A chiffchaff was seen yesterday at Wat Tyler Country Park, while increasing numbers of chiffchaffs overwinter in the UK, this one is almost certainly a migrant. On Thursday three siskin were seen in the alder tree opposite the RSPB reserves office, a scarce species for the park.
At West Canvey Marsh yesterday a pair of adult summer mediterranean gulls were showing well from the first hide. A good count of 51 stock doves were in front of far hide and skylarks were up and singing despite the rain across the whole reserve.
The stunning image below was taken at Coalhouse Fort by John Ainsworth. The Thames Estuary is an important wintering site for avocets, with often in excess of a thousand being present.
I take a few days off and chiffchaffs and siskins turn up! Typical!
UK Wildlife