Foggy Valley

I decided to take my first trip over to Ingrebourne Valley this year and arrived at the Hornchurch CP car park at 7.30am; it was slightly foggy here but visability wasnt that bad, the temperature was 1 degrees according to the car.

I headed along to the viewing area counting Moorhen x54, Teal x23, Blue Tit & Great Tit along the way. A Jay flew to the trees on the right.

At the first viewing section i could make out Mute Swan x2, Pheasant, Song Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Magpie, Black Headed Gull, Mallard, Wren, Little Egret & Wigeon x13.

courtesy of www.arthurgrosset.com

For the first time i headed past the turning to the bridge and up and over the hill; Long Tailed Tit x9, more Blue & Great Tits, Robins, Dunnock and Song Thrush.

I found the small Heronry in the trees; it will be good to go back later in the year. There were Grey Herons x9 up there this morning.

The pond yielded more Mallard, Canada Goose, Tufted Duck & Coot. I turned and headed back choosing to head up to Berwick Ponds.

Cettis Warbler x6 singing at various locations around the bridge.

The fog started to get a lot thicker up the hill so i cut through the trees using the bike trail. I spent time in this and the fisheries trying to find the Bittern, but without success so i headed off to the Top Paddock; a patch tick for me with a Ring Necked Parakeet flying over.

The fog at the Top Paddock was even thicker so i headed down to the lower and got some great views of the Yellow Hammer x6 there.

Other Birds: Blackbird, Grey Heron, Collard Dove, Magpie, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Carrion Crow, Possible Chiffchaff

4 Patch Firsts; Little Egret, Wigeon, Ring Necked Parakeet, Tufted Duck