It has been another interesting few days with more waders moving through and the species total for May now stands at a very impressive 25.
These two Sanderling were popular in the bay...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQy39lVzbMQ
The Whimbrel have been very popular with one group roosting on Purfleet Scrape and up to ten feeding on the capped part of the landfill.
Whimbrel - Dave McGough
A Quail sang up there for a few days from last Sunday and was so close – but invisible that you could even hear the squelch before the ‘wet-my-lips’ part of the song. As usual it remained completely invisible and was not seen once during its stay.
I will try and post my little recording later but Fraser Simpson recorded it and created this superb sonogram...
We even had a new bird for the reserve (and Essex) on Tuesday when a summer plumaged Laughing Gull from America was seen a couple of frustratingly brief times during the day. Most of us did not get to see it so we are still hoping that it returns!
Laughing Gull - Alan Shearman
Wednesday was the only warm, vaguely sunny day this week and apart from wader species 25 it was the male Whinchat on the Southern Trail that proved most popular although the Cuckoos gave him a good run for his money. Three Spoonbills flew over but were so high that only two people managed to see them!
Whinchat - Neil Hughes
Super high flying Spoonbills - Russ Sherriff
Cuckoo - Russ Sherriff
The female Ring Ouzel has also been lingering and has taken a liking for the Ouzel Field which is good as we have not had one on there for years since we called it that and a few Yellow Wagtail have been amongst the cattle.
Ring Ouzel - Alan Shearman
Yellow Wagtail and a cow - captured on one of our trail cams!
The sudden rise in temperature caused our Honey Bees to all emerge and create a huge swarm. Hundreds had died over the preceding days with the very low temperatures and three huge bee balls formed in a hawthorn suggesting that three new Queens had emerged. It was quite a sight and sound.
The Swarm - Jerry Hoare
Our first Garganey of the spring duly arrived on Friday. They are an early spring bird in most places but we usually have to wait till mid May to get one of our own. This fine drake was right outside the Butts hide when he was first found and making his peculiar rattling call.
Garganey - Dave Smith
The weekend has been quiet and dull with drizzle and a cool southerly breeze keeping many birds low. The Garganey was still around and there are many fluffy Lapwings and Redshanks scuttling around the marsh which is a good sign but things are rapidly drying out and we need to acquire some water from somewhere!
Baby Redshank - Alan Shearman
I suppose I ought to finish up now as the Dawn Chorus walk is nearly back and they will be wanting their breakfast!
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer
Excellent blog post as usual H :-)