Recent highlights

First of all, many apologies for the lack of postings recently - I'm afraid we've been having chronic computer problems!  Anyway normal service has been resumed at least temporarily so here are the highlights over the past week:

Pintail – two on New Excavations on 19th.  Garganey – three around the site from 18th to 20th.  Goldeneye – one on the ARC pit on 17th.  Slavonian grebe – five on New Excavations, Denge Marsh and the ARC pit on 20th.    Bittern – one booming at Hooker’s pits from 17th, a second bird at Denge Marsh on 21st and another at the ARC site on 19th.   Great white egret – one on Denge Marsh on 17th.  Spoonbill – one flew over on 21st.  Common buzzard – one flew over the ARC site on 17th and two on 18th.  Osprey – one flew over on 15th.  Hobby – first of the year on 12th – two sightings since then.  Grey plover—six on New Excavations on 19th.  Black-tailed godwit – seven on Denge Marsh on 21st.  Whimbrel – 25 on 21st.  Spotted redshank – one on Denge Marsh flood on 14th.  Greenshank – one or two daily.  Mediterranean gull - eight on 21st.   Cuckoo – first of the year at the ARC site on 18th, at least three around the site since then.  Sand martin – up to 15 daily.  House martin – up to four daily.  White wagtail – two around the trail on 19th.  Ring ouzel – one on the return trail on 19th, one at Denge Marsh on 21st.  Reed warbler – first of the year at Hooker’s pits on 9th, several since then.  Whitethroat – 30 across the site on 21st.  Lesser whitethroat – first of the year at the ARC site on 16th, several around the trail since then.  Willow warbler – two on 21st.  Chiffchaff – several around the site all week.  Raven – one flying over on 18th.