A bit of a catch up. 23 Sand Martin (94) and 1 Yellow Wagtail (95) were seen on the 14th April. A text yesterday from the owner Jed alerted me that he had recorded a Nightingale singing on the campsite so last night, I went down and put a recorder out nearby. I returned this morning at 6am and on opening the car door, I could immediately hear the song of a Nightingale (96). This is a good bird for the area with 5 records in the 10 years of recording. The recorder also picked up a Whimbrel (97) call flying over. 

Nightingale

I spent 2 hours at Nethergong this morning from 8am in calm sunny conditions and noted 1 Mute Swan, 2 Egyptian Geese, 4 Mallard, 1 Pheasant, 2 Stock Dove, 9 Woodpigeon, 5 Moorhen, 3 Lapwing displaying over the fields, 6 Black headed Gull, 65 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser Black backed Gull, 7 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Buzzard, 1 Great spotted Woodpecker and 1 Green Woodpecker. There were 6 Magpie, 1 Jay, 4 Jackdaw, 14 Rook, 8 Carrion Crow, 4 Blue Tit, 2 Great Tit, 6 Skylark, 3 Sedge Warbler (90), 2 Reed Warbler (91), 3 Swallow (92), 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Long tailed Tit, 3 Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat (93), 4 Wren, 1 Mistle Thrush, 5 Song Thrush, 1 Blackbird, 3 Robin, 2 male Wheatear, 1 Dunnock, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Goldfinch and 1 Yellowhammer. 

Female

Male

Egyptian Geese

I was out quite early this morning and after parking up at Nethergong, I spent a while listening to the day waking up. I heard 1 Bittern booming from the direction of the Stour Valley. I then spent the next few hours walking around the campsite before a walk around the southern end of Chislet Marshes. It was lovely to see some sunshine and at first quite cold, but it warmed up a little throughout the session. Birds noted included 1 Greylag Goose, 18 Mute Swan, 2 Mallard, 2 Grey Partridge, 3 Pheasant, 6 Stock Dove, 38 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 5 Moorhen, 40 Herring Gull, 24 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Marsh Harrier, 3 Common Buzzard, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay, 30 Jackdaw, 39 Rook, 2 Raven, 6 Skylark, 12 Chiffchaff, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Long tailed Tit and 2 singing Blackcap. There were 2 Starling, 1 Mistle Thrush, 5 Song Thrush, 3 Redwing, 2 male Wheatear (89) were in fields and showed well briefly allowing me to grab a few photos. Also seen were 6 Dunnock, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 4 Chaffinch, 8 Linnet, 4 Goldfinch, 35 Corn Bunting, 2 Yellowhammer and 8 Reed Bunting. 

Male Wheatear 

Yellowhammer