randombirder

3rd May 2026 - Frampton Marsh A weekend taking in a couple of RSPBs finest reserves. On Saturday 3rd May, a trip to Frampton Marsh with Tonguey, where we attempted to wring out something interesting. But for a modest scattering of waders, it was a decent start to the southbound migration season. My second American golden plover of the week was still present on the grassland that took a little bit of time to track down. A nice bird although it wasn't a gaudy summer plumage male like the Old Hall individual. Other wading birds were represented by a decent haul of little ringed plover , around 20 dunlin , three whimbrel and a little stint . A spoonbill was also present on the grassland. 4th May 2026 - Rainham Marshes Then on Sunday 4th, a real treat as I decided to head down to Rainham Marshes. It felt great being back while also considering why it had taken so long for a repeat visit as it is only an hour away from home. I guess the unavoidable journey along the M25 is partly resp...

A really successful day at Rainham notably due to my first ever London Osprey , that has been a pig to catch up with and evidently not enough time spent staring up into the sky at the appropriate moments. Also on site were three Hobby demonstrating their aerial proficiency, masters of agility and speed, adults passing on knowledge and skill to the youngsters.  Just great to watch. On Aveley Bay, 30 Black-tailed Godwit were present on the shoreline as were three Avocet and a single Curlew .  Two Spotted Redshank were present on the Target Pools. A juvenile Willow Warbler was seen in the Woodland zone, this Wasp Spider stood out in the Cordite, a Grey Seal  was seen on the Thames, and five Migrant Hawker  zipped around the reeds by Aveley Pools.

An inspiring Hen Harrier day in the presence of some fine guest speakers involved in the fight for the protection of our precious countryside and of a truly majestic bird that should have it's place in the English moorlands. The three speaker spoke passionately about the campaign against wildlife crime, and in particular, the shameless persecution of protected birds of prey for, well in essence for financial gain.  The event was well attended, the message was clearly, confidently, and passionately articulated.  The rain held off (until after the event), and we dissipated into the fertile setting of the finest nature reserve in London, in the knowledge that the good fight is still being fought with fervour and intensity. Much respect goes out to the team at BAWC, to Chris, and those behind the scenes that stand up against the driven grouse shooting fraternity that fail to understand the delicate balance between recreation and sustainability.  This is not a one way stre...

Summer has been a sporadic event this year, and today did nothing to restore my faith in the sterotypically maligned view of the English climate.  It was cool and blustery. Autumn migration was starting to kick in evidenced by a smattering of waders in Aveley Bay.  A single Dunlin was present there with a Common Sandpiper , six Black-tailed Godwit , and two Oystercatcher .  A nice surprise was this 1st/2nd year Caspian Gull that was later seen sitting by the shoreline of the bay. This smart Jersey Tiger moth was seen near to the Serin Mound, and a single Grey Seal was loafing around on the river.

And so when the report came through of a Common Crane at Rainham Marshes, I made a hasty retreat down the A12 only to be balked by road closures that lost me an hour and a half. But I made it, and the lanky fella was still present feeding distantly on Wennington. The Crane is in the photo mate. A Cuckoo also   flew past.

Another great morning with the kids at the Wildlife Explorers group with one of the boys catching this beaut of a Smooth Newt from one of the pools by the MDZ. These Common Redshank were keeping guard over their territories along the path towards MDZ. Also on the reserve, a couple of vocal  Cuckoo  were seen agreeably close to the main paths. The afternoon became a little breezy with a few showers moving through.  Standing on the 'serin' mound, three Hobby were sat on fenceposts on Wennington waiting for the rain to pass.  Three Oystercatcher flew upriver. I have to stop missing Ospreys though.

It was a stellar day at the Marshes, the highlight being our monthly Wildlife Explorers group in which we welcomed fifteen children all of which enjoyed dissecting owl pellets and getting their grubby mits covered with mammalian detritus.  It was all good fun. Arriving a couple of hours before the start of the group, it was evident that there were plenty of migrants around in gloomy and mizzly conditions.  It felt rare!  Around a dozen Common Whitethroat were scratching away in the scrub opposite Aveley Bay and on the receded tide, a total of seven Whimbrel were noted, six of which deserted the exposed mud in hot pursuit of a lone Greenshank that too noisely fled the area.  Also in attendance were four Dunlin (including three summer plumaged adults) and a smart Grey Plover not quite yet into its summer finery, and three noisy Oystercatcher . From the car park, a Corn Bunting jangled as it sat low in the grass on the eastern slope of the landfill.  Two ...

A glorious day on the Marshes, the diluted winter sun hanging low, piercing through a milky blue sky.  There wasn't a breath of wind.  I love days like these.  They make dank winter days seem infinitely more bearable. The aim was to see sixty species.  The end result was sixty-two (including two Peregrine seen on the drive home). The highlights were; a Short-eared Owl that perched on top of a small bush at Wennington the Barn Owl roosting at its usual residence, ten Avocet feeding in Aveley Bay, Seven Curlew on Purfleet, The continuing Water Pipit seen in front of the Butts Hide, A couple of Stonechat around the Butts Hide, Two Marsh Harrier quartering Wennington, five stunning drake  Pintail, Small flocks of  Redwing  and a single  Fieldfare, A lone  Chiffchaff  behind the Ken Barrett hide, ...and hundreds of Lapwing.

A lovely but hasty walk round the reserve on a warm and humid morning yielded a couple of juvenile Sandwich Tern on the river which was a well overdue first for London. The old landfill held three Northern Wheatear where two Yellow Wagtail flew over.  A Hobby then shot through low towards Aveley Bay.  A couple of Common Sandpiper called as they flicked low over the Thames. There were plenty of waders.  At least 25 Black-tailed Godwit , three Ruff , a Wood Sandpiper , Green Sandpiper , four Greenshank , Redshank , and several Snipe .  A lone Curlew sat on the receding tide on Aveley Bay and there were at least two Yellow-legged Gull there. A male and female Marsh Harrier were quartering the fields over Wennington, but I inexplicably missed a flyover Osprey.

I hadn't planned to head down to the Marshes this morning but after reports of a few waders and a Merg around the bay, it was evident that things were moving through. Having got there a little too late for the early waders, there were still a few migrants around on a cool, cloudy but bright morning. Standing by the Coldharbour Lane car park, the four brick-red Bar-Tailed Godwit were seen flying high and away over the river.  Checking the foreshore on the low-tied two Whimbrel were present as they flew low toward the west.  A small group of waders then flew onto the mud at Aveley Bay, that consisted of four Ringed Plover and three summer plumaged Dunlin. There were plenty of Common Tern feeding mid-river where two Arctic Tern were picked out looking sleek and pristine. Two Northern Wheatear flew onto the shore, and a Grasshopper Warbler reeled briefly from scrub on the reserve side.  A Corn Bunting was in full song for five minutes or so before going quie...

It was another slow start to my visit, walking along the river wall where 13 Common Tern  were seen feeding out towards the shores of Crayford, the only real sighting of note as I headed to the reserve centre. A Willow Warbler sang from scrub close to the visitor centre as a shower passed through where a Common Buzzard soared high over.  There was no sign of the Serin seen earlier in the day.  A Kingfisher dashed past en route to another feeding sortie, five Sand Martin flew over Purfleet, and a lone Swallow headed north over the Woodland. Two Curlew flew onto the Purfleet Scrape, and there were still small numbers of Wigeon and Pintail out on the marshes.  Another two Common Buzzard soared distantly out towards Wennington as did a Marsh Harrier . The Barn Owl was present in it's box and a Short-eared Owl was active mid-afternoon that would have afforded great views from the otherside of the reserve. Moving onto the Aveley Pools, scanning through p...