PAST TIMES (APRIL 1980)

WILDFOWL Greylag 3 pairs at Leybourne,1 at New Hythe(first year of breeding in the area).Shelduck 10 at New Hythe on 8th,with 52 at Burham on 19th.Goldeneye the imm bird present at New Hythe all through March was last seen on 14th.Shoveler 2 pairs at New Hythe on 25th.Pochard last seen on 2nd (4).
WADERS Curlew single birds at New Hythe on 1st and 11th.Dunlin 15 at New Hythe on 1st.Ringed Plover up to 4 at New Hythe all month.L R Plover pair at New Hythe from 14th.Common Sandpiper 1 at New Hythe on 27th,with 2 on 30th.Ruff one at New Hythe on 21st.
TERNS Common Tern singles at New Hythe on 23rd and 30th,the latter bird was oiled.
WAGTAILS Yellow Wagtail 1 at New Hythe 0n 9th,2 on 11th,with 5 on 23rd,B h Wagtail 1 at New Hythe on 21st.
CHATS AND THRUSHES Wheatear a pair at New Hythe on March 30th,with 3 birds on April 2nd.Nightingale 1 at Eccles on 14th,with 5 by the 16th.
WARBLERS Willow Warbler 2 early birds at New Hythe on 1st,with 1 at Leybourne on 2nd, single northern birds were ringed at Eccles on 19th and 26th.Chiffchaff first recorded at New Hythe on 12th,(2).Blackcap first recorded at New Hythe on 12th.Sedge Warbler first recorded at New Hythe on 12th.Whitethroat 1 bird on 30th.Lesser Whitethroat no records.
SWALLOWS MARTINS AND SWIFTS Sand Martin 3 at New Hythe on 2nd 25 on 11th,with 500 on 16th and 250 on 21st.House Martin seen from the 19th.Swallow small numbers recorded all month from the 10th.Swift 4 at New Hythe on the 30th.CUCKOO,first heard at New Hythe on 25th.KINGFISHER at least 2 at New Hythe all month.FINCHES Linnet up to 40 at New Hythe all month.R L Partridge pair at New Hythe all month.

Weather from the 11th - 16th,it was mainly warm,with southerly winds (many birds came in during this period) colder,with north to northeast winds thereafter until end of the month.