New Years Day

News Years Day found me at 8.15am over at the Stone Barges looking for Water Pipit, it was very mild, a little wind and relatively clear skies at this time.

I didnt get the Water Pipit but did get the year off to a cracker.....Feral Pigeon 8x on one of the barges....at least the year can only improve!

Redshank x12, Starling x20, Shelduck x2, Black Headed Gull x6, Lapwing & Moorhen all found along the shoreline with Great Black Backed x2 & Lesser Black Backed Gulls on one of the jetties.

Behind me Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Herring Gull & other mixed gulls flew back and forth around the landfill.

Next was on to the reserve which started with Wigeon, Teal, Pintail, Canada Goose & Greylag on the new scrape.

The Woodland area held Blue and Great Tits in large numbers but i couldnt find any Coal Tits. There was a very obliging group of Long Tailed Tits that flew to a tree right in front of me as i was leaving this area. Cettis Warbler x2 heard but not seen in this area.

A nice pair of Stonchats in their usual spot along by the ancient tree stump and a single Ring Necked Parakeet squarked over head.

Just before Barretts hide i caught Peregrine x2 not up to much but it did send the Lapwing & Golden Plover up.

A Snipe from the boardwalk and Black Tailed Godwit x2.

Lee's Local Birding

The star of the day for me wasnt the immature Marsh Harrier seen for some time over the Aveley Pools fom Butts hide supprisingly.

It was however the Kestrel over the path up by Aveley Bay that just got closer and closer until it landed no more than 10 ft in front of me then hovered at the same distance and i stood there for about 5 minutes with it repeating the pattern before it headed off into the reserve. A Great Crested Grebe was diving in the surf in the bay.

Lee's Local Birding

Lee's Local Birding

Rock Pipt x6 and guess what a Water Pipit in with them

All in all a wonderfull morning; there was a buzz in the air around the reserve with everybody using the walkie talkies to get the New Year Day lists under way; last i new it was at 80; for me though i ended up on 58.

Other birds seen; Woopigeon, Collard Dove, Mallard, Little Egret, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Wren, Goldfinch, Grey Heron, House Sparrow, Pheasant (on the way over at Ingrebourne Valley as driving past), Common Gull, Golden Plover, Mute Swan, Linet, Gadwall, Shoveler, Pochard, Teal, Wigeon, Robin, Moorhen, Coot, Magpie, Redwing