A Big Day Out.......... possibly the longest blog post ever.....

So a day off arrived and although I had not intended to ‘go to work’ things conspired to send me that way instead of north further into Essex. I was first on site and there are some perks to being staff and I let myself in and headed out in the frosty wilds with the whole reserve to myself and in the grip of a sub-zero frosty morning. It was still and quiet but the local Song Thrushes and ‘teacher teacher’ Great Tits put paid to that. Purfleet Scrape was almost totally frozen and the Wigeon and Pintail were all standing around on the ice. It was so still that you could hear the scraping of toenails are they skittered around!

The first Stonechats of the day were perched up but I suspect that any food they found would have been seriously on the chilled side. The marsh looked stunningly ethereal in the post dawn early light and you are prone to forgetting the urban industrial landscape in which I work. Wood Pigeon clattered in noisy flock from the old Elm spinney on the edge of the Cordite and a Cetti’s scolded me from the wild roses alongside the path. Finches of the Green and Gold persuasion moved ahead of me and I heard the Bullfinches although, as usual I failed to see them. Six Song thrushes and a single Mistle Thrush were singing and other Songs ‘tsipped’ from the Ivy where Blackbirds were already gorging on the latest of ripening fruit.

In the Cordite Store itself there were a few Redwings, a single Fieldfare and a few Robins and Wrens but not the hoped for Woodcock. A pale Chiffchaff caught my attention and much to my surprise even ‘peeped’ a few times rather than the more usual ‘hweet’. It was our Siberian and nice to know that it is still around. More Woodpigeons moved off in front and around at the woodland feeding station Reed Buntings, Collared Doves, Blue and Great Tits were already tucking in although nothing seems to have tackled the pieces of pork fat Dan and Ben kindly put out yesterday. A Sparrowhawk zipped through and some Long–tailed Tits called but no Water Rails as yet.

A pair of Stonechats showed well from the gate before the Ken Barrett Hide and the first Meadow Pipits and Linnets of the day were feeding on the bund. A quick ‘pip-peep’ and a Kingfisher shot by along the railway line obviously looking for open water and a few seconds later a Common Chiffchaff started calling from in front of the KBH but I did not have my keys and could not look!

No Water Rails on the Terrapin Pool today as it is still frozen solid but Cetti’s were calling as I headed along and one or two were attempting a bit of half hearted song. Almost all of Aveley Pool was frozen with all the dabblers and divers being jammed into two small openings. I scanned for something different but three Little Grebes were the only different species amongst the dozing regulars. A female Marsh Harrier came into view and quartered the pools but almost nothing moved as they obviously felt safe and secure on the ice. The family of four Mute Swans were definitely frozen in to the ice but thankfully when I looked later they were moving around.

Mrs Peregrine was up on pylon 40 surveying her patch and at the Bomb Crater Pool at the end of the Northern Trail a Water Rail came up in front of me and flew off carrying a Stickleback while the willow by the pool had two each of Wren and Cetti’s Warbler and boy were they angsty with lots of scolding, churring and tail waving... A pair of Stonechats looked on and a Blue tit was busy demolishing one of the few Reedmace heads we have this year. A second Marsh Harrier was out on Wennington but the Target Pools were frozen solid with nowt but some frost covered Lapwings that had obviously spent the night stationary on the ice.

Cetti's Warbler...

It was still very still and I noticed the occasional snow flake falling as I headed past the Brick Building. The cloud was broken as it was obviously not going to come to much. Song Thrushes started to appear from the verge and between there and the River Wall I counted 16 including a tailless wonder that looked for all the world like some kind of giant Antpitta...you will have to look that one up!

Three Skylarks and 8 Meadow Pipits were feeding in the frozen Ouzel Field and Moorhens were out exploring. I listened hard for Bearded Tit but had to wait till just by the River Wall Turnstile before I heard one but alas I could not see it.

Aveley Bay still had plenty of mud and Curlew, Redshank and 13 Ringed Plover were out there along with many Teal and Wigeon and few gulls. I headed off around the riverside path now heading for the Concrete Barges. A Great Crested Grebe loafed close inshore and the Thames was incredibly flat and calm which with the watery light and scattered cloud made for some great photo opportunities.

A flock of Linnets along with a few Goldfinches were feeding on the area where the fishermen usually set up and a couple of Robins and Blackbirds scooted along the undercliff. From here to Coldharbour Point I attempted to get close to the Redshank and Snipe along the edge without much success and a superbly marked Water Pipit eluded my camera. The bushes alongside the Veolia plant held more Robins and Blackbirds but noting else.

Linnets...

Once down at the jetty I scanned the gulls on the roof but the majority were Great Black-backs and nothing stood out and closer to me Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard and Teal fed quite unconcerned at my presence. The light was superb. The clump of gorse just beyond the point was home to a few more Linnets and at least 12 Reed Bunting on and on the mown greensward of the landfill 52 Canada Geese were grazing but there was no sign of the three Brents seen with them yesterday.

Great Black-backed Gull...

Teal...

Wigeon...

Gadwall...

Roosting Cormorants...

Redshank, Teal and Snipe...

With the tide almost in and a handy bench I settled down to watch the procession of gulls coming to and from the tip to bath before heading back for seconds. A pleasant hour was spent scanning the flocks as they washed off the muck they had been feeding in. I watched many fly in with dangling feet weighed down with ‘mud’ and all seemed quite grateful of the cleansing qualities of the river. Alas I could not find the hoped for Med Gull but I did find three Yellow-legged Gull and two smart immature Caspian Gulls amongst the hoards of the other usual big gull species. A flock of 23 Skylarks ‘chirruped’ over and a Chiffchaff fed in the old mustard stems in front of me. Rook, Carrion Crows and Jackdaws all added to the cacophony behind me and Starling balls swirled when the fancy took them.

Bathing Black-heads...

Caspian Gull number one...

Caspian Gull number two...

The walk back was into the sun to start with little to add although that dammed Water Pipit showed well again and I saw a couple of Rock Pipits as well. Our single Avocet flew past heading towards Aveley Bay obviously looking for somewhere to roost and the only two Black-tailed Godwits that I saw headed the same way.

I veered up onto the landfill and still find the view from up here amazing as you stare out of the river with its twists and turns and the mighty ferries and dredgers plying its watery lanes. Meanwhile to the north Wennington Marsh looked majestic in its new incarnation with miles of shining waterways. Lapwing dotted the field and no less than seven Marsh Harriers and two Common Buzzards could be seen at one time. Who would have thought that even five years ago.

I could not find the Corn Buntings but there will be other chances. The Linnet flock had moved arond to the Serin Mound and the Gorse was already in bloom although it lacked the coconut scent of spring.

I walked back with Phil and Andy adding a few more waders to the list with a single Grey with a couple of Golden Plover out on the fields and a wondrous fishball of Dunlin out on the Marshland Discovery pools. Stonechats and Rock Pipits were seen on the way back and the sound of whistling Wigeon was all around.

Where six hours had gone I am not sure but it was good to be out and on my patch. I may be tired now but body and soul have taken a little recharge today...

20-1-15