I managed to spend the whole day out on the reserve again today with two walks led by myself and David Lindo. The weather was changeable and quite autumnal at times but we had a great time and the day flew by. We headed anti-clockwise on the first one taking in Wasp Spiders and Swallows hawking with the Hawkers around the woodland edges but the scrub itself was actually very quiet with only a couple of raucous shouty Cetti’s warblers and a few Blackcaps for our efforts but just beyond it we found five Whinchat on the fenceline along with a couple of Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits which was nice. Earlier today I posted about the Willow Emerald that Mark Phillips has snapped yesterday at the Troll Bridge. Much to my delight I found it as soon as we arrived and quickly added it to my Rainham odenata list. I think that it was a new species for David. Bearded Tits pinged as we made our way down the Northern Trail and Mr Wonky, our male Marsh Harrier quartered the pools before heading back to Wennington while we dodged around the numerous Migrant Hawkers still patrolling the boardwalk. The family of Mute Swans with their four ‘normal’ and single white Polish youngsters are getting up some muscle power now and attempted a small splashing flight on the Butt Scrape Pools.A scan of Wennington produced two Hobbies and several Kestrels and a Raven was seen over the landfill being harassed by a Carrion Crow which was a stroke of luck. Some very large Marsh Frogs were basking at the Dragonfly Pools but there was no more pinging to be heard. After bumping into Sam West and new family (which was a pleasant surprise) we hit the river wall for Black-tailed Godwits, Harbour Seal and a dapper young Wheatear before making it back for a spot of lunch. We did the second walk the other way round and managed a second Marsh Harrier, Buzzard and the Wheatear again before we left the river wall and spent a bit more time with the duck on Aveley Pool so that we could sort out the elegant Pintail from the other ‘brown’ ducks and watch the methodical trio of Ruff as they fed amongst the dozing wildfowl. Plenty of Grey Heron and Little Egret activity but a shame the Great White did not hang around... Much to my amazement the Willow Emerald was still in roughly the same spot and was a fitting way to round up an exhausting but rewarding day.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 21:43:32 +0000
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