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| Red Admiral on Buddleia |
After the hustle and bustle of the bird fair it was great to get back to some bird watching in North Kent in an outing with my local RSPB Group.
Although the forecast was for cloud we had a lovely sunny day, rather hot, but after the sauna-like conditions of the weekend it was quite pleasant, and excellent for butterflies. We saw many including Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Peacock, and Gatekeeper. We also found several dragon and damselflies including Migrant Hawker, Common Blue Damselfly, Ruddy Darter and Common Darter.
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| Migrant Hawker |
From the car park area we saw Cormorant leaving their tree roosts, Coot, Black-headed Gull and Little Grebe. Wood Pigeons flew around, a Whitethroat perched on a nearby bramble bush, and Chaffinch chattered away. As we moved to the view point Chiffchaff were chirping their contact calls.
The Pinnacle Viewpoint gives a great opportunity to see the whole reserve laid out, with the pools and the adjacent tracks allowing you to plan your trip. From here there were many Black-tailed Godwit feeding, Redshank, Great-crested Grebe, Pochard and Lapwing completed the scene.
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| A very distant Black-necked Grebe |
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| Female Wasp Spider |
As we continued through the reserve Little Egret, Avocet, Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, Shelduck, and Oystercatcher were seen on the Flamingo Pool. One small grebe took attention, and after much debate and trying to judge the shape of the head during the snatched moments when it was on the surface we realised it was my initial hunch - a Black-necked Grebe. Overhead Swallow were feeding and chattering to each other - a lovely sound and one which will soon be lost until next year.
The tide was out when we got to Cliffe Creek but we still managed to spot a Whimbrel. Huge flocks of Starling were gathering and circling around, and a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls were also evident. At the far end of Flamingo Pool we watched the River Thames - the tide was out and (as usual) the birds all appeared on the Essex side. Funnily when we were in Essex the birds were all in Kent! Julie decided that it was a great place for Wasp Spiders, and after some patience managed to find this lovely female.
