Autumnal Ambles

Yesterday afternoon I pottered out with Tony O'Brien to have a look at the juvenile Black Tern on Aveley Pool.  I had only seen it from the visitors centre and was lured by the lovely images others were getting. It had just stopped raining and the bushes were still dripping in the late afternoon sun and were occupied by a host of Long-tailed Tits and various warblers shaking water droplets from their plumage as they gleaned insects from under every leaf.

Chiffchaffs were commonest but I saw Blackcap and several Reed Warblers too.

Reed Warbler

Once round at the pool the tern showed incredibly well, dipping gracefully down to pick up surface morsels. Tony enjoyed the challenge od photographing such a small mobile target.

Black Tern -Tony O'Brien

I arrived early this morning and it was a wee bit chilly but I still managed a pleasant walk along the river wall between 7 and 9. The Black Tern was still to be found but I initially picked it up over the flat calm Thames before it relocated back to Aveley Pool. The tide was nearly full in and the Black-tailed Godwits were jammed in the last corner with a Curlew and a couple of Dunlin while seven Little Egrets arrived high from the north and continued on their way without stopping...

Blackwits, Curlew and Teal

I wonder where they were coming from?

Chiffchaffs littered the bushes with both singing and calling bird encountered and four Whitethroats were also noted foraging around in the Dog Roses. Meadow Pipits were on the move with over 50 heading south along with the first two Skylarks of the autumn, three Grey Wagtails and a handful of Reed Buntings.

Chiffchaff

Whitethroat

A gang of Magpies watched my approach and two each of Stonechat and Whinchat were in Aveley Bay with a large flock of moulting Goldfinches for close company.

Whinchat - Mark Vale

There has even been some excitement while I have been sitting here typing this, with two Hobbies hurtling past the windows in hot pursuit of dragonflies while little parties of all hirundines have been dribbling south. Pat has just called in the Spotted Redshanks and two Ruff from the Target Pools and best of all an Osprey has drifted high and north much to the delight of all in the centre!

Spotted Redshanks - Barry Tranfield