And so another year ends... have just totted things up and I reckon that we ended up on about 192 species for the year (18 behind the staggering 2010). It was not a truly great year but had some memorable moments, not least the Slaty Backed Gull (new to GB) in January and February, another Alpine Swift in April, Manx Shearwater and both Guillemots and Razorbill in the autumn, a double rare tern day in August with Whiskered and White-winged Black Terns seen and a scattering of notables including Waxwings, Ring Ouzels and a flythrough Red-rumped Swallow that was actually picked up by Kev on the south side of the Thames leaving Rainham and heading across to his side! Long-tailed Skua was the only other new species added to the ever growing site list!
Tomorrow is not only another day but another year so eyes at the ready and we head out tomorrow to start all over again! I have a good feeling about 2012 on the marsh so fingers crossed...
Will leave you with some images from Les Harrison today...
Happy New Year
Bearded Tit
Wigeon
Pheasant
It would have been nice to have gone out on BIG Day on the reserve but it has barely got light all day and the breeze has kept everything bar the Lapwings down. Temperature wise it has been around the 14c mark all day which is just ludicrous for the last day in December. I hope that when I open up prior to dawn tomorrow that the rain holds off and the wind drops as I reckon that despite the unseasoanl weather any visitors should be able to find about 80 species in a full day of looking!
The Bearded Tits have been seen again by the Marshland Discovery Zone and about 100 Golden Plovers have been with the skittish Lapwings. The water level appears to have risen slightly after last nights downpour and 127 Wigeon were counted on it a short while ago.
And do not forget that I will be opening the doors at 7am tomorrow for those eager beavers amongst you! No cafe till 10am though!
Pat Hart found a Jack Snipe bobbing along the back of Aveley pool in the fast detriorating weather this afternoon. Birding was quite hard going on the site today but the Peregrines put on regular shows and the Lapwings were spectacular but with no light there was no shimmering!
Also got sent some shots of those Kittiwakes from the other day that seem to be lingering around Grays with occasional sorties past the bridge! Well done James!
I have my suspicions as to whom the feather belongs... found it in the woodland...
Open to suggestions!
Ok then... not one guess??? Well I reckon that it could be a Long-eared Owl breast feather. Found on the path between ivy covered trees. Supremely soft with very rich down filoplumes. Anyone care to throw in another opinion?
Had another huge bag of stamps brought in today from the Church Commissioners and 2nd Swanley Brownie pack... thanks folks for all the hard effort!