Following the national trend Cattle Egrets are becoming more of a familiar sight, five flew in to roost at Whitecast marsh on Carlton marshes on the 1st and singles were seen at Southwold on the 2nd and Minsmere on the 27th. A Night Heron was heard calling over Peto’s Marsh on the evening of the 1st, another was seen at Minsmere on the 10th and another was recorded calling at North Warren also on the 10th. A Purple Heron was seen at Eastbridge on the 14th and it or another was present at Minsmere 26th-31st. On the 28th six Glossy Ibis flew south over Carlton Marshes and were then subsequently tracked south over Kessingland and Minsmere, singles were also recored at Aldeburgh Town marshes and Minsmere. A female Montagu’s Harrier was seen at Mutford on the 2nd, another raptor seemingly becoming more frequent in its appearances in the UK is Pallid Harrier and there were two reports in Suffolk this spring, one in off the sea at Walberswick on 6th and one at Aldeburgh Town marshes on the 12th. Hen Harriers were seen at Carlton Marshes (10th) and Minsmere (18th and 22nd) bringing up four species of harrier in the county this spring including our resident Marsh Harrier. Ospreys were reported at Peto’s Marsh on the 6th, Minsmere and North Warren on the 8th and Minsmere again 11th-13th. Sightings of Cranes this month included five over Minsmere and Peto’s Marsh on the 1st and five again over Carlton Marshes on the 13th.

Wader of the month was easily the fine male Kentish Plover which graced Minsmere scrape 5th-7th, other notables were ten Wood Sandpipers at Southwold on the 4th and a Pectoral Sandpiper at Peto’s Marsh on the 12th. An exceptional run of Temminck’s Stints were reported as follows, Carlton Marshes single on 6th and 10th, Minsmere three on 11th, Aldeburgh Town marshes single on 18th, Minsmere single on 19th and Southwold single on 29th. A pair of Black-winged Stilts made their way through the area stopping at Aldeburgh Town marshes (19th), Minsmere (22nd) and Peto’s Marsh (24th).

A Bee-eater was seen at Southwold on the 14th and five flew south at Beccles on the 24th. The Eastern Yellow Wagtail was again seen at Peto’s Marsh on the 1st and 2nd and a Blue-headed Wagtail was at Southwold on the 29th. A Great Reed Warbler was reported by the East hide at Minsmere on the 16th and quite possibly the same bird was also seen and heard at Minsmere Island Mere on the 20th. Golden Orioles also had an exceptional spring this year with reports as follows, heard at Peto’s Marsh (6th), two at Minsmere (7th), heard near Minsmere (13th), heard at Yoxford (21st), heard near Westleton Quarry (25th) and possibly the same bird at Clay Lane, Minsmere (26th-28th) with another possible single heard at Minsmere Discovery centre (27th).