Hot on the heels of the first red-backed shrike for Vange Marsh comes another first for the reserve!

A cracking juvenile red-necked phalarope was found late morning yesterday, and attracted a steady flow of admirers throughout the afternoon. Phalaropes are the only wader that habitually swim on water, and our juvenile did just that on the freshmarsh while picking food from the surface of the water. The man-made viewing…

Vange Marsh proves to be a big attraction for spoonbills. Yesterday another immature bird joined the two adults and immature which have been present most of August. All four are still present today. Also on the marsh are 2 ruff, 11 green sandpipers and 2 greenshanks. Warblers in the scrubland area have increased with whitethroat, lesser whitethroat, willow warbler and blackcap in varying numbers.

Last night at Wat Tyler…

A juvenile red-backed shrike was found at lunchtime, the bird is frequenting a mixed hedgerow just east of the reserve and can be elusive. In the same area were 3 bright juvenile willow warblers, 2 blackcaps, 2 whitethroats and a lesser whitethroat, while overhead 2 hobbies were hunting. The three spoonbills are still present on the marsh.

Two wood sandpipers were found yesterday on the flooded field on the southern loop trail from the car park and they were showing very well late afternoon. Also four snipe and a green sandpiper in the flooded field. Five whinchats were along the fence line in the north-west section of the reserve. Close by in Holehaven Creek a cattle egret has been feeding on the saltmarsh with little egrets at the north end of the creek…

The two adult spoonbills remain on Vange Marsh and have now been joined by an immature. One wood sandpiper is still present favouring the south-east area of the freshmarsh along with 4 little ringed plovers, 2 dunlin, 6 snipe, 6 spotted redshanks, 1 greenshank, 8 green sandpipers and 2 common sandpipers.

An event not to be missed!

Wednesday 18th August: Wild Fun at the Farm at The Salvation Army Farm, Hadleigh 10.30am…

Two adult spoonbills were found on Vange Marsh yesterday evening and have spent all day today on the freshmarsh. Also seen one wood sandpiper, 26 common sandpipers, 5 green sandpipers, greenshank, little egret and numerous black-tailed godwits many in summer plumage.

Each Tuesday during August will have a different wildlife theme in our discovery zone.

Tuesday 10th August: Save The Sumatran Rainforest Day at Wat Tyler Country Park 10.00am – 4pm
Come along to the RSPB Discovery Zone each Tuesday during August. Every Tuesday will have a different wildlife theme with a variety of children's activities. Free admission; small charge for some activities.

A well travelled avo…

Five southern migrant hawkers were found  in a ditch on vange at the end of July along with two great green bush crickets. This small hawker dragonfly has only been recorded as a vagrant in the Uk, there have been less than ten previous records, a fantastic find, nice one Les!

Hot on the heels of the hawker was the discovery of a southern emerald damselfly at Wat Tyler Country Park the first Essex record! A full account…