May took me to 172 + four new birds.

Wednesday 4th May, and after working in Birmingham, I dropping into RSPB Otmoor on the way home. I arrived in the car park a little after 14:00 on a beautiful sunny day, and there was bird song every where. In the next three hours I noted 46 species of bird as follows, this included my best every views of Grasshopper warbler: Grey heron, Mute swan, Greylag goose, the feral ROSS’S SNOW GOOSE, Canada goose, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Tufted duck, Red kite, Marsh harrier, HOBBY, Peregrine, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Ringed plover, Lapwing, Ruff, Redshank, Black-headed gull, COMMON TERN, Stock dove, Woodpigeon, CUCKOO, Skylark, Swallow, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's warbler, GRASSHOPPER WARBLER, SEDGE WARBLER, REED WARBLER, LESSER WHITETHROAT, WHITETHROAT, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Blue tit, Rook, Carrion crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Yellowhammer & Reed bunting.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 155


Saturday 7th May with Alex went to The Hawk Conservancy Trust, Andover. I was given a bird of prey experience as a Christmas present, by my eldest son Alex and his family.

Tuesday 10th May, another day in Birmingham, so I dropped into Little Marlow gravel pit on the way home, adding BLACK TERN, SWIFT & HOUSE MARTIN to the year list.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 158

Wednesday 11th, and I had a free day, and as luck would have it, a Male Caspian stonechat had been reported at Titchfield haven. So I drove down and arrived around 09:00, and joined the other birders along Meon road, and enjoyed great views of the CASPIAN STONECHAT (a new bird for me), also added SANDERLING & SANDWICH TERN.

I returned north stopping off at Fleet pond where I added, COMMON SANDPIPER & GARDEN WARBLER.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 163

Friday 13th May and after working in Romford, I headed to Abberton reservoir hoping to see the Franklin's gull. I arrived on site and joined some birders in the car park, who where watching the FRANKLIN’S GULL (another new bird for me), after scope views of the distance gull, I entered the visitor centre and made my way to Gwen's hide. Again I joined some more birders and I enjoyed better views as it flew and fed around the raft. On my return to the visitor centre I came across a pair of YELLOW WAGTAIL.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 165

Monday 16th May and as I was working in Bournemouth, I took the opportunity to see another new bird. This time it was the long staying GREAT SPOTTED CUCKOO. I made my way to Reap lane, Portland & joined some other birders, the Great spotted cuckoo had not been seen for a while, so I had a walk around. On my return to the other birders, I noticed a tractor coming down the track, and as it passed some of the bushes the Great spotted cuckoo flew out. It had been there all the time, out of sight, but now it was in the bushes on the other side of the small field giving good views, and I managed some record shots.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 166

Wednesday 18th May, and after working in Bearsted, Kent, I went to Leybourne lakes country park, where I enjoyed great views of singing NIGHTINGALE.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 167

Tuesday 24th May, after completing the calls in Coventry, I drove to Manton, Rutland. I parked up in Priory road and walked down to the Shallow water hide to view the OSPREY nest. I entered the hide and setup my scope and watched the nest, soon the male flew in and he went down twice to the water, each time is was not a fish but a large stick which he took back to the nest. I had a walk around and 

entered another hide this hide had a screen attached to the webcam, it was showing the nest with the female and three chicks. With the other people in the hide we watched the male dive again this this he came up with a fish, which he took to the female at the nest. Looking at the screen it could be seen that the fish was a pike, which the female ripped off small pieces and fed the chicks. I returned to my car when I heard the calls of a RAVEN, I then heard more calls, which were coming from down the road, so I went and had a look, in the fir trees at the back of one of the houses was a family group of ravens.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 169

Thursday 26th May, and as I was on call, I drove to Upper Hollesley Common Suffolk, where I saw the following: Buzzard, Kestrel, RED-FOOTED FALCON (♀), what a beauty a new bird for me, and the reason for going, Pheasant, Woodpigeon, Woodlark, Skylark, Swallow, TREE PIPIT, Wren, Stonechat, Blackcap, Chaffinch & Yellowhammer.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 171

Friday 27th May, and I had a call in Coventry, and after finding out the issue, parts were ordered, I did not what to wait on site. So I did a quick google and I found that Brandon marsh was just down the road, and it is the headquarters of the Warwickshire wildlife trust. So I went there, while the parts were being sent to site, a nice round 50 species of bird seen: Little grebe, Grey heron, Mute swan, Greylag goose, Canada goose, Shelduck, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted duck, Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby, Pheasant, Moorhen, Coot, Oystercatcher, Little ringed plover, Lapwing, Ruff, Redshank, Greenshank, Black-headed gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Herring gull, Common tern, Stock dove, Woodpigeon, Kingfisher, Green woodpecker, Sand martin, Swallow, Wren, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Song thrush, Cetti's warbler, Sedge warbler, Reed warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow warbler,Goldcrest, Long-tailed tit, Jay, Magpie, Carrion crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, & Reed bunting.

Tuesday 31st May, and I found myself in Southend-on-Sea, so on my way home I dropped into Wat Tyler country park Basildon Essex, where I collected the key for the RSPB hide, and enjoyed watching the pair of BLACK-WINGED STILT.

TOTAL FOR YEAR = 172