Sandwich Tern (s) (111) were sound recorded flying over Nethergong on the 22nd, a scarce bird here and only the second record of this species in 10 years. Highlights this morning included a Bittern heard booming from the Stour Valley, 3 Raven and 1 Yellowhammer.

Sandwich Tern

Another early start at 5am where I spent an hour or so walking around the campsite in rainy but quite still conditions listening for a Golden Oriole...which I didn't hear. With the weather clearing up, I then took a walk around the area and out onto Chislet Marshes where I noted 2 Mute Swan, 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Mallard, 3 Pheasant, 15 Stock Dove, 30 Woodpigeon, 1 Turtle Dove (109) flew through the area towards Grove Ferry, a scarce bird with none recorded last year. There were 3 Swift, 1 Cuckoo, 9 Moorhen, 1 Black headed Gull, 7 Herring Gull, 2 Lesser Black backed Gull, 4 Common Tern, 1 Little Grebe, 22 Cormorant, 1 Bittern heard booming early morning from the Stour Valley, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Jay, 2 Raven, 7 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, 5 Skylark, 4 Sedge Warbler, 15 Reed Warbler, 1 Sand Martin, 12 Swallow, 9 House Martin (110), 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 5 Long tailed Tit, 4 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler, 5 Whitethroat, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Nightingale still singing, 4 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Chaffinch, 5 Linnet and 1 Yellowhammer. 

We are now in the window where Golden Orioles can be heard and with that in mind, I have made four early visit this week to see whether I could pick one up. My five records in the Nethergong area have all been between 10-20th May but as of yet this year, I have not managed to hear any. I will give it another go in the morning. I was out and about early this morning at 4am where I collected the recorder from Chislet Marshes where I was hoping a Quail might call from the area. The habitat looks good but alas, not much at all on the recorder last night. I then parked up at Nethergong where 2 Bittern could be heard booming from the Stour Valley and the Nightingale was singing still. I then spent a few hours walking around the area until 8am where I noted 2 Egyptian Geese, 2 Grey Partridge, 6 Pheasant, 9 Stock Dove, 4 Cuckoo, 5 Moorhen, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Lesser Black backed Gull, 3 Common Tern, 1 Little Grebe, 20 Cormorant, 2 Cattle Egret flew east, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Marsh Harrier, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Kestrel, 1 Jay and 13 Jackdaw. There were 3 Skylark, 8 Sedge Warbler, 11 Reed Warbler, 23 Swallow, 2 Chiffchaff, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 4 Long tailed Tit, 5 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat, 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Chaffinch, 2 Linnet and 4 Reed Bunting. 2 Beaver were also noted.