Early MAY patch birding.

Sightings during early May on and around my coastal patch.

3rd May - A group of 16 Whimbrel over the Cobb, Lyme Regis early afternoon.

4th May - A warm day, found this Slow Worm basking and Lesser Whitethroat newly arrived both on Stonebarrow Hill

5th May - A trip off patch to Portland Bill most of the day. Arctic Skua fairly close in rounding the Bill, eastwards. Several mixed Tern flocks some with Black Tern. 

12th May - Great Crested Grebe (first record this month) and Great Black Backed Gull (regular)

 

13th May - 5 1/2 of the 6 Oystercatchers which paid a brief early morning visit today, again first record this month. I'm noticing quite a range of sizes . Also, Gannets plunge-diving for Herring or Mackerel quite close in the Bay

14th May - A quick seawatch found these 4 Canada Geese heading west (at distance), while 3 Shelduck landed in the bay, On land, a Whitethroat in song at 5.30 am

16th May - Grey Heron across the bay and a Raven is a regular early morning visitor and is usually mobbed by Carrion Crow

17th May - On the river, surprised to see 3 Little Egret paying an early morning visit to a tranquil R. Char. On the beach, a nice group of Sanderling.