Sorry for the absence for a few days... been away! Yes, I do escape from the reserve occasionally!
Anyway, we still have a good selection of waders on Aveley Pools and the Thames foreshore with Curlew, Whimbrel, Avocet, Black Tailed Godwit, 6 Redshank, Ringed Plover, 6 Dunlin, 2 Ruff, 3 Green Sandpiper and 4 Common Sandpiper!
Two young Avocets (Paul Hawkins)
The woodland was jumping with warblers yesterday with at least 15 Whitethroat, 2 Lesser Whitethroat, 4 Blackcap and 4 Chiffchaff while the first Wheatear was seen along the river wall. We have had a lot of Marsh Harrier activity in the last week with birds definitely moving through the reserve. Three were seen on Monday and included a blue wing-tagged juvenile from the Isle of Sheppey. Two more juveniles appeared yesterday afternoon and one of them had red tags. It was just a pity that they did not come close enough to read. A tatty Buzzard, 2 Peregrines, 2 Hobby, Sparrowhawk and Kestrels all added to a good raptor day.
Yellow-legged Gulls have topped the forty mark now and some very smart young juveniles have started to appear.
Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull (Andy Tweed) and yes I know it has pink legs!
Lots more Wasp Spiders now including a huge, heavily pregnant one by the wildlife garden pond (Annie Jackson)
And a couple more shots from recent days that I could not resist.
Chrysops relictus - a pretty Deer Fly - until it bites you that is! (Chris Slade)
and last but not least, probably one of the best pictures this year of a young Stoat deciding whether or not to eat the Basil Thornton the photographer!
That's all for now but should whet you appetite for another visit soon!
H ;o)