A quick roundup of May records are listed. 87 bird species for the month, being about average. Little Egrets noted on several days & was joined by its larger cousin on the 5th. With plenty of mud around the margins of most pools, these proved attractive to a mixture of waders in what is traditionally 'The Wader Month.' Joining the months resident Oystercatchers. Lapwings. Redshank & L.R.Ps Erewash Meadows mud also hosted 2 Ringed Plover on several well spaced days mid-month which still could have been the same birds, 4 summer plumaged Dunlin fed actively throughout the 9th, joined by 3 greenshank, 2 of which arrived the day after our first of the year. It was presumably these 2 later individuals the remained a little longer, but had gone by the 11th. Following these, 2 Wood Sandpipers found on 16th remained until late on 17th. A few smaller passerines were also represented by a Yellow Wagtail 10th, Wheatear 15th and a few records of an odd Linnet or two, which are scarce here these days.
Finally, one regular birder proved that early morning visits, before the d dog walkers are out, pays off.
In a rare purple patch C.P. added 2 new birds to the E.M list. On the 22nd he came across a Cattle Egret feeding under the noses of , what else but cattle, he even captured it on film. (Three Egret species this month.) Then 3 days later, an American visiter, a Green-winged Teal, which being out on the water, no dogs, decided to stay a while, well, 2 days anyway. 
Animals noted – Brown Hares. Rabbits & Water Voles
Butterflies - Peacock. Green V White. Orange-tip. Small Tortorshell. & Small Copper and top of all - Dingy Skipper. Only 1 though, the first for over 10 years, but not surprising considering there are good numbers this year just over the canal towards Jacksdale