Nethergong Birding

An excellent few days on the patch with a few migrants now starting to appear. Birding Saturday in strong winds from 05:40 till 10:00 produced 2 Shoveler (97) which were seen in flying towards Grove Ferry. There were 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Bittern heard booming from the Stour Valley first thing, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 male Hen Harrier seen hunting the fields again, 1 Red Kite (98) lingered for a while at some distance before moving off towards Chambers Wall near Reculver. Also seen were 2 Common Buzzard, 3 Kestrel, 2 Jay, 1 Raven, 6 Skylark, 1 Sedge Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 13 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 1 Mistle Thrush, 13 Song Thrush, 2 Stonechat, the female seen carrying nesting material, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Bullfinch, 2 Yellowhammer and 4 Reed Bunting. 

This morning again with a fresh wind but a little more sunnier from 06:25 to 09:45 produced a good variety of birds including 1 Lapwing, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 3 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 2 Jay, 2 Skylark, 3 Sedge Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler (99) was seen singing by the main lake, 1 Grasshopper Warbler (100) singing briefly and seen well before skulking back into the bushes. There were 2 Swallow, 1 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 7 Cetti's Warbler, 7 Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat (101) seen well singing, 1 male Wheatear (102) was in a ploughed field and after some patience, I was able to grab a few record shots of this smart bird which is only my second ever spring record. There were 3 Song Thrush, 2 Stonechat, 1 Yellow Wagtail (103) flew west calling, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Greenfinch, c20 Linnet, 1 Siskin, 3 Yellowhammer and 5 Reed Bunting. A great session and an excellent time of year to be on the patch finding the new migrants as they arrive. I was hoping for a Ring Ouzel but no luck today but there is always tomorrow. Nothing to report on the 'nocmig' front as most nights have been very windy for recording and still nothing on the Beaver cam although the Badgers continue to show well on the trail camera. It was also pleasing to see my first 4 Peacock butterflies along with 1 Orange Tip and Speckled Wood. 

Male Wheatear