Sorry for the lack of posts the last two day but the whole RSPB website, community and blogs seemed to be having a severe tantrum! Anyway, all seems ok now so here is an update for the last two days....
Yesterday was bitterly cold being only three or four degrees in the strong wind and as such the birds kept low. A drake Garganey was found by the Wednesday Walk and was a long overdue first proper spring record for the year. he is still around today and showing occasionally at the back of Aveley Pool where the islands are. There was quite a good list of waders again yesterday afternoon with Curlew Sandpiper, 3 Little Stints, 2 Sanderling, 12 Ringed Plover, 2 Dunlin, 2 Turnstone and 2 Greenshank seen by a variety of observers in the afternoon. Today on the other hand there was just a solitary Grey Plover, 3 Whimbrel and 3 Common Sandpipers to show for searching.
There was a bit of a raptor thing today with at least two Marsh Harriers, four Buzzards, ten Hobbies and Peregrine hunting out over Wennington but there were only a few Swifts and hirundines compared to hundreds the day before.
Marsh Frogs started up again today and several Water Voles were seen but best experience by a mile today was from the couple who saw a presumably female Water Shrew swimming along a channel with several babies paddling along in a line behind her. Now that I would have liked to have seen!
Hobby (Dawn Cowan)
16-5-13
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer