A very good day out on the reserve. Two circuits today. One before work and another to lock up. The marsh is so lush at the moment; we just need to sort out the water flow issues so that we can get water off of Aveley Pools and onto Purfleet Scrape. Some hard investigative work by Andrew today has hopefully set things in motion.... fingers crossed. Plenty of bird action with a good selection of species seen by Andy, David and Tony: Red Kite , 2 Juv Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard , Hobby, Sparrowhawk, f Peregrine, Black Tailed Godwit, 2 Whimbrel, 2 Avocet, 2 Greenshank, 3 Oystercatcher, 5 Redshank, 30 Dunlin, 10 Ringed Plover, 6 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Garganey, 750 Swift, 50 Sand Martin, 6 Swallow, Yellow Wagtail, family Bearded Tits, a new Budgie, 32 Ring-necked Parakeets.... Not bad at all really.... and as for the insects.... exquisite Painted Ladies, richly coloured Clouded Yellows, freshly emerged Peacocks, hovering Wool Carder Bees and humming bumbles.... Gonna wear my camera out at this rate!
Painted Lady (me)
Painted lady (Brenda Clayton)
Bombus terrestris on Echinops (me)
Peacock (me)
6-8-13
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer