... we did not really want it today as we have all our VIPs turning up for our 10th Anniversary do!
Hope it does not get any harder!
However, the reserve needs the rain and it smells wonderful after 22 days of dry! Quite a few waders yesterday with Common and Green Sandpipers, Whimbrel, Black-tailed Godwits and Little Ringed and Ringed Plovers. An adult Med Gull with a jet black head was on Aveley pools and a few Common Terns were on the Thames. A family of Stonechats was around the owrks compound and obviously bred somewhere on site nearby.
Over 30 Little Egrets are on the marsh (Les Harrison).
The first Gatekeepers are on the wing (Chris Allen)
oh and watch out for Emperor moth caterpillars! (by me)
cheers
H ;o)
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer