Eight members assembled at the reserve on the edge of the Swale on a beautiful Spring morning to the explosive sound of the first of several Cetti’s warblers. The priority was exploration of the West Flood from the sea wall where three garganeys had been reported. The sleeping drake was difficult to spot but when awake offered good views as it walked, swam and finally flew; a female too was briefly see, an excellent start to the day. Other birds on the lagoons included shovelers, gadwall and mallards with curlews, black-tailed godwits and a ruff also allowing distant views. Many skylarks, Mediterranean gulls and a water rail were heard. Back towards the car park there was a variety of waders on the mud, initially redshanks and a few oystercatchers, while a red kite drifted over. A couple of bearded tits appeared briefly in the reedbeds and further along were Brent geese, turnstones and avocets. Off Sheppey several seals basked on the mudbanks. On the reserve reed buntings, a wren, meadow pipits and more bearded tits were spotted while the East Flood held new species including, shelducks, pochards and little grebes. The godwit flock held several individuals already showing their scarlet summer plumage. Two marsh harriers displayed and considerately flushed a snipe into view. Other raptors comprised a hovering kestrel and a drifting buzzard. The species list for the walk totalled 49.