I had a nice surprise when this Short eared Owl came up from the river wall.

Sedge Warbler Little Grebe Oystercatcher Little Egret Lesser Black backed Gull Common Buzzard Yellow Wagtail Marsh Harrier.

April 30th (New Hythe)

Bright,quite warm,S/SE (river low) 0930-1230.

A look at the river from the Bucket wood produced 2 Shelduck,4 Mallard,1 Common Sandpiper,2 Grey Heron,4 Coot,8 Black headed Gulls,4 Herring,2 Med and a Common Buzzard.Nearby a Cetti`s Warbler and Cuckoo were heard.
The remainder of my walk was mainly taken up by trying to locate as many Nightingales as possible. I finished up with seven on the east side of the railway,with a further 16 in the Country Park.My first Garden Warbler of the year was heard singing in the east scrub.

April 27th (Snodland and Holborough marsh)

Early this morning I walked across the fields between Snodland and Paddlesworth and saw 2 overflying Med Gulls,a pair of Yellowhammers and a large flock of 300 Stock Doves.The last of which were feeding in fields recently sown with cereal.This flock was by far the largest I have seen in the area.

Later I went to Holborough marsh and saw 1 Common Sandpiper,2 Shelduck 1 Little Egret and 1 Little Ringed Plover along the river,I also heard a Cuckoo

April 24th (Elmley)

Marsh Harrier (male)This morning I visited Elmley.