A very cool north wind this morning already has me regretting wearing sandals! Just wish things would settle down. Yesteday we were descended upon by a huge swarm of honey bees which although a delight to see was not so popular once they deceided that once again the visitors centre would be a great place to spend the summer. A very helpful guy from the Essex Beekeepers Association spent the evening trying to coax them into a transport hive. Have not seen any this morning so hopefully it worked. The Merganser was surpringly still in Aveley Bay all day and the first Yellow-legged Gulls have begun to arrive from the Med. while Swifts descended with the cloud to hunt for insects low over the marsh and river wall.
Next Thursday sees our next Dusk Walk at 7pm. There are still places available and the reserve will be open till dark for general visitors.
Oedemera nobilis. This fat thighed flower beetle is very common on the reserve at the moment
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer