It was 21C and stayed dry. Fourteen of us met by St Katherine’s church on Felton Common. Swallows and a House Martin were feeding around us as we made our way across the common and we glimpsed several Skylarks fluttering around the bracken. Some of us also briefly saw a Stonechat with the House Sparrows at the top of The Street on the brambles. As we climbed up the hill a Lesser Whitethroat and Common Whitethroat were identified in a Hawthorn bush. A lot of birds were quite elusive. Chiffchaff was seen and the call of Willow Warbler heard. A small flock of Linnets were also seen. We searched unsuccessfully for a Yellowhammer and juvenile that had been seen the previous week. We had our coffee on the stones by the Roundhouse where, unfortunately, the scaffolding that was up in the winter and spring caused the House Martin colony to be absent. We observed Common Whitethroat here in the trees and scrub and more Stonechats and House Sparrows. Our walk along the back hedge yielded Blackcap, Blackbird and Wren. A soaring Buzzard was also seen. Gatekeeper and Speckled Wood butterflies were on the wing and a deceased mole was observed. Twenty-four bird species in total. Thanks to Alastair for keeping the bird list and Robin for helping to identify birds with his camera shots. (Thanks to Melanie for leading) Mel Patch