Fairly quiet while I was off but four Mergansers (14th) and a Goldeneye (15th) were notable while up to four Short-eared Owls have been seen. Bearded Tits are back in the ditches and a Black Swan was on Aveley Pools this morning (21st)
Black Swan (BC)
Goldeneye (BC)
Red-breasted Mergansers (BC)
When they started work on the Purfleet Scrape last week they unearthed an enormous piece of neolithic bog wood. This preserved piece of timber is probably over 5000 years old and even still has the root ball attached. It would look likely that it is Yew rather than Oak but I would love to have someone come and in a confirm the id for me.
Now I know that Nicole, our Warden, is on the petite side but this really is a huge bit of timber...
Came back today to find that the work out on Purfleet Scrape has been moving along apace! Looking really good already!
Day one: 14th November: The diggers move in (BC)
Day one: 14th November: Norman and Nicole plant a route for the diggers (BC)
Day one: 14th November: Nicole waiting for Norman to give her pole dancing lessons (BC)
Day three: 16th November: Working in front of the Purfleet Hide (Denis Tuck)
Day four: 17th November: The scale of the project is huge! Footage by Brian Churches
Day eight: 21st November: Really taking shape now (HV)
Been down in the south-west for the past week and managed to tick off a few more RSPB reserves! The shop at Darts Farm, Topsham, (good for Xmas shopping!) overlooks the fields where the Brent Geese graze and we were lucky enough to find the Red-breasted Goose feeding with the flock!
We also visited Bowling Green Marsh and enjoyed a spectacular pink sunrise with a host of waders including over 300 swimming Avocets! Magic!
This Kestrel was caught with his lunch last week. Pretty sure that it was a mouse of some sort as it had a long tail but the front half had already been eaten by this immature male bird! Mmmmm.... tasty!
John Ainsworth
by me