May 2022: Monthly summary

Keeping the momentum of blogging catch-up, during a much needed week’s leave in August, May was a cracking month for me.  One of the best birding springs I’ve had, and evidence that you reap what you sow.

After kicking covid, which took a while, I managed 25+ early mornings or afternoons.  I will focus on the main highlights, which were finding grey-headed wagtail on the 13th May, osprey on the 15th, red-rumped swallow on the 21st, and golden oriole on the 22nd May! 

Grey-headed wagtail at Reculver (Plum Pudding Stables), Kent on 13th May. Photo by Alex Perry (see alexperrywildlife.com), who found a 2nd bird the next day. 5th record for Reculver, 7th record this century in Kent.
Osprey at Stodmarsh, Kent on 15th May 2022.
Red-rumped swallow at Reculver (Shuart crossing), Kent on 21st May 2022.
Red-rumped swallow at Reculver (Shuart crossing), Kent on 21st May 2022.

Add in a rare (for me) end of month twitch to see red-footed falcon and Eleanor’s falcon at Worth Marshes on the 31st May, with glossy ibis and ring-necked duck on the 28th whilst catching up with friends at Dungeness; and a westward movement of 17+ red kite on the 6th May at Reculver with an on-patch fall of spotted flycatcher on the 13th (I saw 3, but 5 were recorded in total) – May 2022 will long be remembered by me.

I continued to look for evidence of UK RBBP species, including marsh harrier.
I enjoyed watching bittern during May, with several close fly pasts.

The month ended with the start of the 2022 turtle dove survey visits.  

Turtle dove (pair), but away from the main area of survey effort. 2nd bird is to the right of the bird centre of frame.
On the way to and from the office, I sometimes have time to stop in at Oare for a short period. On the 16th May, this little tern was feeding close to the road.

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