Quite a good haul of waders yesterday to get us off to a fine start in August with a Black-tailed Godwit, four Whimbrel, two Redshank, 5 Oystercatcher, two Avocet, 22 Dunlin, three Green Sandpiper, 35 Lapwing and two Snipe seen across the reserve. Two Marsh Harriers and both Peregrines were seen today but Hobbies are unusually scarce this summer. Seven Little Egrets danced around the improving Purfleet Scrape (which should be lower this morning after some more overnight pumping). Thirty Swift moved through and a scan of the Kentish foreshore just after high tide revealed a total of 71 Yellow-legged Gulls and 12 Great Black-backed Gulls. An adult Med Gull was seen on Aveley Pool and 'Bob' the bull Grey Seal did just that for over an hour!
Green Sandpiper (Pete Jackson)
2-8-12
Howard Vaughan, Information Officer