Run up to the weekend

It has been another good day out on the marsh with much the same sort of species as yesterday in beautiful clear, autumnal weather.  It was most pleasant to be outside but the blue skies made finding birds migrating overhead very tricky.

Woodpigeon started to head south early in the day while an unprecedented number of Jackdaws (306 to be precise!) headed west on quite sizeable groups.  This is the most we have ever seen here on a single day.

The Cattle Egret performed superbly all day and spent quite some time perched up on the cows as Pat Harts superb video reveals...

That's cattle to cattle love that is...  great shot by Karen Jordan

Friday 19th October 2018

• RSPB Rainham Marshes:- Cattle Egret, 4 Little Egret, 3 Dark-bellied Brent Geese, 25 Wigeon, 7 Pintail, 220 Teal, 7 Pochard, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Sparrowhawk, juv Peregrine, 3 Marsh Harrier, 3 Buzzard, 4 Kestrel, 17 Avocet, 9 Golden Plover, 2 Curlew, 105 Black-tailed Godwit, 12 Dunlin, 5 Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 55 Redshank, Barn Owl, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 12 Skylark, Swallow, Cetti's Warbler, 43 Fieldfare, 5 Redwing, 200 Woodpigeon, 6 Song Thrush, 8 Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, 4 Rock Pipit, 37 Chaffinch, Brambling, Swallow, 306 Jackdaw west by 1030, 12 Rook

Buzzards and Marsh Harriers were up thermalling and a young Peregrine joined in with the fun...

Common Buzzard

Marsh Harrier

Peregrine - all three images by Tony O'Brien - all three are immature birds

Tthere were plenty of insects on the wing again with Common  Darters and Migrant Hawkers to be seen along with several Clouded Yellows, a fresh emergence of Red Admirals and a many Ivy Bees and flies.

Clouded Yellow - This one was very white in flight and we suspect that it was of the scarce form 'helice'