Vange Marsh (RSPB), Tuesday 26 April: 16:00 to 19:004 Gadwall, 6 Teal, 20 Shoveler (16 males, 4 females), 1 Marsh Harrier (imm. male low over), 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Hobby, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 2 Little Ringed Plover (1 first seen on the saline lagoon then 2 seen later on the freshmarsh), 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper (Saline lagoon), 1 Little Gull (1y), 4 Common Tern, 6 Sand Martin, 11 Swallow, 7 House Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail (over towards Goldings Farm), 1 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler.
This morning at Wat Tyler Country Park we have two pairs of Avocets on the scrape islands and at least two Common Terns hawking over the scrape.
RSPB Vange Marsh, 29 April - 09:30 to 13:001 Kestrel, 1 Water Rail (heard), 4 Avocet, 1 Snipe, 4 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Spotted Redshank, 3 Greenshank, 1 Wood Sandpiper (north-east corner ), 1 Common Sandpiper on saline lagoon, 2 Common Tern, 1 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 3 Sedge Warbler, 6 Reed Warbler, 5 Reed Bunting.
Wat Tyler Country Park, Saturday 30 April1 Marsh Harrier (female), 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Black-winged Stilt (on the scrape), 1 Cuckoo, 1 Mediterranean Gull (adult), 4 Great Crested Newt (2 male, 2 female), 3 Smooth Newt (2 males), 8 Large Red Damselfly, 1 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 5 Hairy Dragonfly, 2 Broad-bodied Chaser.
Vange Marsh (RSPB), Saturday 30 April1 Kestrel, 1 Hobby, 1 Whimbrel, 3 Spotted Redshank, 6 Wood Sandpiper, 6 Common Tern, 6 Swift, 2 Sand Martin, 8 Swallow, 2 House Martin, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 3 Cetti's Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Hairy Dragonfly, 6 Green-veined White, 1 Small Heath.
West Canvey Marsh (RSPB), Saturday 30 April1 Egyptian Goose, 4 Lapwing, 2 Swallow
Disappointingly (although not surprisingly), no sign of the Black-winged Stilts today.Highlight today included:West Canvey1 Mediterranean Gull (adult)1 Egyptian Goose (on the reservoir)Vange Marsh8 Wood Sandpipers3 Greenshank5 Spotted Redshank4 Common Tern10 Swift6 Whimbrel (over early morning)
Drake garganey at Vange Marsh yesterday, along with 8 wood sandpipers, 3 spotted redshanks and common sandpiper still.
Iceland gull - there was a first-winter bird on the scrape at Wat Tyler yesterday afternoon, viewable from the hide.
Also a bar-tailed godwit was reported on Vange Marsh.