With water levels dropping on Aveley Pool as we move water through our sluices to keep Purfleet Scrape, it was only a matter of time before the big old pool started to attract waders and yesterday Pat Hart saw both a Little Stint and Wood Sandpiper on here amongst other species.
Max Hellicar and I had to take a rather circuitous route to get there to avoid a swarm of very angry Wasps who had had their nest in advertently disturbed but it was worth the wait as a quick scan revealed a fine selection of waders feeding along the back edge.
It did not take long to find the Little Stint which was a fine tramlined rusty juvenile but it was with a second bird that I wrongly presumed to be another Little Stint but it quickly flicked out of view. On it reappearance it hopped out of the mud and onto the bank where clearly yellowy legs could be seen ruling out Little Stint (which have black). Eventually it gave better views and gave itself up as a worn adult Temminck’s Stint which was a real bonus. We have had spring birds several times over the years but the only other autumnal birds were two juveniles found by Dave Morrison back on the 25th August 2003 when we had to visit the marsh wearing hi-vis jackets and hardhats as the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and New Tank Hill Road and flyover were being built!
Temminck's Stint - Max Hellicar
In the same corner we found Green, Common and a chequered Wood Sandpiper, a lovely juvenile male Ruff, 15 Black-tailed Godwits, Snipe and Lapwings. Great stuff and the reedy edge is crying out for a Spotted Crake.
Green Sandpiper - Jim Willett
Snipe - Jim Willett
The only problem with the pool is the need for a telescope to be able to see what is out there but if the water drops further we may end up with the birds under our noses which would be great.
Back on Purfleet Scrape we added Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover and Whimbrel to the wader list and in fact ended up on a very impressive seventeen species for the day which is superb for a site so far up the Thames.
Little Ringed Plovers - Mark Vale
Dunlin - Jim Willett
Whimbrel - Jim Willett
If you are thinking of coming tomorrow, please remember that it is meant to be very hot and I would arrive when the drawbridge drops at 0930 and get round there before the haze gets going!
You never know... there may even be something even more exciting to look at!
22-8-16