Quick Thames Chase Recce

With a bit of spare time this afternoon i took a stop at Thames Chase off of Pike Lane, Upmister. It looks like a good place i can get over and do some birding while taking the kids, lots of open space for them to play along with a childrens play area by the tea rooms as well as a wooden play building to climb all over, in and out down on the way to the scrape.

The scrape held nothing other than a Pied Wagtail. No sign of the Green Sandpiper or Snipe. A couple of Black Headed Gulls over.

Goldfinch in the trees by the bridge leading over to the golf course. Seeing the guys there teeing off, made me want to dig the clubs out, first time since cancelling my membership over at Warley Park some 5 years ago.

I was only on a recce so i wasnt hanging around or paying to much attention but i could hear plenty of Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit. I cut over one of the styles on the way back to the car park and flushed Stock Dove x2 and a Green Woodpecker a little later.

Back at the car park and there was now a large mini bus / people carrier with "private higher" stickers in the window. Now personally i dont know anybody who has one of these and would be over Thames Chase but i know of somebody.

A quick PM via twitter and confirmation that Rob "The Upminster Birder" Burgess was here. I popped over and spent some time chatting with him. Skylark while we were talking and Rob had pictures of a Peregrine that he had seen high earlier.

Nice to finally meet you Rob if you read this.

Then back to the car and the office.