My day started wonderfully well and as I stepped out of my car this morning, I was greeted by the howeet tuc tuc of a Redstart calling from the hedge. A Robin took offence and soon booted it out giving me good views of that slate blue back and fiery red tail. A real treat and always a special bird to get on spring passage. Skylarks were singing and Blackcaps were singing energetically from the Mardyke.
The rain closed in and the view from inside deteriorated but Andy found two Yellow Wagtails and two Wheatears out on the reserve with the first Sand Martins and Swallows of the day moving through.
Out over the river five Common Terns patrolled between here and Erith Yacht Club and were also new for me and two Little Ringed Plovers performed an elaborate aerial courtship flight over Purfleet Scrape.
By mid afternoon there were 32 Sand Martins and three Swallows over the pools but no other new migrants.
However the highlight for me today from my inside viewpoint was of two huge Bottle Nosed Dolphins heading quickly out of the river at 1110. We get Harbour Porpoises here regularly now but the dorsal fins on these were visible without bins! Magic ... and the first modern day record for our stretch of the Thames.
7-4-14
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer