Pre work visit with a Marsh Harrier sitting in a bush at the bottom of Longwood and 2 Whinchat in the setaside being the only birds of note.

Marsh Harrier - 1

Peregrine - 1

Buzzard - 3

Kestrel - 1

Sparrowhawk - 1

Whinchat - 2

Yellow Wagtail - 1 heard

Whitethroat - 5

Willow Warbler - 4

Chiffchaff - 6

Goldfinch - 35

Linnet - 17

Yellowhammer - 1

Jay - 4

Great- spotted Woodpecker - 2

Green Woodpecker - 3

Med Gull - c.100

Common Gull -3

Curlew - 1E

Oystercatcher - 1E

Little Egret - 1

Stock Dove - 3

Atherington – Climping: A fairly short visit before the rain set in and first bird up was a nice Yellow Wagtail low overhead, but thereafter it was incredibly quiet around Atherington, Bread Lane and the set-aside, with barely a bird seen. I was thinking of moving on but decided to check Bailiffscourt first and suddenly things changed…there were four Spotted Flycatchers, two Willow Warblers, a Chiffchaff and a Whitethroat all moving about in the quiet corner where the fir trees and beehives are. A family party of three Green Woodpeckers was also present, with another and a Great Spotted Woodpecker nearby. Unfortunately, it then started raining, increasing steadily until it soon became time to leave.(OM)