Both blue-tailed and large red damselflies were seen at Wat Tyler Country Park yesterday, along with orange-tip, speckled wood, peacock and brimstone butterflies. The male cuckoo and two or three turtle doves can be heard around the park and a hobby flew over heading west early afternoon. From the marina overlooking the creek and Vange Wick a cracking male yellowhammer was seen this morning and our first whimbrel this spring was in the creek.
Vange Marsh hosted five greenshank along with single green sandpiper, redshank and ten avocets. Overhead a hobby was seen chasing swallows and house martins without success, while four little grebes were 'giggling' in the reedbeds. While on our newly opened West Canvey Marsh reserve good numbers of whiethroat along with two or three blackcaps and similar numbers of lesser whitethroats continue to sing from the hedgerows and at least four reed warblers are now present in the reedbeds. A pair of great crested grebes have appeared on the reservoir and our fingers are crossed that they may stay to breed. Small numbers of Adela reaumurella have emerged and should be looked for in the hedgerow. This striking moth, is a member of the longhorn family and has distinctive, very long antennae. They are common throughout England, and with metallic green and bronze wings, coupled with the fact that they they fly by day, makes them worth looking for during May and June.
Our last dawn chorus walk takes place next Thursday 13 May at 5 am, if you would like to book a place call 01268 498620.