23-11-13 Broadwater Gravel Pit Nature Reserve

An early afternoon visit in dry, mild conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe (1), Great Crested Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Little Egret (1), Mute Swan, Greylag Goose (6), Canada Goose (30), Gadwall, Common Teal (5), Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Common Goldeneye (7 inc 3 male), Goosander (4 over north), Red Kite (1), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Northern Lapwing (62), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (1), Common Kingfisher (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Redwing (4), Common Chiffchaff (1), Goldcrest (2), Long-tailed Tit (16), Coal Tit (1), Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (2), Eurasian Jay (1), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch.
   

Rainham Marshes RSPB Reserve

An afternoon visit in dull, cold conditions provided the following species:-
Little Grebe, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Gadwall, Common Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Western Marsh Harrier (1), Common Kestrel (2), Peregrine Falcon (1), Common Moorhen, Eurasian Coot, Golden Plover (c200), Northern Lapwing (c200), Eurasian Curlew (4), Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, European Stonechat (1), Common Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler (4), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Common Starling, House Sparrow, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, European Goldfinch.
A female Merlin had been observed earlier in the day but unfortunately did not show during my visit.

                                                             European Stonechat
   

                                                            European Goldfinch

                                                            Northern Shoveler

Maple Lodge Nature Reserve & Lynsters Farm/Gravel Pit

An afternoon visit in dull, mild conditions produced the following species:-
Little Grebe (2), Great Cormorant (1), Greylag Goose (70 Lynsters Farm), Canada Goose (29 Lynsters Farm), Egyptian Goose (1 Lynsters Gravel Pit), Eurasian Wigeon (8 Lynsters Gravel Pit), Common Teal (8), Mallard (21), Tufted Duck (5), Red-crested Pochard (5 inc 2 drake Lynsters Gravel Pit), Eurasian Sparrowhawk (1), Osprey (juvenile), Water Rail (1), Common Moorhen (20), Eurasian Coot (15), Black-headed Gull, Herring Gull (1 over), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 over), Feral Rock Dove (6 Lynsters Farm), Woodpigeon, Ring-necked Parakeet (10), Green Woodpecker (1), Great-spotted Woodpecker (1), Grey Wagtail (1), Pied Wagtail (5 on cricket pitch), Wren, Dunnock, European Robin, Common Blackbird, Redwing (2), Cetti's Warbler (1 singing male), Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Common Treecreeper (1), Eurasian Jay (2), Common Magpie, Western Jackdaw (2), Carrion Crow, Common Chaffinch.
From the Long Hedge Hide I observed the juvenile Osprey as it perched for some time on trees near Shell Hide. Common Magpie and Carrion Crow all mobbed it to start with but eventually lost interest and moved on. Eventually it decided to fish and dived into the water near the new tern raft but was unsuccessful on this occasion and flew off to the north. I then moved on to Rotunda Hide where I noted a single Water Rail as it crept among the reed fringed marsh. 
If you are not already aware Maple Lodge Nature Reserve is a private reserve and is accessible to members only. For membership information please click on the Maple Lodge link which is located in the links column. 

                                                    Grey Wagtail from Rotunda Hide.

                                                    Osprey (record shot in poor light).