Ingrebourne Valley

I tried to get to Rainham this afternoon but arriving at the new A13, old A13 roundabout it was closed, Aveley was gridlocked as well so i headed back to Ingrebourne Valley.

I initially stopped at Belhus for a first visit for about half hour: Chiffchaff, Greylag, Canada Goose, Kestrel, Mallard, Great Crested Grebe, Robin, Long Tailed Tit, Moorhen, Coot.

Onto the Valley which tunred out to be a great afternoon with my most successful trip over there to date.

Parking at the Berwick Woods car park i headed over to the Top Paddock, Chiffchaff's singing everywhere it seemed; Greenfinch, Goldfinch & Linnet. A Pheasant in amongst the horses. By the field just before the bridge a single Red Legged Partridge.

Across the bridge and a Skylark rose singing from the sweetcorn field. One of the things i have been working on is flight identification of Rooks, Crows and Jackdaw; so as the gun went off over by the farm house (or whatever it was) i got the oppertunity as from the fields a lot of Crow and Jackdaw took flight.

A single Yellowhammer, Redwing, Dunnock, Wren, Blackbird and Songthrush in the lower paddock. Greenwoodpecker as well.

courtesy of www.rspb.org

From the Lower Paddock onto the lake and reedbed Little Grebe x2 one looked as if on nest, Mute Swan, Greylag and Coot.

courtesy of www.biodiversityexplorer.org

A Cettis seen by the iron bridge but lots more singing around the area.

The viewing area came up with only my second viewing over there of a Reed Bunting both male and female. A lone Green Sandpiper as well.

courtesy of www.mglg.org.uk

Over at the reedbeds i caught what i thought was a Willow Warbler initially but it landed and sarted to sing...Chiffchaff; but it did point the way to a my first Male Blackcap of 2012 a few branches higher.

A couple of Stock Dove proved to be a patch tick along with the Redwing taking my Valley list now to 72.

It was my best trip to the site with 42 individual species over a couple of hours.