Daily Log (May)

Highlights

31st May

Immature Little Gull & 3 Sandwich Terns on the Swale, nearly 200 Black-tailed Godwits

30th May

The 2 Cranes were seen again from Oare in flight over Sheppey at 08.45. They landed out of sight.

29th May

2 Cranes, circling over 3.15pm then flew off west at 3.17pm

27 May

Male Red-necked Phalarope still present on East flood.  Also an immature Little Gull (early am only), drake Garganey, single Common Sandpiper & Avocet, Water rail and 2 Bearded Tits.  Med gull & 1 Corn Bunting over. The Ruddy Shelduck was again present. On the west side - drake Garganey (?same individual), female Wigeon, 70 Black-tailed Godwits, Kingfisher, Barn Owl until at least 0900, rufous morph female Cuckoo, Water Rail, 2 escapee Black Swans.

26 May

Male Red-necked Phalarope again present on East flood.

European Bee-eater heard several times throughout the morning but not seen.

Drake garganey and two drake Ruddy Ducks on east flood. 4 Black-tailed Godwits on east flood and a flock of 16 Common Sandpipers on the rocks between the Ferry and the point.

46 Mute Swans on the west flood flew over towards Nagden. One Black Swan.

25 May
Red-necked Phalarope still present

23 May

White Stork, circling at 9.10am

Male Red-necked Phalarope, new scrape east side, Peregrine, Hobby 3-4, Greenshank 1, Med gull 1 adult on pasture west of reserve, Black-tailed godwit 8, Ruddy Shelduck (escapee), Avocet 7, Wigeon 1 drake, Little tern 1

Common seal 5 distantly on Horse Sands

21 May

1 Spoonbill East Flood from 14.23 - 16.08. Wader numbers remain remarkably low!

14 May

1 Kingfisher, Black-tailed godwit numbers increase to c100

12 May

1-2 drake Ruddy duck, drake Garganey, Wigeon 3, Kingfisher, Common sandpiper, Med gull overhead, Turnstone 1

11 May

3 drake Ruddy duck

6 May

Greenshank 2, Med gull 3 adult over, Hobby, Wigeon 2

3 May

Merlin, Common sandpiper 1, Garganey pair, drake Chiloe wigeon (esc!!), Blue tit - (scarce on the Reserve)

1 May

Greenshank 6, Garganey pair