26th May

Very warm and a virtually cloudless sky, with temperatures reaching 25 celsius. There was however a pleasant south-east wind, which made for a comfortable sky-watch, the highlights from which included the latest Black-headed Gulls ever recorded on patch. This species is very rare between April and September, and the latest previous record (also the only beyond April) was on 1st May 2016. The journey of the 3 adults drifting very high south at 11:42 intrigues. There was also a flock of 7 Herring Gulls west, a couple of flyover Cormorants and good numbers of raptors.

Elsewhere, the Gadwall pair were on Mill Pond, and, in London bus style, the second confirmed Egyptian Goose breeding success occurred one day after the first. Highlights as follows:

07:30-08:30; 09:45-14:45

Mill Pond: 2 Gadwall (♂♀), 1 Mandarin (♂), 2 Mute Swans and 1 Blackcap.

Thorncombe Street: 1 Little Owl, 2 Grey Herons, 4 Red-legged Partridges, 10 Swallows, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Blackcap.

Winkworth Arboretum: 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Mandarin (♀ with 3 ducklings), 4 Tufted Ducks (♂♀♂♀), 1 Little Grebe, 4 Blackcaps and 3 Chiffchaffs.

Tilsey Farm: 1 Buzzard, 10+ Swallows and 1 Blackcap.

Gatestreet Farm: 10+ Greylag Geese and 2 Red-legged Partridges.

Bonhurst Farm: 2 Linnets, 12+ House Martins, 1 Buzzard, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcaps.

Wintershall: 2 Egyptian Geese (+ 6 goslings) and 1 Blackcap.

Junction Field (10:00-14:35): 3 Black-headed Gulls (S 11:42), 7 Herring Gulls (W 12:26), 1 Garden Warbler, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Cormorants (1 SE 10:20, 1 E 12:55), 4 Swifts, 2 Linnets, 2 Kestrels (♂♀), 1 Sparrowhawk (♂), 17 Buzzards, 8 House Martins, 15+ Swallows, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcaps.