THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS APRIL 2017   A very dry month, plenty of sunny days early month, only 1 wet day 30th (SE 4) frost on 27th.  Very light winds.   A total of 143 species recorded – a patch monthly record (c/f 2016 – 130, 2015 – 133) with 31 new species for the year taking the total to 174 ( c/f 2016 – 157, 2015 – 153) whilst the majority were spring migrants they did include the following scarce patch records – ALPINE SWIFT – a first patch record, GREAT WHITE EGRET, SPOONBILL, PUFFIN, CASPIAN GULL, LITTLE GULL, LITTLE TERN, EIDER, VELVET SCOTER, CUCKOO, RED KITE and MONTAGU’S HARRIER. Whilst offshore passage was poor compared with previous years the range of species was outstanding.   Main highlights BRENT GOOSE – a light bellied flew east on 17th. EGYPTIAN GOOSE – 1 on South Huish Marsh on 8th. GARGANEY – A very good spring this year – a male on 1st,a male present on South Huish Marsh from 6th – 19th when it was joined by a pair, 2 on South Efford Marsh on 30th. EIDER – A flock of 7 flew east on 30th. VELVET SCOTER – A male in the Bay on 7th. COMMON SCOTER – Max 25 on 30th. RED THROATED DIVER – 2 east on 8th. BLACK THROATED DIVER – 1 on 6th and 2 on 17th. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER – Singles on 6th, 16th and 2 on 17th. MANX SHEARWATER – first were 2 on 8th but max only 91 on 30th. GANNET – Max 360 on 30th. CATTLE EGRET – Present throughout the month with a site record of 8 on South Huish Marsh on 19th. GREAT WHITE EGRET – 1 on South Huish Marsh early morning of 2nd. SPOONBILL – 1 flew onto South Huish Marsh morning of 5th, seen departing high to south at 16.30. RED KITE – 1 over north marsh at Aveton Gifford on 24th. MARSH HARRIER – A female over Thurlestone Marsh early on 4th MONTAGU’S HARRIER – A female watched flying in off the sea afternoon of 30th – a very rare patch record (my first in 14 years). HOBBY – first 1 over Thurlestone Marsh on 28th.   WADERS – 18 species recorded including LITTLE RINGED PLOVER – singles on 8th and 11th. RINGED PLOVER – max 10 on 15th. GREY PLOVER – recorded on 4 days max 4 on 20th. SANDERLING – first of the year 1 on5th. PURPLE SANDPIPER – 1 on the rocks on 7th. DUNLIN – max 5 on 15th. RUFF – 1 on South Huish Marsh on 1st. SNIPE – last were 2 on 14th. BLACK TAILED GODWIT – max 2 on 2nd. BAR TAILED GODWIT – poor S.E winds resulted in a max of only 19 on 29th WHIMBREL – first were 2 on 8th, 31 on 23rd, 37 on 27th and a max of 59 on 29th. GREEN SANDPIPER – 1 on South Efford Marsh on 4th. GREENSHANK – Max 4 on 7th. REDSHANK – Max4 on 3rd. TURNSTONE – Max 10 on 15th.   ARCTIC SKUA – first were 2 flying east on 20th, 3 east on 30th. GREAT SKUA – 2 flew east on 30th. LITTLE GULL – 1 east on 18th. CASPIAN GULL – 1 3cy on South Huish Marsh on 6th. ICELAND GULL – 1 2cy on South Huish Marsh from 1st to 4th and most probably same bird from 12th to 20th. GLAUOUS GULL – A 1w on South Huish Marsh from 1st to 4th. Tern passage very poor – lowest numbers in the last 10 years LITTLE TERN – 1 flew east past Hope Cove with 8 SANDWICH TERN early on 30th. SANDWICH TERN – 12 on 10th and 17th on 30th were only counts above 2. COMMON TERN – Singles on 7th and 29th only records! ARCTIC TERN – Only record 3 flying east on 29th. PUFFIN – 1 east on 3rd. CUCKOO – 1 heard in South Milton Village on 28th. ALPINE SWIFT – A first patch record – watched flying over Thurlestone Marsh at 12.45 on 1st.  (1 had been seen earlier that morning at Bolt Head approx. 12 miles east) SWIFT – first and only record for the month 3 over Aveton Gifford on 23rd. SAND MARTIN – Max 50 on 8th. SWALLOW – Max 155 on 8th. HOUSE MARTIN – Max 20 on 8th.   WARBLERS WOOD WARBLER – One in a Thurlestone Garden early on 25th (only 3rd patch record in 10 years. GARDEN WARBLER – Singles on 17th and 24th. WHITETHROAT – first on 27th. GRASSHOPPER WARBLER – Singles on 14th, 20th and 21st. SEDGE WARBLER – first on 8th. REED WARBLER – first were 2 on 7th. REDSTART – 1 on 7th. WHINCHAT – A male on 23rd first for the year. WHEATEAR – Low numbers until 30 on 18th and 18 on 24th. GREENLAND WHEATEAR – At least 5 males on 18th. TREE PIPIT – Singles on 8th and 23rd. WATER PIPIT – 2 on 1st and last was 1 on 2nd. YELLOW WAGTAIL – Only 2 records – singles on 21st and 22nd.     Mike Passman Thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk   THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS APRIL 2017   A very dry month, plenty of sunny days early month, only 1 wet day 30th (SE 4) frost on 27th.  Very light winds.   A total of 143 species recorded – a patch monthly record (c/f 2016 – 130, 2015 – 133) with 31 new species for the year taking the total to 174 ( c/f 2016 – 157, 2015 – 153) whilst the majority were spring migrants they did include the following scarce patch records – ALPINE SWIFT – a first patch record, GREAT WHITE EGRET, SPOONBILL, PUFFIN, CASPIAN GULL, LITTLE GULL, LITTLE TERN, EIDER, VELVET SCOTER, CUCKOO, RED KITE and MONTAGU’S HARRIER. Whilst offshore passage was poor compared with previous years the range of species was outstanding.   Main highlights BRENT GOOSE – a light bellied flew east on 17th. EGYPTIAN GOOSE – 1 on South Huish Marsh on 8th. GARGANEY – A very good spring this year – a male on 1st,a male present on South Huish Marsh from 6th – 19th when it was joined by a pair, 2 on South Efford Marsh on 30th. EIDER – A flock of 7 flew east on 30th. VELVET SCOTER – A male in the Bay on 7th. COMMON SCOTER – Max 25 on 30th. RED THROATED DIVER – 2 east on 8th. BLACK THROATED DIVER – 1 on 6th and 2 on 17th. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER – Singles on 6th, 16th and 2 on 17th. MANX SHEARWATER – first were 2 on 8th but max only 91 on 30th. GANNET – Max 360 on 30th. CATTLE EGRET – Present throughout the month with a site record of 8 on South Huish Marsh on 19th. GREAT WHITE EGRET – 1 on South Huish Marsh early morning of 2nd. SPOONBILL – 1 flew onto South Huish Marsh morning of 5th, seen departing high to south at 16.30. RED KITE – 1 over north marsh at Aveton Gifford on 24th. MARSH HARRIER – A female over Thurlestone Marsh early on 4th MONTAGU’S HARRIER – A female watched flying in off the sea afternoon of 30th – a very rare patch record (my first in 14 years). HOBBY – first 1 over Thurlestone Marsh on 28th.   WADERS – 18 species recorded including LITTLE RINGED PLOVER – singles on 8th and 11th. RINGED PLOVER – max 10 on 15th. GREY PLOVER – recorded on 4 days max 4 on 20th. SANDERLING – first of the year 1 on5th. PURPLE SANDPIPER – 1 on the rocks on 7th. DUNLIN – max 5 on 15th. RUFF – 1 on South Huish Marsh on 1st. SNIPE – last were 2 on 14th. BLACK TAILED GODWIT – max 2 on 2nd. BAR TAILED GODWIT – poor S.E winds resulted in a max of only 19 on 29th WHIMBREL – first were 2 on 8th, 31 on 23rd, 37 on 27th and a max of 59 on 29th. GREEN SANDPIPER – 1 on South Efford Marsh on 4th. GREENSHANK – Max 4 on 7th. REDSHANK – Max4 on 3rd. TURNSTONE – Max 10 on 15th.   ARCTIC SKUA – first were 2 flying east on 20th, 3 east on 30th. GREAT SKUA – 2 flew east on 30th. LITTLE GULL – 1 east on 18th. CASPIAN GULL – 1 3cy on South Huish Marsh on 6th. ICELAND GULL – 1 2cy on South Huish Marsh from 1st to 4th and most probably same bird from 12th to 20th. GLAUOUS GULL – A 1w on South Huish Marsh from 1st to 4th. Tern passage very poor – lowest numbers in the last 10 years LITTLE TERN – 1 flew east past Hope Cove with 8 SANDWICH TERN early on 30th. SANDWICH TERN – 12 on 10th and 17th on 30th were only counts above 2. COMMON TERN – Singles on 7th and 29th only records! ARCTIC TERN – Only record 3 flying east on 29th. PUFFIN – 1 east on 3rd. CUCKOO – 1 heard in South Milton Village on 28th. ALPINE SWIFT – A first patch record – watched flying over Thurlestone Marsh at 12.45 on 1st.  (1 had been seen earlier that morning at Bolt Head approx. 12 miles east) SWIFT – first and only record for the month 3 over Aveton Gifford on 23rd. SAND MARTIN – Max 50 on 8th. SWALLOW – Max 155 on 8th. HOUSE MARTIN – Max 20 on 8th.   WARBLERS WOOD WARBLER – One in a Thurlestone Garden early on 25th (only 3rd patch record in 10 years. GARDEN WARBLER – Singles on 17th and 24th. WHITETHROAT – first on 27th. GRASSHOPPER WARBLER – Singles on 14th, 20th and 21st. SEDGE WARBLER – first on 8th. REED WARBLER – first were 2 on 7th. REDSTART – 1 on 7th. WHINCHAT – A male on 23rd first for the year. WHEATEAR – Low numbers until 30 on 18th and 18 on 24th. GREENLAND WHEATEAR – At least 5 males on 18th. TREE PIPIT – Singles on 8th and 23rd. WATER PIPIT – 2 on 1st and last was 1 on 2nd. YELLOW WAGTAIL – Only 2 records – singles on 21st and 22nd.     Mike Passman Thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk   THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS APRIL 2017   A very dry month, plenty of sunny days early month, only 1 wet day 30th (SE 4) frost on 27th.  Very light winds.   A total of 143 species recorded – a patch monthly record (c/f 2016 – 130, 2015 – 133) with 31 new species for the year taking the total to 174 ( c/f 2016 – 157, 2015 – 153) whilst the majority were spring migrants they did include the following scarce patch records – ALPINE SWIFT – a first patch record, GREAT WHITE EGRET, SPOONBILL, PUFFIN, CASPIAN GULL, LITTLE GULL, LITTLE TERN, EIDER, VELVET SCOTER, CUCKOO, RED KITE and MONTAGU’S HARRIER. Whilst offshore passage was poor compared with previous years the range of species was outstanding.   Main highlights BRENT GOOSE – a light bellied flew east on 17th. EGYPTIAN GOOSE – 1 on South Huish Marsh on 8th. GARGANEY – A very good spring this year – a male on 1st,a male present on South Huish Marsh from 6th – 19th when it was joined by a pair, 2 on South Efford Marsh on 30th. EIDER – A flock of 7 flew east on 30th. VELVET SCOTER – A male in the Bay on 7th. COMMON SCOTER – Max 25 on 30th. RED THROATED DIVER – 2 east on 8th. BLACK THROATED DIVER – 1 on 6th and 2 on 17th. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER – Singles on 6th, 16th and 2 on 17th. MANX SHEARWATER – first were 2 on 8th but max only 91 on 30th. GANNET – Max 360 on 30th. CATTLE EGRET – Present throughout the month with a site record of 8 on South Huish Marsh on 19th. GREAT WHITE EGRET – 1 on South Huish Marsh early morning of 2nd. SPOONBILL – 1 flew onto South Huish Marsh morning of 5th, seen departing high to south at 16.30. RED KITE – 1 over north marsh at Aveton Gifford on 24th. MARSH HARRIER – A female over Thurlestone Marsh early on 4th MONTAGU’S HARRIER – A female watched flying in off the sea afternoon of 30th – a very rare patch record (my first in 14 years). HOBBY – first 1 over Thurlestone Marsh on 28th.   WADERS – 18 species recorded including LITTLE RINGED PLOVER – singles on 8th and 11th. RINGED PLOVER – max 10 on 15th. GREY PLOVER – recorded on 4 days max 4 on 20th. SANDERLING – first of the year 1 on5th. PURPLE SANDPIPER – 1 on the rocks on 7th. DUNLIN – max 5 on 15th. RUFF – 1 on South Huish Marsh on 1st. SNIPE – last were 2 on 14th. BLACK TAILED GODWIT – max 2 on 2nd. BAR TAILED GODWIT – poor S.E winds resulted in a max of only 19 on 29th WHIMBREL – first were 2 on 8th, 31 on 23rd, 37 on 27th and a max of 59 on 29th. GREEN SANDPIPER – 1 on South Efford Marsh on 4th. GREENSHANK – Max 4 on 7th. REDSHANK – Max4 on 3rd. TURNSTONE – Max 10 on 15th.   ARCTIC SKUA – first were 2 flying east on 20th, 3 east on 30th. GREAT SKUA – 2 flew east on 30th. LITTLE GULL – 1 east on 18th. CASPIAN GULL – 1 3cy on South Huish Marsh on 6th. ICELAND GULL – 1 2cy on South Huish Marsh from 1st to 4th and most probably same bird from 12th to 20th. GLAUOUS GULL – A 1w on South Huish Marsh from 1st to 4th. Tern passage very poor – lowest numbers in the last 10 years LITTLE TERN – 1 flew east past Hope Cove with 8 SANDWICH TERN early on 30th. SANDWICH TERN – 12 on 10th and 17th on 30th were only counts above 2. COMMON TERN – Singles on 7th and 29th only records! ARCTIC TERN – Only record 3 flying east on 29th. PUFFIN – 1 east on 3rd. CUCKOO – 1 heard in South Milton Village on 28th. ALPINE SWIFT – A first patch record – watched flying over Thurlestone Marsh at 12.45 on 1st.  (1 had been seen earlier that morning at Bolt Head approx. 12 miles east) SWIFT – first and only record for the month 3 over Aveton Gifford on 23rd. SAND MARTIN – Max 50 on 8th. SWALLOW – Max 155 on 8th. HOUSE MARTIN – Max 20 on 8th.   WARBLERS WOOD WARBLER – One in a Thurlestone Garden early on 25th (only 3rd patch record in 10 years. GARDEN WARBLER – Singles on 17th and 24th. WHITETHROAT – first on 27th. GRASSHOPPER WARBLER – Singles on 14th, 20th and 21st. SEDGE WARBLER – first on 8th. REED WARBLER – first were 2 on 7th. REDSTART – 1 on 7th. WHINCHAT – A male on 23rd first for the year. WHEATEAR – Low numbers until 30 on 18th and 18 on 24th. GREENLAND WHEATEAR – At least 5 males on 18th. TREE PIPIT – Singles on 8th and 23rd. WATER PIPIT – 2 on 1st and last was 1 on 2nd. YELLOW WAGTAIL – Only 2 records – singles on 21st and 22nd.     Mike Passman Thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk   THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS APRIL 2017   A very dry month, plenty of sunny days early month, only 1 wet day 30th (SE 4) frost on 27th.  Very light winds.   A total of 143 species recorded – a patch monthly record (c/f 2016 – 130, 2015 – 133) with 31 new species for the year taking the total to 174 ( c/f 2016 – 157, 2015 – 153) whilst the majority were spring migrants they did include the following scarce patch records – ALPINE SWIFT – a first patch record, GREAT WHITE EGRET, SPOONBILL, PUFFIN, CASPIAN GULL, LITTLE GULL, LITTLE TERN, EIDER, VELVET SCOTER, CUCKOO, RED KITE and MONTAGU’S HARRIER. Whilst offshore passage was poor compared with previous years the range of species was outstanding.   Main highlights BRENT GOOSE – a light bellied flew east on 17th. EGYPTIAN GOOSE – 1 on South Huish Marsh on 8th. GARGANEY – A very good spring this year – a male on 1st,a male present on South Huish Marsh from 6th – 19th when it was joined by a pair, 2 on South Efford Marsh on 30th. EIDER – A flock of 7 flew east on 30th. VELVET SCOTER – A male in the Bay on 7th. COMMON SCOTER – Max 25 on 30th. RED THROATED DIVER – 2 east on 8th. BLACK THROATED DIVER – 1 on 6th and 2 on 17th. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER – Singles on 6th, 16th and 2 on 17th. MANX SHEARWATER – first were 2 on 8th but max only 91 on 30th. GANNET – Max 360 on 30th. CATTLE EGRET – Present throughout the month with a site record of 8 on South Huish Marsh on 19th. GREAT WHITE EGRET – 1 on South Huish Marsh early morning of 2nd. SPOONBILL – 1 flew onto South Huish Marsh morning of 5th, seen departing high to south at 16.30. RED KITE – 1 over north marsh at Aveton Gifford on 24th. MARSH HARRIER – A female over Thurlestone Marsh early on 4th MONTAGU’S HARRIER – A female watched flying in off the sea afternoon of 30th – a very rare patch record (my first in 14 years). HOBBY – first 1 over Thurlestone Marsh on 28th.   WADERS – 18 species recorded including LITTLE RINGED PLOVER – singles on 8th and 11th. RINGED PLOVER – max 10 on 15th. GREY PLOVER – recorded on 4 days max 4 on 20th. SANDERLING – first of the year 1 on5th. PURPLE SANDPIPER – 1 on the rocks on 7th. DUNLIN – max 5 on 15th. RUFF – 1 on South Huish Marsh on 1st. SNIPE – last were 2 on 14th. BLACK TAILED GODWIT – max 2 on 2nd. BAR TAILED GODWIT – poor S.E winds resulted in a max of only 19 on 29th WHIMBREL – first were 2 on 8th, 31 on 23rd, 37 on 27th and a max of 59 on 29th. GREEN SANDPIPER – 1 on South Efford Marsh on 4th. GREENSHANK – Max 4 on 7th. REDSHANK – Max4 on 3rd. TURNSTONE – Max 10 on 15th.   ARCTIC SKUA – first were 2 flying east on 20th, 3 east on 30th. GREAT SKUA – 2 flew east on 30th. LITTLE GULL – 1 east on 18th. CASPIAN GULL – 1 3cy on South Huish Marsh on 6th. ICELAND GULL – 1 2cy on South Huish Marsh from 1st to 4th and most probably same bird from 12th to 20th. GLAUOUS GULL – A 1w on South Huish Marsh from 1st to 4th. Tern passage very poor – lowest numbers in the last 10 years LITTLE TERN – 1 flew east past Hope Cove with 8 SANDWICH TERN early on 30th. SANDWICH TERN – 12 on 10th and 17th on 30th were only counts above 2. COMMON TERN – Singles on 7th and 29th only records! ARCTIC TERN – Only record 3 flying east on 29th. PUFFIN – 1 east on 3rd. CUCKOO – 1 heard in South Milton Village on 28th. ALPINE SWIFT – A first patch record – watched flying over Thurlestone Marsh at 12.45 on 1st.  (1 had been seen earlier that morning at Bolt Head approx. 12 miles east) SWIFT – first and only record for the month 3 over Aveton Gifford on 23rd. SAND MARTIN – Max 50 on 8th. SWALLOW – Max 155 on 8th. HOUSE MARTIN – Max 20 on 8th.   WARBLERS WOOD WARBLER – One in a Thurlestone Garden early on 25th (only 3rd patch record in 10 years. GARDEN WARBLER – Singles on 17th and 24th. WHITETHROAT – first on 27th. GRASSHOPPER WARBLER – Singles on 14th, 20th and 21st. SEDGE WARBLER – first on 8th. REED WARBLER – first were 2 on 7th. REDSTART – 1 on 7th. WHINCHAT – A male on 23rd first for the year. WHEATEAR – Low numbers until 30 on 18th and 18 on 24th. GREENLAND WHEATEAR – At least 5 males on 18th. TREE PIPIT – Singles on 8th and 23rd. WATER PIPIT – 2 on 1st and last was 1 on 2nd. YELLOW WAGTAIL – Only 2 records – singles on 21st and 22nd.     Mike Passman Thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk   THURLESTONE BAY BIRDS APRIL 2017   A very dry month, plenty of sunny days early month, only 1 wet day 30th (SE 4) frost on 27th.  Very light winds.   A total of 143 species recorded – a patch monthly record (c/f 2016 – 130, 2015 – 133) with 31 new species for the year taking the total to 174 ( c/f 2016 – 157, 2015 – 153) whilst the majority were spring migrants they did include the following scarce patch records – ALPINE SWIFT – a first patch record, GREAT WHITE EGRET, SPOONBILL, PUFFIN, CASPIAN GULL, LITTLE GULL, LITTLE TERN, EIDER, VELVET SCOTER, CUCKOO, RED KITE and MONTAGU’S HARRIER. Whilst offshore passage was poor compared with previous years the range of species was outstanding.   Main highlights BRENT GOOSE – a light bellied flew east on 17th. EGYPTIAN GOOSE – 1 on South Huish Marsh on 8th. GARGANEY – A very good spring this year – a male on 1st,a male present on South Huish Marsh from 6th – 19th when it was joined by a pair, 2 on South Efford Marsh on 30th. EIDER – A flock of 7 flew east on 30th. VELVET SCOTER – A male in the Bay on 7th. COMMON SCOTER – Max 25 on 30th. RED THROATED DIVER – 2 east on 8th. BLACK THROATED DIVER – 1 on 6th and 2 on 17th. GREAT NORTHERN DIVER – Singles on 6th, 16th and 2 on 17th. MANX SHEARWATER – first were 2 on 8th but max only 91 on 30th. GANNET – Max 360 on 30th. CATTLE EGRET – Present throughout the month with a site record of 8 on South Huish Marsh on 19th. GREAT WHITE EGRET – 1 on South Huish Marsh early morning of 2nd. SPOONBILL – 1 flew onto South Huish Marsh morning of 5th, seen departing high to south at 16.30. RED KITE – 1 over north marsh at Aveton Gifford on 24th. MARSH HARRIER – A female over Thurlestone Marsh early on 4th MONTAGU’S HARRIER – A female watched flying in off the sea afternoon of 30th – a very rare patch record (my first in 14 years). HOBBY – first 1 over Thurlestone Marsh on 28th.   WADERS – 18 species recorded including LITTLE RINGED PLOVER – singles on 8th and 11th. RINGED PLOVER – max 10 on 15th. GREY PLOVER – recorded on 4 days max 4 on 20th. SANDERLING – first of the year 1 on5th. PURPLE SANDPIPER – 1 on the rocks on 7th. DUNLIN – max 5 on 15th. RUFF – 1 on South Huish Marsh on 1st. SNIPE – last were 2 on 14th. BLACK TAILED GODWIT – max 2 on 2nd. BAR TAILED GODWIT – poor S.E winds resulted in a max of only 19 on 29th WHIMBREL – first were 2 on 8th, 31 on 23rd, 37 on 27th and a max of 59 on 29th. GREEN SANDPIPER – 1 on South Efford Marsh on 4th. GREENSHANK – Max 4 on 7th. REDSHANK – Max4 on 3rd. TURNSTONE – Max 10 on 15th.   ARCTIC SKUA – first were 2 flying east on 20th, 3 east on 30th. GREAT SKUA – 2 flew east on 30th. LITTLE GULL – 1 east on 18th. CASPIAN GULL – 1 3cy on South Huish Marsh on 6th. ICELAND GULL – 1 2cy on South Huish Marsh from 1st to 4th and most probably same bird from 12th to 20th. GLAUOUS GULL – A 1w on South Huish Marsh from 1st to 4th. Tern passage very poor – lowest numbers in the last 10 years LITTLE TERN – 1 flew east past Hope Cove with 8 SANDWICH TERN early on 30th. SANDWICH TERN – 12 on 10th and 17th on 30th were only counts above 2. COMMON TERN – Singles on 7th and 29th only records! ARCTIC TERN – Only record 3 flying east on 29th. PUFFIN – 1 east on 3rd. CUCKOO – 1 heard in South Milton Village on 28th. ALPINE SWIFT – A first patch record – watched flying over Thurlestone Marsh at 12.45 on 1st.  (1 had been seen earlier that morning at Bolt Head approx. 12 miles east) SWIFT – first and only record for the month 3 over Aveton Gifford on 23rd. SAND MARTIN – Max 50 on 8th. SWALLOW – Max 155 on 8th. HOUSE MARTIN – Max 20 on 8th.   WARBLERS WOOD WARBLER – One in a Thurlestone Garden early on 25th (only 3rd patch record in 10 years. GARDEN WARBLER – Singles on 17th and 24th. WHITETHROAT – first on 27th. GRASSHOPPER WARBLER – Singles on 14th, 20th and 21st. SEDGE WARBLER – first on 8th. REED WARBLER – first were 2 on 7th. REDSTART – 1 on 7th. WHINCHAT – A male on 23rd first for the year. WHEATEAR – Low numbers until 30 on 18th and 18 on 24th. GREENLAND WHEATEAR – At least 5 males on 18th. TREE PIPIT – Singles on 8th and 23rd. WATER PIPIT – 2 on 1st and last was 1 on 2nd. YELLOW WAGTAIL – Only 2 records – singles on 21st and 22nd.     Mike Passman Thurlestonebaybirds.co.uk