Yes, another day off so I headed to my favourite nature reserve for a full day of exploration... It was sunny and pretty warm by just before seven when I headed out from the river wall car park and the river was glassy calm. Several Common Terns fed mid river with the lazy loafing Black-heads and almost immediately I got lucky with two Arctic Terns calling straight over my head and north while a male Whitethroat was trying to out compete the now vociferous Sedge Warblers.
I was walking into the sun along the riverside but it felt good to be outside in some warm air again and there was feel of arrival in the air. The odd Swallow and Sand Martin zipped west and the Marsh Harriers were already up vying for sky space with the Skylarks and those mad tumbling Lapwings. Both the latter species were feeding on the rabbit grazed greensward either side of the riverwall and obviously no one had been through before me this morning.
Skylark
There was no sign of the Spoonbill on any of the pools and apparently it departed late morning yesterday but Little Egrets were dotted about and raucously squabbling as is their want. Even at this early hour there were already butterflies and bees on the wing and Hedge Snails were making for cover as the last vestiges of moisture left the tarmac.
Down nearer the MDZ the Grasshopper Warbler found yesterday briefly reeled and not much further on a female Common Redstart flicked away in front of me with fiery tail flashing. All I needed now was for Ring Ouzel to pop out on the path and say hello... seconds later a thrush appeared and although it was black it lacked the requisite white crescent, never mind. The Little Ringed Plovers were calling out on Purfleet Scrape and a Greenshank preened on Africa Island but there appeared to be nothing new.
A walk down the entrance road produced several singing Chiffchaffs and showy Blackcaps and Cetti’s were all around. The Damson trees were in full flower and the scent of the Blackthorn was strong in the air and bees were already homing in on it.
Damson
Once inside the gates I headed for the woodland where there were no new migrants but a female Kestrel showed very well on the edge and the Green Woodpeckers were busily yaffling at each other.
Kestrel
Mrs Green Woody (Russ Sherriff)
Beeflies and several hoverfly species were occupying territories over the path and cock Greenfinches were wheezing ‘whhhhyyyyyy???’ from the Blackthorn. Brimstones and Whites careened about the rides and two Speckled Woods danced for an eternity.
Bee Fly
Greenfinch
The drake Garganey was showing well once again on the Bog Wood Pool (I later saw the female too) and a Water Vole plopped in at the Troll Bridge. I was ticking all the wildlife boxes... The big Poplar by the Ken Barrett Hide was just starting to break into leaf with rich almost pinky bronze new mini leaves. Two pair of Great Crested Grebes were displaying on Aveley Pool and the Butts Scrape and a pair of Bearded Tits pinged just in front of me.
Poplar
I now headed off piste onto a track that leads up alongside the railway. I was mainly checking to see if there were any additional Cetti’s Warbler territories (there were four) but it also gave me a chance to catch the pair of Peregrines having a bit of how’s ya father and to pick up a single Tree Pipit and 27 Meadow Pipits heading west. Another bonus bird.
Peregrines.... very sorry....
Back on the visitor trail I found a fine male Wheatear and the LRPs on the Ouzel Fields but no baby Lapwings as Andrew had hoped I would find although he did find the first two hatchlings in eth afternoon near the MDZ. Reed Buntings were largely silent although I did see several smart males keeping an eye on their ladies....
Wheatear
Reed Bunting
I headed through the Dragonfly Pools where many Marsh Frogs were basking and the Mute Swans already have a nest although how there will put up with their noisy amphibious neighbours and the hysterically humorous Little Grebes is anyone’s guess!
I was almost back at my car when I met Tracey and Stan who had found a fine male Whinchat up beyond the Serin Mound so I hot footed it that way and soon had it in view thanks to Russ who had stayed with it till I got there! This is a very early date for this boldly marked upland species and another superb migrant to pick up. To think they used to breed here in the 1980s. Five dapper Wheatears were strutting around in the disturbed ground below the Whinchat adding more colour and two Buzzards displayed over towards the A13.
Whinchat (Russ Sherriff)
Linnets were still busy nest building and the Dandelions were covered in Peacocks and few Tortoiseshells taking the species total for the day to seven.
Linnet (Russ Sherriff)
Small Tort
Peacocks
With the sun now beating down I retreated back to my car and then the visitors centre where I lurked for the rest of the day but failed to see acquire anything else bar a sunburnt forehead and a prawn sani! There is always tomorrow!
14-4-15