MAY 8

Late afternoon walk to Wigeon/Shelduck Hides but not a lot around during a high tide. Saw oyster catcher, male/female eider, shelduck, male/female mallard, a mixed group of 30+ mute and whooper swan, pink-footed goose, around six of them [didn't realise they would still be around in May], skylark [tractors were preparing the fields so small birds were absent, although crow and seagull were trailing after the machines]

MAY 10

Tayock at low tide but few around due to fisherman bait digging. Only oyster catcher and gulls. Small birds were noisy in undergrowth but few sang in view, only robin, starling, dunnock, magpie, male/female blackbird [I'm that desperate]. Then into Wildlife Centre to see grey heron, mallard and little egret. Small / large white, peacock, orange-tipped butterflies [good number of orange type] at Tayock. See [Butterflies / Moths]

MAY 11

Good Wigeon walk in hot, morning sun to view chaffinch, greenfinch, yellowhammer, wren, but best was whitethroat [rarely seen by myself] and grey partridge; eider [in a field which I've not seen before], mix of mute and whooper swan in field, curlew, mallard, male/female shoveller not often seen, shelduck, grey heron; small white and peacock butterflies

MAY 13

Warm, sunny afternoon so along to River Esk. Pleasant walk but only saw mallard, great tit, pied wagtail; also large / small white, peacock, orange-tipped butterflies so nothing to shout about

MAY 17

Hazy, breezy, sunny day with trip to Tayock near high tide for a disappointing wander to view oyster catcher, mallard, magpie, chaffinch; also small white and orange-tipped butterflies [a good year for orange-tips]. Popped into Wildlife Centre where saw wigeon, little egret, mallard and around 40 common tern which I don't often see so that was the highlight - too far and heat-haze ruined photo

MAY 18

Began Wigeon walk in hot sun but halfway a coastal fog rolled in and ruined things. Saw starling, yellow hammer, chaffinch, swallow, mute swan, merganser, many eider, mallard before heading home. Returned inland to hot sun again. Walk place variety curtailed due to bridge repairs entailing long detours