Dawn til almost dusk
I went for a local day list yesterday, doing a full loop of the local area. I got to Two Tree Island just before sun rise to hear the dawn chorus. It was pretty loud with cuckoos, Nightingales, Blackcaps and Song Thrushes all in full voice. It was noticeably much quieter when I left the Island at 5.25am. I saw no less than 10 Cuckoos throughout the day, including this showy bird (above) at Wat Tyler. Late morning I was at Vange Marsh and had a rare glimpse of some local Bearded Tits, bringing up 62 species for the day so far. I hit Canvey Point for high tide, hoping for Little Terns and the odd wader. The odd wader was a Turnstone and the Little Terns were replaced by a Sandwich Tern (above). I then headed North and made my way along the River Crouch picking up a couple of singing Yellow Hammers at Lion Creek and more yellow with a male Yellow Wagtail on Wallasea. The walk out to Paglesham Lagoon was fruitless apart from a Barn Owl hunting over Barling. With the light beginning to fade I went to Wakering Fleet Head and quickly picked up Red Legged Partridge and Stock Dove around the farm buildings before heading off to Wakering Stairs. I walked out to Haven point for a purring Turtle Dove. By this time I could hardly walk! I got back to the car at 20:35 were I saw a Meadow Pipit; No.78, and that was it. I had to throw the towel in. The Tawny and Little Owl will have to what til next time. (The Bee photo was taken at Vange Marsh. ID to come.)
