It was another glorious still morning with a huge moon and the low lying mist and imminent sunrise hinted of blue skies to come. I headed out at 7.30 along the river wall, partly because I could basically see nowt out on the marsh as the mist was slopping around like a sea of dry ice.
Goldcrests were calling from the mouth of the Mardyke and Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher both made their invisible presence known. Chiffchaffs were a feature once again but even more so than yesterday and by the end of the walk to the Serin Mound and back I had counted 28 including groups of ten and six! Such wonderfully hyperactive little birds with constant calling and pumping tails.
Some early Swallows were lazily hawking for even earlier flies and the odd Skylark and Meadow Pipit called as they went over high. Others of both species were out on the marsh while two Scandinavian Rock Pipits were the first of the autumn and always nice to have back.
Dewy Sloes
Reed Buntings have been quite scarce in recent weeks so it was good to find a group of eight in the tiny foreshore reedbed where they slowly shimmied up the stems to catch those warm rays in amongst fluffed up feathers.
The ‘tsik’ call of a warbler attracted my attention and a Sedge Warbler joined them at the top and even posed for a few slightly sleepy photos. A good late date for this species here and a Reed Warbler was even seen in the same clump a little later.
Six Greenfinches exploded out of the same reeds having spent the night there and the males looked stunning in the low light.
Down on the mud there were a few Black-tailed Godwits and Redshank amongst the throng of squibbling Teal and four adult Great Black Backed Gulls looked on expectantly. No sign of the Avocet today but the Golden Plover flock on the south side had increased to 69.
Hungry GBB Gull...
Shiny Cormorant with redshank and Black-headed Gulls...
Toadflax
Great Mullein
Bearded Tits pinged in the fog from somewhere near the WWI look out and were later seen erupting skywards as they moved reedbed. Perhaps they may even be leaving site? I hope not as we love to see them in the winter.
A couple of Rabbits were grazing the grass up towards the end car park and a Marsh Harrier cruised up through the white and into the blue while a fluffed up Buzzard was warming on top of the Owl Box and our Kestrels were just about considering whether hovering above the mist was practical or not!
We had a VIP day with Mike Clarke and Tim Stowe hosting a party from the Dutch equivalent of the National Trust and while on their walk Andrew our Site Manager found a Great White Egret heading over the river wall and onto Aveley marsh. At the same time Dave Mo and myself were watching said egret and commenting on the apparent large size and laboured flight. I am not sure either of us raised bins and I commented on how strong light can play tricks and make white things look bigger! Definitely a ‘Doh!’ moment. The bird came down in Aveley Marsh but like so frequently happens disappeared into a ditch.
A 1st year Ring Ouzel then flew straight past the window and threw itself into a bush in the car park and I wonder what else is lurking out there despite the crystal clear blue skies and warm air...
2-10-15