Its started off so well with more claggy weather and some rain and this gave the early watchers two Sandwich Terns, a Black Tern and 13 Turnstone for their troubles. It rained steadily at the start of the Wednesday Walk but we persevered and managed to find some good passerine flocks in the cordite woodland including Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs amongst the tits. The water level on Aveley Pool is still too high for any waders (we are trying to lower it!) but we did find a solitary Black-tailed Godwit. Lots more duck now with both Teal and Shoveler up. A few martins moved through and Yellow Wagtails could be heard with the cattle. Our 14 Avocets were still in Aveley Bay and a single summer plumaged Sanderling was a bonus. Other birds seen during the day were Wheatear, Whinchat and a Redstart was heard along the river wall.
With a bit of rain falling we had a deluge of slugs and snails.... OMG! Some of the Great Black Slugs were truly enormous! Oh, and yes GBS's can be red, orange, brown and indeed black!
Highlight for me was a fantastic Velvet Ant. This one was huge and winged and therefore probably a Queen. very impressive. Staff, Volunteers and visitors alike were all impressed!
Images by me... note the cm scale behind!
and a little bit of film! Watch them wiggling antennae!