It looked like it was going to be another nice day but the early morning calm deteriorated at lunchtime into low cloud and a driving persistent drizzle... yik...
Nevertheless it was a good day with two Chiffchaffs out in the Northern Trail reedbeds, several Water Vole sightings, two Marsh Harriers and a constant skyfull of Lapwings, Golden Plover and Starlings with groups of Snipe and, over high tide, over 2000 swirling Dunlin, 31 Curlew, 30 Redshank but not a single Black-tailed Godwit.....
The Peregrines were active all day and a Sparrowhawk made several sorties...
The big juvenile female Peregrine in action (Les Harrison)
Singles of Spotted Redshank and Ruff also came in and the first Ringed Plovers of the year were seen in Aveley Bay.
The three Corn Buntings were still on the foreshore and ten Skylarks were out on Purfleet Scrape.
Corn Bunting (Les Harrison)
2-1-13
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer