13/05/2022

The watch started well with a party of 3 Arctic Skuas passing as soon as I arrived, but that was as good as it got.

06.45-08.00

Common Scoter: 3E

Great-crested Grebe: 2 on

Gannet: 23W

Cormorant: present n/c

Black-headed Gull: present n/c

Mediterranean Gull: 1 present

Common Gull: present n/c

Great Black-backed Gull: present n/c

Herring Gull: present n/c

Sandwich Tern: 2E

Commic: 27E

Arctic Skua: 3E (single party on the first sweep of the scope)

Auk sp: 21E 

Swift: 9 in

Swallow: 18 in

Harbour Porpoise: 2

One of several Grizzled Skippers seen around the trapping area

Around the trapping area most birds were heard rather than seen, though my first Garden Warbler of the year was nice to hear and eventually see, also 2+ Spotted Flycatchers, a single Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common and Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcaps and a Sparrowhawk with a trickle of Swallows over.

Male Sparrowhawk over the trapping area

Avocet in front of Hanson

At Hanson Hide resting on the small island a single Avocet that was flushed by a Sparrowhawk giving nice flight views before settling back down to sleep, also Marsh Harrier and small numbers of the resident wildfowl.

A visit to Old Romney failed to find the 2 Dotterel seen there earlier.

A couple of visits to Dennis's saw just 6 Dunlin of any note, another visit to Firth viewpoint was hopeless, even with the shelter, the wind just howled through the slats rendering using a scope virtually impossible, the only benefit is that you nearly always have it to your self, as all the public who said they'd prefer viewpoints don't seem to visit the reserve anymore.

A look around a very windswept hay fields found very little, though most probably anything there was sheltering in the thicker vegetation. There was a Cattle Egret at Cooks Pool today,