March: The male Hen Harrier was last seen on the 3rd and encouragingly at least four Marsh harriers continue to be seen over the marsh. A male Merlin was seen on the 19th and the Peregrines had to compete with a huge female Gyr hybrid on several dates. Three Short-eared and four Barn Owls made for good evening viewing. Pintail traditionally peak in March and 44 on the 8th was a season high. A very good selection of waders were seen including a high of 341 Golden Plover, four Grey Plover, Woodcock, Bar-tailed Godwit, Sanderling, Knot, Spotted Redshank, ten Oystercatcher, Common Sandpiper, two Avocet, an early Little Ringed Plover on the 9th and record counts of 50 Ruff (22nd) and 50 Curlew (31st).
With predominating easterlies there was some river movement with Little Gulls on seven dates between 8th and 26th with four on the former. Kittiwakes were also seen on four dates with four on the 11th and three on the 25th. The adult Iceland Gull was seen again heading up river on the 12th and Med Gulls were fairly regular. A male Goosander was on the river on the 23rd and 24th with four Scoter on the latter date. Two more were seen on the 29th.
Great Crested Grebes reached a record 17 and three Black-necked Grebes were on Aveley Pools on the 9th. Exactly 100 Brent Geese and the first and only Sand Martin were seen on the same date. A Bittern was seen on the 30th and 31st and an early Spoonbill was on Purfleet Scrape in a blizzard on the 12th.
A single Raven was seen on the 18th with two again on the 21st but smaller migrant passerines were very scarce with the first Wheatear on the 17th and eight on the 27th, White Wagtail (27th), two Waxwings (9th) and barely a squeak from a Chiffchaff although some new birds were in. There were still nine Scandinavian Rock Pipits and two Water Pipits around on the 31st. The four Black Redstarts remained at the west end and proved most popular.
Little Egret (David Dent)
5-4-13