Highlights (A Brief Summary)...
The best birds of the month were an Osprey...
and at least three drake Garganey...
Present throughout, the only count conducted was for the WeBS on the 8th when 542 were present. In total this spring eggs were laid in 100 nests.
Black Swan...
Two were present throughout.
Canada Goose...
Present throughout, the only count conducted was for the WeBS on the 8th when 40 were present. Four pairs nested.
(Common) Shelduck...
Present throughout, the only count conducted was for the WeBS on the 8th when 19 were present. At least one brood were seen.
Gadwall...
A duck and up to five drakes were present throughout much of the month.
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| The (Western) Osprey May 2016 © Steve Groves |
and at least three drake Garganey...
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| Two of the three drake Garganey May 2016 © Steve Groves |
Now the news in more detail...
Mute Swan...Present throughout, the only count conducted was for the WeBS on the 8th when 542 were present. In total this spring eggs were laid in 100 nests.
Black Swan...
Two were present throughout.
Canada Goose...
Present throughout, the only count conducted was for the WeBS on the 8th when 40 were present. Four pairs nested.
(Common) Shelduck...
Present throughout, the only count conducted was for the WeBS on the 8th when 19 were present. At least one brood were seen.
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| A pair of (Northern) Shelduck May 2016 © Steve Groves |
Gadwall...
A duck and up to five drakes were present throughout much of the month.
(Eurasian) Teal...
Up to eight lingered to the 4th but only two were seen later in the month... a drake on the 10th/11th and a duck on the 15th.
Mallard...
Present throughout, the only count conducted was for the WeBS on the 8th when 185 were present. Many broods were seen.
(Northern) Pintail...
A late duck was seen on the 25th.
Garganey...
Three drakes arrived on the 6th; two were still present on the 8th and one to the 9th. A drake then reappeared on the 16th and lingered to the 24th.
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| One of the drake Garganey May 2016 © Mike Morse |
(Northern) Shoveler...
Up to seven lingered to the 14th but the only others seen were on the 29th when five arrived.
(Common) Pochard...
Present throughout, with a peak of 20 on the 2nd.
Tufted Duck...
Present throughout, with a peak of over 30 on several dates.
Red-breasted Merganser...
A drake on the 3rd was the only one of the month.
(Common) Pheasant...
Present throughout, several broods were seen.
(Great) Cormorant...
Present throughout with a peak of 21 on the 6th.
Little Egret...
Single figures were present throughout.
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| Little Egret May 2016 © Steve Groves |
Grey Heron...
There were sightings of at least one occasionally two, through much of the month.
Little Grebe...
Singles were seen on the 4th and 6th.
Great Crested Grebe...
Present throughout, the only count conducted was for the WeBS on the 8th when 27 were present.
Red Kite...
One flew over on the 6th and two were reported on the 30th.
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| Red Kite May 2016 © Charlie Wheeler |
(Western) Marsh Harrier...
Single female/immature birds were seen regularly but three were together on the 5th and two on the 14th.
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| (Western) Marsh Harrier May 2016 © Charlie Wheeler |
(Eurasian) Sparrowhawk...
Singles were seen regularly early in the month.
(Common) Buzzard...
Single figures were seen on virtually a daily basis.
(Western) Osprey...
One was present on the 5th and 6th.
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| The (Western) Osprey May 2016 © Steve Groves |
(Common) Moorhen...
Present throughout. Only five were counted during the WeBS but many were presumably missed. Several broods were seen.
(Eurasian) Coot...
Present throughout, the only count conducted was for the WeBS on the 8th when 50 were present. Several broods were seen.
(Pied) Avocet...
One was present on the 29th.
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| (Pied) Avocet May 2016 © Charlie Wheeler |
(Eurasian) Oystercatcher...
Six (three nesting pairs) were present throughout.
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| (Eurasian) Oystercatcher May 2016 © Steve Groves |
Singles on the 9th, 11th and 17th, while three were present on the 10th.
(Northern) Lapwing
One was present on the 14th.
(Common) Ringed Plover...
There was a marked passage between the 2nd and 17th with a peak of at least 40 on the 11th.
Whimbrel...
Single figures were seen regularly.
(Eurasian) Curlew...
One on the 15th.
Black-tailed Godwit...
Five circled over on the 23rd and one lingered on the 31st.
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| ('Icelandic') Black-tailed Godwit May 2016 © Steve Groves |
Bar-tailed Godwit...
There was a small passage between the 2nd and 12th with a peak of four together on the 11th.
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| A pair of Bar-tailed Godwit May 2016 © Steve Groves |
(Ruddy) Turnstone...
There was a small passage involving mostly singles between the 2nd and 17th but two were seen together on a couple of dates.
(Red) Knot...
Two were seen on the 11th and singles on the 15th and 17th.
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| (Red) Knot May 2016 © Steve Groves |
Sanderling...
There was a marked passage between the 2nd and 20th with a peak of at least 20 the 11th.
Common Sandpiper...
Singles (occasionally two) were seen regularly from the 3rd to the 11th.
(Common) Greenshank...
One on the 6th, two on the 10th and one on the 11th.
(Common) Redshank...
Singles were seen regularly but three were present on the 4th.
Little Tern...
Four were seen on the 6th, two on the 8th and six on the 11th.
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| Two Little Terns (with two Common Terns) May 2016 © Steve Groves |
Sandwich Tern...
Single figures were seen regularly.
Common Tern...
Present throughout with over 100 present by the months end (and therefore around fifty pairs were thought to be nesting).
Black-headed Gull...
Single figures were present throughout (and one pair were nesting).
Mediterranean Gull...
One was present on the 5th.
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| 2nd calendar year Mediterranean Gull May 2016 © Steve Groves |
Common Gull...
One was present on the 19th.
Lesser Black-backed Gull...
Single figures were seen regularly.
Herring Gull...
Single figures were present throughout.
Great Black-backed Gull...
Single figures were present throughout.
(Feral/Domestic) Rock Dove...
Seen regularly.
Stock Dove...
Seen regularly.
(Common) Wood Pigeon...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
(Eurasian) Collared Dove...
Seen regularly.
Tawny Owl...
Heard regularly (including young) with one seen on the 31st.
(Common) Swift...
Seen regularly with a peak of over 300 present on the 31st.
(Common) Kingfisher...
One was present on the 23rd.
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| (Common) Kingfisher May 2016 © Steve Groves |
(European) Green Woodpecker...
Seen, or at least heard, regularly.
Great Spotted Woodpecker...
Seen regularly.
(Common) Kestrel...
Only occasionally noted this month.
(Eurasian) Hobby...
Singles were seen on the 14th and 25th.
Peregrine Falcon...
Singles were seen regularly but two were together on the 2nd.
(Eurasian) Magpie...
Seen regularly (with at least one pair presumably nesting).
(Western) Jackdaw...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
Rook...
Present throughout (with many pairs nesting in adjacent Chapel Coppice).
Carrion Crow...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
(Northern) Raven...
Seen regularly.
Goldcrest...
Present throughout (with at least one pair presumably nesting).
(Eurasian) Blue Tit...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
Great Tit...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
(Eurasian) Skylark...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
Sand Martin...
Single figures were seen regularly until the 12th when a final flurry of at least 10 were present but there were no further sightings.
(Barn) Swallow...
Passage continued early in the month with a peak of at least 30 on the 2nd but then only single figures were noted and most of these were local breeding birds (with around 5 pairs nesting).
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| (Barn) Swallow May 2016 © Steve Groves |
(Common) House Martin...
Single figures were regular but at least 10 were present on the 12th.
Cetti's Warbler...
Present throughout (with around six singing males).
Long-tailed Tit...
Present throughout (with at least one pair presumably nesting).
(Common) Chiffchaff...
Present throughout (with at least one pair presumably nesting).
Willow Warbler...
Single late migrants were heard on the 5th and 24th.
(Eurasian) Blackcap...
Present throughout (with at least one pair presumably nesting).
One on the 3rd was the only one of the spring.
Lesser Whitethroat...
The first of the year was heard on the 10th. At least one remained on territory through the rest of the month and up to four other singing males passed through.
Present throughout (with at least one pair presumably nesting).
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| (Common) Whitethroat May 2016 © Charlie Wheeler |
Sedge Warbler...
At least one singing male was resent throughout (and nesting was presumed).
(Eurasian) Reed Warbler...
Present throughout (with several presumably nesting).
(Eurasian) Treecreeper...
Present throughout (with at least one pair presumably nesting).
(Eurasian) Wren...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
(Common) Blackbird...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
Song Thrush...
Present throughout (with possibly one pair nesting in the grounds and others nearby).
Mistle Thrush...
Regularly heard in adjacent Oddens Wood and a family party were in the upper grounds on the 18th.
Spotted Flycatcher...
The first four of the year and the only ones of the spring were present on the 6th.
(European) Robin...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
Whinchat...
Single males (in song) were present on the 3rd and 10th.
(Northern) Wheatear...
Two on the 3rd and one on the 5th were the last of the spring.
Dunnock...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
House Sparrow...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting in adjacent Grove Lane).
(Western) Yellow Wagtail...
Two were present on the 2nd, one on the 9th and one on the 11th.
('Pied') White Wagtail...
Present throughout the month (and two pairs nested).
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| ('Pied') White Wagtail May 2016 © Steve Groves |
Meadow Pipit...
Single figures were seen regularly (with nesting presumed).
(Common) Chaffinch...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
(Eurasian) Bullfinch...
Single figures were seen regularly (and nesting was presumed nearby).
(European) Greenfinch...
Present throughout (with at least one pair presumably nesting).
(Common) Linnet...
Present throughout (with nesting presumed).
(European) Goldfinch...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
(Common) Reed Bunting...
Present throughout (with several pairs nesting).
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| (Common) Reed Bunting May 2016 © Steve Groves |
That's it for this month except to say thanks to Alan Barrett, Ian McLean, Mike Morse and Charlie Wheeler wheeler-photography.
June sightings to follow shortly.
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