits, 1 male Marsh Harrier and 1 Grey Heron.

Winter plumaged Sanderling

Dave Smith was out for just over three hours from 0518 and completed his regular walk from Shuart to Coldharbour and back via Plumpudding. His highlights included 1 Canada Goose, 7 Shelduck, 12 Mallard, 16 Tufted Duck, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Coot, 2 Avocets, 17 Oystercatchers, 6 Grey Plovers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 10 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel, 5 Curlew, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit, 5 Turnstone, 27 Sanderling, 6 Sandwich Terns, 2 Little Grebes, 2 Great White Egrets flying E (155th), 1 Grey Heron, 1 female Marsh Harrier, 1 Barn Owl, 2 Jays, 2 Sand Martins, 2 Swallows, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 4 Yellow Wagtails, 2 Meadow Pipits, 1 Tree Pipit W and 1 Lesser Redpoll.