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No sign of the grebes today in very cold and blustery conditions but a few waders in the Bay and hundreds of close flying Swifts more than made up for it. Cuckoos are still around and both Mike Hughes and Tom Bell have got recent shots... (MH) (TB) 21-5-13

No news yet today but these two Black-necked Grebes were the standout highlight from yesterday as they made themselves comfortable on Aveley Pool. Hopefully I will be able to update later to say they are still there. (Andy Tweed) 21-5-13

With insect life starting to come to the fore once again, it becomes imperative that if you are a non-predatory insect that you look where you land otherwise you may fall prey to the clutches of Misumena vitae .... the White Crab Spider A Green Veined White perishes..... Matt Adam Williams And...

This Golden Plover was seen on several days last week. Now mostly in breeding plumage, it should really be on its way at least as far as the Pennines to breed. Seemed quite at hoome amongst the anthills. Great shots by Steve Drake 20-5-13

It is not until a feeding Swift hurtles past your ear at a great rate of knots that you get a fell for just how big the bird is. Seem to recall that it has a wingspan of about 30cm so that is a lot of wing on a slim body and a tremendous amount of power to put to good use hawking for insects and avoiding...

Now, it's not often that you get involved in the nitty gritty morning ablutions of a bird but our Kingfishers are under such close scrutiny that almost every moment can be captured.... This is one of those occasions when the pictures tell the story.... (imagine the sound of me discreetly coughing...

If you want to see if our Fox Fence is working just come and visit at the moment... There are baby Lapwings dotted about all over and and wildfowl broods such as Mallard, Coot and Canada Goose are not being depleted.... excellent news. Still got seven (Dawn Cowan) 19-5-13

I wonder if the folks out on the walk will be lucky enough to hear the weird rattling call of the male Garganey that arrived on Wednesday. He was still around yesterday and showing well on Aveley Pool. The back left hand corner around Marc's Fingers (as we call the islands) is your best bet. ...

Hundreds of Swifts careening about the marsh today and quite a few hirundines with them but despite checking nothing odd could be found. Plenty else to see though with the drake Garganey showing well and having a good fly round, Greenshank out on the flashes again, baby Lapwings in several spots, dashing...

When I heard Chris Evans in Radio Two this morning up in Lincolnshire at the start of the 70th Anniversary Dam Busters Commemoration Day I wondered if the Lancaster Bomber that was heading from there to Biggin Hill may pass over the reserve on its way south. I gave everyone a heads up and and at about...

With the last Dawn Chorus walk coming up at 4am on Sunday morning I though I would throw some nice Warbler images at you from recent days on the reserve. Just keep your fingers crossed that it is a nice morning for a walk and that the birds feel up to a bit of lung action! So brush up on all your...

Well, as I suggested at the start of the week, things have moved a little in the frenetic world of our Kingfishers and today we have had some signs that the eggs have perhaps started to hatch. There has been far more activity today and with frequent comings and goings and the male has been taking tiny...

Sorry for the lack of posts the last two day but the whole RSPB website, community and blogs seemed to be having a severe tantrum! Anyway, all seems ok now so here is an update for the last two days.... Yesterday was bitterly cold being only three or four degrees in the strong wind and as such the...

Been looking at some new images of our mixed singing warbler and I have to admit that I am starting to get a little confused. These were taken on the first day that it arrived (23rd April I believe) and although it still looks Willow Warbler shaped, it not only looks very cold and grey but also has very...

It did not feel that warm today but there was a lot more dragonfly and damselfly activity with the three Blue Damsels and Large Red in the woodland. This also means that there must be more, smaller insect life for them to feast on... Blue-tails (Mark Vale) Large Red (Chris Lowe) ...

Hopefully we should see signs that the Kingfisher eggs may have hatched by the end of next week. At the moment he is relieving her briefly of nest duties two or three times a day but as soon as the young hatch, frantic feeding should ensue and they birds should be come a lot easier to watch. (Brenda...

Some good Kingfisher action today. Tom Bell got some decent little snatches of video and this cracking shot. second video will not embed so please click here ! 12-5-13

It's 0419 and the intrepid Dawn Walk has been out a while already. A little chilly at the moment with a light breeze but the birds are singing and the cloud looks like it is trying to break up before the sun arrives. Sedge and Reed Warblers were first up (or more likely did not stop all night) and...

Sorry to the lovers of dragons and damsels but to the Hobbies, the emergence in the last two days of the first Hairy Hawkers, Large Red and Blue-tailed Damselflies is good snacking news. Sheltered areas around the Cordite Store are your best bet at the moment if you wish to have a look for them. Mark...

David Dent got real close to this Grey Squirrel the other day as it munched on the sticky buds of the Horse Chestnuts in the cordite. If ever a Squirrel could look sultry and alluring then this one has got her Equity Card and has been practicing.... Hate to say it but.... cute.... 11-5...

Now that the Marsh Frogs are going full tilt out on the reserve it is not really surprising that they are getting picked off by a variety of predators. There they sit busily belching out the froggy mating blues when, whoosh, they are airborne and winging their way to a nearby nest to fed to hungry...

Our talented Willow Warbler was still singing this morning as I came in. Certainly worth a listen if you are visiting today. Jerry Hoare found this blog post yesterday about another mixed singer and the possible reason behind it.... Click here for a read. The Lesser Whitethroat was also rattling away...

We are still operating a limited opening system for the Marshland Discovery Zone to try and give the Kingfishers the best chance of success. Things are progressing well and I suspect that he female may now even be incubating as she is spending far longer in the burrow. If you are visiting we are trying...

The Hobbies are back and living off tiny flies at the moment as there are no dragons or damsels on the wing yet. We have seen them have a half hearted attempt or two at a passing Swift but without success. Most of the time they have been up high but Marianne Taylor got this stunner on the 1st May...

With some warmth on the wind the trails have become the homes to many insects including a good selection of butterflies. Peacocks seem to common at the moment and various Whites have been seen along with Small Torts, Orange Tips, Brimstones and, in the last few days, Speckled Woods. Orange Tip...