Given the fact that I have not really been out on the reserve today, I have managed to catch up with quite a few good birds.... A shout from Andrew G for Spoonbill over the car park was eagerly greeted as this black tipped immature bird spiralled fast and east with the wind behind it at 1140. Five minutes earlier Andrew and Lynn Osborne has seen the same bird going west.... just a shame that it did not come down to the inviting pools below....
This was quickly followed by a female Red-breasted Merganser in Aveley Bay with her punky hairdo that was later joined by a female Common Scoter. A Whimbrel and two Greenshank were out on the marsh with two Curlew and a Ringed Plover while the Little Ringed Plovers, Lapwings and Redshanks continued to defend territories.
Merganser ... (John Daly)
Marsh Harriers and Buzzards were seen up over the Silt Lagoons and over Wennington and a male Hobby entertained for a short while before getiing pushed off by the crows.
Nice to get a couple of early records... and a great shot by Bob Cooper
Whitethroats seem a bit more vocal now and the Grasshopper Warbler was singing again by the centre early on while a male White Wagtail was seen out on the Bunker Pools.
Lets hope that Good Friday lives up to its name tomorrow....
17-4-14