5th May - very warm 21C, light SW breeze, high thin cloud at times.

A Lesser Whitethroat was singing for the hedgerow to the west of the village.  At about 1300h a Red Kite drifted slowly westward over the village, not seen one for a while over the village area.

Stanford reservoir this afternoon produced 6 Common Sandpipers on the dam, 2 Common Tern, Goldeneye, Pochard and 2 Gadwall drakes. A Lesser Whitethroat was singing and at least 4 Garden Warblers.

Butterflies were more numerous, 4+ Peacocks, Brimstone 2, Orange-tip 1 and a Speckled Wood.

As a Pied Flycatcher had been reported earlier at Brandon marsh i decided to visit this evening.  Plenty of Gadwall still, plus 2 Teal and 2 Shelduck.  Mallard ducklings were seen on the river pool.   pair of Greylag Geese had young and took no notice of me as they walked along the path.

A Little-ringed Plover was on the island with Redshank and Oystercatchers too.   A Cuckoo sang over the marsh areas, as did Cetti's Warblers.  A good variety of birds were seen, although numbers seemed a little low for the summer migrants still.  Plenty of Reed Buntings were singing as was a Linnet from a tree top in the center of the marsh.  A heron flew in and perched in a dead tree on the Teal pool.

As dusk developed, a Grasshopper Warbler began 'reeling' near the Ted Jury hide and one, then a second Hobby flew in and giving good views.