A touch of autumn

With largely westerly air flow autumn migration has been quite slow in recent weeks but in recent days the first Redwings, Bramblings, Siskins and Lesser Redpolls have been noted and there are more Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks around.  Scandinavian Rock Pipits and Water Pipits are now back for the winter in small numbers and Stonechats have materialised including the weird white throated male that was here last winter.

Grey Wagtail - Tricia Campbell

Brambling - Mark Laffling

odd male Stonechat - Lawrence Rogers

female Stonechat - Ian Plume

It was not much of a surprise (but still a pleasant one) that a Dartford Warbler was also discovered along the river wall and this smart male has even been heard singing on occasion.  It used to thought that the Dartfords follow the Stonechats but now it is thought to be the other way round as the Warblers flush out insects from the thickets that the Chats on top then ponce on.

Dartford Warbler - Russell Sherriff

Basil Thornton

Mark Laffling

There are plenty of duck out on the marsh with good numbers of all the dabblers and the big white bird theme is still continuing with at least five Cattle Egrets with our herds and the odd Great White Egret and Spoonbill sighting.  On Sunday a White Stork briefly circled before heading back to East Tilbury again!

Ravens, Marsh Harriers, Buzzard, Peregrine and Kestrel are still around and Red Kite and a brief female Hen Harrier were seen this week but the Hobbies have at last left us for tropical Africa.

young male Marsh Harrier - Pete Woods

young Marsh Harrier and Wigeon - Mark Vale

Cattle Egret - Carol Franklyn

Cattle Egrets with Snipe - Tom Bell

Four of today's five - Andy Tweed

Bearded Tits have still be showing well and there are still a few Chiffchaffs, a Wheatear, Common Darters, Willow Emeralds, Migrant Hawkers, Bumblebees and Red Admirals to remind us of the days of summer.

Bearded Tit - David Bowron

Wheatear - Mick Brockington

Migrant Hawker - John Attiwell

Willow Emerald - Mark Laffling