No real rain or driving wind today gave a few small birds the chance to move with Linnets, Goldfinches and a Lesser Redpoll around the carpark and Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits moving south in ones and twos. House Martins and Swallows flitted across the marsh and it would seem that duck numbers had increased slightly with now four Pintail amongst the flocks of Teal, Shoveler and Wigeon. Two each of Ruff and Golden Plover were seen on Aveley pools.
The Greylag flock that migrates each autumn from darkest Sevenoaks in Kent is now nearly at the 200 mark and our two regular Canlags (or Granadas depending on the day!) are back with them. These two Greylag Canada hybrids have been around for years now.
Two Whinchats are getting late and the juvenile Hobby is still collecting dragonflies around the carpark and is affording excellent views.
Whilst cycling around this evening I was forced to interfere with nature.... (not an arrestable offence... I hope) when I came across a Grey Heron with a large Water Vole on the path. The vole was alive and trying to escape but kept getting halfheartedly stabbed and picked up. I do confess that I peddled at the Heron, causing it to drop dinner. I did feel marginally guilty about depriving him of a meal but took solace in the fact that the Vole was largely intact and with some assistance made it back to the ditch and safety! And anyway, it was a big one and would have caused the Heron indigestion so I was doing him a favour anyway!
So if you see and one eyed Water Vole winking at you from the ditch at the end of the Northern Trail you will know that his name is Lucky...
Reflecting - Basil Thornton
2-10-12
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer