At the beginning of the month the winter residents had thinned out some what, Wigeon were down to about ten and falling by the day, a similar story for teal, two or three Shoveler made sporadic appearances and a female Goosander showed on the River Erewash on the 4^th .

Migration was under way with a Yellow Wagtail on the 3^rd along with 20 Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylark, plus Buzzard and 2 Grey partridge.

By the 8^th Swallow and Sand Martin were drifting in, as were Chiffchaff and more Meadow Pipit. 160 Golden Plover were on the marsh, but only 9 Lapwing.

32 Sand Martin at Shipley on the 9^th, with a handful of Swallows and 3 Chiffchaff.

Still 100 Golden Plover on the 11^th and Willow Warblers had arrived.

At Bentlleys Plantation on the 16^th a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was drumming and calling, plus 2 Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and 2 Buzzard.

Back at Chat Corner the first Grasshopper Warbler had arrived, also, a Whitethroat and a couple of Willow Warblers.

A Green Sandpiper was on the marsh on the 17^th along with 12 Lapwing, a male and female Gadwall, 4 Willow Warbler and 7 Chiffchaff.

Grasshopper Warbler, 7 Reed Bunting, 5 Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylark, Green Woodpecker and a Buzzard were at Chat Corner.

A handsome Shelduck was present on the marsh on the 20^th along with 11 Teal and lapwing numbers down to about 16.

Sedge Warbler was at Tathams Pond on the 21^st with 3 Reed Bunting, at Shipley Gate, 40 Sand Martin and 7 Swallow. 6 Swallow and 8 Sand Martin on the North Marsh. Shelduck and 7 Teal back at Bennerley.

3 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, Green Woodpecker, 16 Lapwing and 4 Teal at Bennerley, a single Wheatear at Chat Corner, plus, 2 Skylark, 3 Reed Bunting and a

Green Woodpecker

The 30^th produced 2 garden Warblers, 2 Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and a surprise visit from a Barn Owl. A grasshopper warbler was at Chat Corner and 4 Reed Warbler were at Tathams Pond along with 2 Sedge Warbler and 2 Whitethroat.

By mid month Great Crested Newts were showing in decent numbers, Grass Snakes were around and insects were on the wing. Butterflies. Orange Tip, Large, Small and Green Vein Whites, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, Brimstones, Comma’s plus Buff Tailed and Red tailed Bumble Bees.