May 4th

On a dull and overcast morning we walked at Reculver where we recorded 4 Skylarks, 2 Whitethroats, 16 Sand Martins, 2 Chiffchaffs, 5 Cetti's Warblers, 16 Mallard, 3 Mute Swans, 11 Greylag Geese, 7 Tufted Duck, 2 Gadwall, 1 Common Sandpiper, 8 Coot, 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Swallows and 1 Mediterranean Gull E.

Dave Smith walked along the seawall from Reculver and his highlights were 3 Shelduck, 1 Gadwall, 6 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Coot, 2 Avocets, 17 Oystercatchers, 8 Ringed Plovers, 1 Curlew, 2 Turnstone, 19 Sanderling, 2 Common Terns, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Little Owl, 1 Raven, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 17 Swallows, 5 House Martins, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers, 6 Stonechats, 7 Yellow Wagtails, 1 male Blue-headed Wagtail and 2 Corn Buntings.

Derek Smith was also out this morning and walked from Shuart along the embankment and back via Coldharbour and Brooksend. He counted 3 Marsh Harriers, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 2 Avocets, 2 Redshank, 14 Sanderling, 1 Cuckoo, 12 Swallows W, 2 Stonechats, 6 Lesser Whitethroats and 5 Corn Buntings.

 May 3rd

After overnight rain it was overcast and humid this morning as we had a walk along the seawall from Reculver. We recorded 4 Cetti's Warblers, 8 Whitethroats, 8 Linnets, 1 Little Owl, 6 Oystercatchers, 5 Little Egrets, 2 Stonechats, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Swallows, 7 Sand Martins, 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Hobby flying past the Towers towards the Sand Martin colony at Bishopstone (159th), 1 Whimbrel and 2 Mediterranean Gulls flying E.

Little Egrets

 

 May 2nd

This morning our walk at Reculver produced 3 Mute Swans, 4 Chiffchaffs, 11 Sand Martins, 7 Cetti's Warblers, 3 Blackcaps, 13 Greylag Geese, 10 Coot, 6 Whitethroats, 5 Common Sandpipers, 14 Mallard, 8 Tufted Duck, 5 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers, 1 Little Ringed Plover flying W, 2 Gadwall and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Derek Smith was also out this morning between 0600 and 0930 and walked from Shuart along the embankment and back via Coldharbour. He counted 2 Little Egrets, 4 Grey Herons, 2 Marsh Harriers, 2 Shelduck E, 2 Avocets in Coldharbour, 2 Cuckoos, 37 Stock Doves on a ploughed field, 1 Yellow Wagtail W, 1 Wheatear, 6 Lesser Whitethroats, 9 Blackcaps, 2 Willow Warblers and 8 Chiffchaffs.

A dull Willow Warbler - Derek Smith

 May 1st

The month began with a sunny morning and a pleasant south easterly breeze. I walked along the seawall from Reculver with the tide out but coming in and counted 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 Long-tailed Tits, 8 Whitethroats, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Little Egret, 4 Shelduck, 4 Meadow Pipits, 2 Sand Martins, 2 Whimbrel, 5 Sedge Warblers, 2 Stonechats, 1 Bar-tailed Godwit feeding on shore, 4 Common Sandpipers, 12 Linnets, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Redshank, 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Kestrel and 2 Yellow Wagtails.

Bar-tailed Godwit

 

Wall Brown

Matt was out early and walked from Reculver to Plumpudding and back along the embankment. He recorded 8 Chiffchaffs, 1 Redpoll W, 10 Common Sandpipers, 3 Ringed Plovers, 9 Tufted Duck, 10 Coot, 13 Yellow Wagtails, 3 Gadwall, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Marsh Harriers, 1 Corn Bunting, 3 Grey Herons, 1 Common Tern, 2 Whimbrel, 6 Stonechats, 3 Bar-tailed Godwits, 2 Redshank, 4 Little Egrets, 1 Cuckoo, 1 Tree Pipit E, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Lesser Whitethroats, 1 Wheatear, 1 Swift E, 3 Kestrels, 2 Avocets, 3 Grey Plover, 7 Shelduck and 2 Sandwich Terns. 

Bar-tailed Godwits - Matt Hindle

 

Whimbrel -Matt Hindle

Kestrel - Matt Hindle