What a day to follow yesterday.... its started like it meant to be humid and sultry with a breeze but quickly gave up on that idea after a few spots of rain at about 10am. Despite the stifling heat there was actually a lot to be seen with a very nice wader selection that today included: eight smart male Ruff, three Whimbrel, two Greenshank, four Oystercatcher, four Snipe, six Green Sandpiper, five Common Sandpiper and a Grey Plover. The male Marsh Harrier showed every now and then and on Aveley Pools amongst the Coots, grebes and diving duck there was a dozing Garganey and two Wigeon.

During the week Tony Houston took a great shot of a family of presumably local (but not Rainham !) Yellow Wagtails on the trail and it was not surprising that another was seen today.

Bearded Tits and plenty of warblers showed well and an adult Med Gull headed up river.

The Afternoon Insect walk was delayed to allow the temperature to drop a little but it kept climbing so we only went out for a short while. This was also excellent and had great views of plenty of onteresting flies including the mighty Volucella zonaria hoverfly who was patrolling a stretch of the path and kept coming back to see if we had moved out of his patch! Butterflies abounded and a couple of mad Oak Eggar moths zoomed by at warp speed...

Many dragons too including this fine male Ruddy Darter and my first Brown Hawkers of the season.....

19-7-14