Sorry for the lengthy absence but I was called up for Jury Service from the 3rd and have only just made it back to work... anyway, having performed my civic duty I am glad to be back and have even managed some mini walks to reacquaint myself with my patch.
The marsh is looking great but we are still woefully short on water although the recent pathetic excuse for ‘snow’ and some rainy days have wetted up some areas where water is now visible but there is a long way to go.
The high tides of recent days have seen some great Short-eared Owl action around Aveley Bay with the owls, along with Carrion Crows, Magpies, Kestrels and Grey Herons mopping up those small rodents and shrews not savvy enough to have headed to higher ground sooner.
Our stunning male Kestrel on patrol -Tony O'Brien
SEO - Ian Plume
SEO - Steve Lewington
The four Shorties have not been spending all their time on the seaward side but are regularly to be found on posts out on the Enclosed Bay or quartering the Ouzel and Marquee Fields. No particular time of day seems to be any better at the moment.
SEO - HTV
Dunlin and Lapwing numbers have gone up and the Kentish foreshore, in particular has been awash with stop start plover action and the clockwork scurrying of the short legged Dunlins. There seems to be a few more Black-tailed Godwits down our end at the moment and at least 80 headed through the sunset at the end of today before settling on the mud to feed.
Dunlin - Alan Reynolds
Black-tailed Godwits late in the day - Tony O'Brien
Whereas most waders look for a raised dry roost site (like the Concrete Barges) other species like the Curlews and solitary Grey Plover seem quite content to come onto the marsh.
Grey Plover - Mick Brockington
It was so wonderful to walk along the quiet river wall this afternoon and hear the rippling sounds of our small Curlew flock communicating out on the pasture.
Incoming Curlew - Tony O'Brien
They are a bird that upon hearing and closing your eyes can transport you to where ever your Curlew memories decide to take you. From an Essex estuary in the heart of winter, a Cornish sandy bay in the summer to an English upland or Scottish peat bog, a Norfolk beach or Breckland or New Forest heath. They really are a magic wader with the power to unlock moments from your past.
Our small flock of Avocets take a different approach to high tide roosting and simple lift up their legs and float away where they contentedly bob around until the waters recede and they can touch the bottom again!
10 of 16 Avocets yesterday - HTV
There are still a good number of winter thrushes along the river wall but the berries are dwindling fast now while out on the marsh the Wigeon and Teal flocks have been putting on a great show on the Purfleet Scrape in recent days with a little over 400 of each species. Numbers are still low but the spectacle is certainly there to be taken in.
Wigeon - Alan Reynolds
Water Pipits are still to be seen around the pools and on the riverside along with Stonechats, Pied Wagtails and plenty of presumably Continental Robins.
Water Pipit - Mick Brockington
Stonechat - Jo Collins
Robin - Lawrence Rogers
The Barn Owls have been out on most evenings and the Marsh Harriers always seem to take the opportunity for a last foray across the marsh as sunset becomes dusk and falls into twilight and the sky once more catches fire.
Greylags - HTV
Blazing this evening... HTV
17-1-17
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer
Good to see you back, Howard! What a lovely blog, with some stunning photography. Love those sunsets.
Our herring gulls are red listed birds. Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.