Summary May 2026
New “Year Ticks” in May 2026: 32
New “Life Ticks” in May 2026: 1
Total Species for Year so far: 125
The first birding group outing of May was on the 5th May 2026 to Macclesfield Forest where we had a nice morning walk and managed to get five year ticks. The woods resounded with bird song and, although they were difficult to spot, the birds were singing loud and clear.
We didn’t manage to get to any of the next two mornings (Wigan Flashes on 12th and Brockholes on the 19th May because we were on holiday in Suffolk, Norfolk and Lincolnshire, details of which can be found in the posts preceding this one and in summary here. The birding group’s planned visit to to the Goyt Valley on 26th May 2026 was called off because of the heat – 32 degrees in our back garden!
Year Ticks during May 2026
32 Year Ticks in May 2026 (inc 1 life tick)
| Species | Location |
|---|---|
| House Martin | Macclesfield Forest 5 April 2026 |
| Jay | Macclesfield Forest 5 April 2026 |
| Pied Flycatcher | Macclesfield Forest 5 April 2026 |
| Mandarin Duck | Macclesfield Forest 5 April 2026 |
| Cuckoo | Rutland Water 10 May 2026 |
| Hobby | Rutland Water 10 May 2026 |
| Cattle Egret | Rutland Water 10 May 2026 |
| Common Tern | Rutland Water 10 May 2026 |
| Red Kite | Rutland Water 10 May 2026 |
| Garden Warbler | Rutland Water 10 May 2026 |
| Grey Wagtail | Rutland Water 10 May 2026 |
| Osprey | Rutland Water 10 May 2026 |
| Swift | Rutland Water 10 May 2026 |
| Whitethroat | Lakenheath Fens 11 May 2026 |
| Stone Curlew | Weeting Heath 11 May 2026 |
| Mistle Thrush | Weeting Heath 11 May 2026 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | Lynford Arboretum 11 May 2026 |
| Bittern | Lakenheath Fens 12 May 2026 |
| Egyptian Goose | Nunnery Lakes 12 May 2026 |
| Sedge Warbler | Nunnery Lakes 14 May 2026 |
| Lesser Whitethroat | Lackford Lakes 14 May 2026 |
| Skylark | Minsmere 17 May 2026 |
| Kittiwake | Minsmere 17 May 2026 |
| Water Rail | Hickling Broad 18 May 2026 |
| Spoonbill | Holme Dunes 19 May 2026 |
| Bearded Tit | Titchwell Marsh 20 May 2026 |
| Little Tern | Titchwell Marsh 20 May 2026 |
| Red-legged Partridge | Chosely Drying Barns 21 May 2026 |
| Fulmar | Hunstanton Cliffs 20 May 2026 |
| Garganey | Frampton Marsh 22 May 2026 |
| Little Stint | Frampton Marsh 22 May 2026 |
Life Ticks during May 2026
1 Life Tick in May 2026
| Species | Location |
|---|---|
| White Stork | Rutland Water 10 May 2026 |